Five Little Peppers And How They Grew [57]
"We've got to put back the hair into mamsie's cushion the first thing to-morrow," whispered Polly anxiously, "and we mustn't forget it, Bensie."
"I want to keep the wig awfully," said Ben. "You did make that just magnificent, Polly!"
"If you could see yourself," giggled Polly; "did you put it in the straw bed? and are you sure you pulled the ticking over it smooth?"
"Yes, sir," replied Ben, "sure's my name's Ben Pepper! if you'll only keep them from seeing me when I'm in it till we're ready--that's all I ask."
"Well," said Polly a little relieved, "but I hope Joe won't look."
"Come on! they're a-comin'!" whispered Ben; "quick!"
"Polly!" rang a voice dangerously near; so near that Polly, speeding over the stairs to intercept it, nearly fell on her nose.
"Where you been?" asked one.
"Let's have a concert," put in Ben; Polly was so out of breath that she couldn't speak. "Come, now, each take a whistle, and we'll march round and round and see which can make the biggest noise."
In the rattle and laughter which this procession made all mystery was forgotten, and the two conspirators began to breathe freer.
Five o'clock! The small ones of the Pepper flock, being pretty well tired out with noise and excitement, all gathered around Polly and Ben, and clamored for a story.
"Do, Polly, do," begged Joel. "It's Christmas, and 'twon't come again for a year."
"I can't," said Polly, in such a twitter that she could hardly stand still, and for the first time in her life refusing, "I can't think of a thing."
"I will then," said Ben; "we must do something," he whispored to Polly.
"Tell it good," said Joel, settling himself.
So for an hour the small tyrants kept their entertainers well employed.
"Isn't it growing awful dark?" said Davie, rousing himself at last, as Ben paused to take breath.
Polly pinched Ben.
"Mammy's a-goin' to let us know," he whispered in reply. "We must keep on a little longer."
"Don't stop," said Joel, lifting his head where he sat on the floor. "What you whisperin' for, Polly?"
"I'm not," said Polly, glad to think she hadn't spoken.
"Well, do go on, Ben," said Joel, lying down again.
"Polly'll have to finish it," said Ben; "I've got to go upstairs now."
So Polly launched out into such an extravagant story that they all, perforce, had to listen.
All this time Mrs. Pepper had been pretty busy in her way. And now she came into the kitchen and set down her candle on the table. "Children," she said. Everybody turned and looked at her--her tone was so strange; and when they saw her dark eyes shining with such a new light, little Davie skipped right out into the middle of the room. "What's the matter, mammy?"
"You may all come into the Provision Room," said she.
"What for?" shouted Joel, in amazement; while the others jumped to their feet, and stood staring.
Polly flew around like a general, arranging her forces. "Let's march there," said she; "Phronsie, you take hold of Davie's hand, and go first."
"I'm goin' first," announced Joel, squeezing up past Polly. "No, you mustn't, Joe," said Polly decidedly; "Phronsie and David are the youngest."
"They're always the youngest," said Joel, falling back with Polly to the rear.
"Forward! MARCH!" sang Polly. "Follow mamsie!"
Down the stairs they went with military step, and into the Provision Room. And then, with one wild look, the little battalion broke ranks, and tumbling one over the other in decidedly unmilitary style, presented a very queer appearance!
And Captain Polly was the queerest of all; for she just gave one gaze at the tree, and then sat right down on the floor, and said, "On! OH!"
Mrs. Pepper was flying around delightedly, and saying, "Please to come right in," and "How do you do?"
And before anybody knew it, there were the laughing faces of Mrs. Henderson and the Parson himself, Doctor Fisher and old Grandma Bascom; while the two Henderson boys, unwilling to be defrauded of any of the fun, were squeezing themselves in between everybody else, and coming up to Polly every