Five Little Peppers at School Part 51

"And if I ever come after that boy again to tell him of anything nice that's going to happen, I miss my guess," declared Alexia, getting herself out of her chair, in high dudgeon. "Let's send Jasper after him; he's the only one who can manage him," she cried, as they set forth.

"Good idea," said Clare.

But when Alexia told of their funny reception, Jasper first stared, then burst out laughing. And although Alexia teased and teased, she got no satisfaction.

"It's no use, Alexia," Jasper said, wiping his eyes, "you won't get me to tell. So let's set about having some fun. What shall we do?"

"I don't want to do anything," pouted Alexia, "only to know what made Pickering Dodge act in that funny way."

"And that's just what you won't know, Alexia," replied Jasper composedly. "Well, Polly, you are going to put off toasting the marshmallows, aren't you, till to-morrow night, when Pick can probably come?"

"Oh, I wouldn't wait for him," Alexia burst out, quite exasperated, "when he's acted so. And perhaps he'd come with an old sofa pillow before his face, if you did."

"Oh, no, he won't, Alexia," said Jasper, going off into another laugh.

But although she teased again, she got no nearer to the facts. And Polly proposing that they make candy, the chafing dish was gotten out; and Alexia, who was quite an adept in the art, went to work, Jasper cracking the nuts, and Polly and Clare picking out the meats.

And then all the story of Pickering's splendid advance in the tough work of making up his lessons came out, Jasper pausing so long to dilate with kindling eyes upon it, that very few nuts fell into the dish. So Polly's fingers were the only ones to achieve much, as Clare gave so close attention to the story that he was a very poor helper.

In the midst of it, Alexia threw down the chafing-dish spoon, and clapped her hands. "Oh, I know!" she exclaimed.

"Oh," cried Polly, looking up from the little pile of nut-meats, "how you scared me, Alexia!"

"I know--I know!" exclaimed Alexia again, and nodding to herself wisely.

Jasper threw her a quick glance. It said, "If you know, don't tell, Alexia." And she flashed back, "Did you suppose I would?"

"What do you know?" demanded Clare, transferring his attention from Jasper to her. "Tell on, Alexia; what do you know?"

"Oh, my goodness me! this candy never will be done in time for those meats," cried Alexia, picking up the spoon to stir away for dear life.

And Jasper dashed in on what Mr. Faber said about Pickering's chances for college; a statement that completely carried Clare off his feet, so to speak.

"You don't mean that he thinks Pick will get in without conditions?"

gasped Clare, dumfounded.

"Yes, I do." Jasper nodded brightly. "If Pick will only study; keep it up, you know, I mean to the end. He surely said it, Clare."

It was so much for Clare to think of, that he didn't have any words at his command.

"Now isn't that perfectly splendid in Pickering!" cried Alexia, making the spoon fly merrily. "Oh dear me! I forgot to put in the b.u.t.ter.

Where--oh, here it is," and she tossed in a big piece. "To think that--oh dear me, I forgot! I _did_ put the b.u.t.ter in before. Now I've spoilt it," and she threw down the spoon in despair.

"Fish it out," cried Polly, hopping up and seizing the spoon to make little dabs at the ball of b.u.t.ter now rapidly lessening.

"But it's melted--that is, almost--oh dear me!" cried Alexia.

"No, it isn't; there, see how big it is." Polly landed it deftly on the plate and hopped back to her nut-meats again.

"And I should think you'd better shake yourself, Clare," said Jasper, over at him. "We shouldn't have any nuts in this candy if it depended on you."

"You do tell such astounding stories," cried Clare, setting to work at once. And Jasper making as much noise as he could while cracking his nuts, Alexia's secret was safe.

But when the candy was set out to cool, and there was a pause in which the two boys were occupied by themselves, Alexia pulled Polly off to a corner.

"Where are they going?" asked Clare, with one eye after them.

"Oh, they have something to talk over, I presume," said Jasper carelessly.

"Nonsense! they've all the time every day. Let's go over and see."

"Oh, no," said Jasper. "Come on, Clare, and let's see if the candy is cool." But Clare didn't want to see if the candy was cool, nor anything else but to have his own way. So he proceeded over to the corner by himself.

"Oho! You go right away!" cried Alexia, poking up her head over Polly's shoulder. "You dreadful boy! Now, Polly, come." And she pulled her off into the library.

"You see you didn't get anything for your pains," said Jasper, bursting into a laugh. "You'd much better have staid here."

"Well, I don't want to know, anyway," said Clare, taking a sudden interest in the candy. "I believe it is cold, Jasper; let's look."

"Polly," Alexia was saying in the library behind the portieres, "I know now; because I did it once myself: it was when you first promised you'd be a friend to me, and I went home, and cried for very joy. And I didn't want to see anybody that night."

"Oh, Alexia!" exclaimed Polly, giving her a hug that satisfied even Alexia.

"No, I didn't; and I remember how I wanted to hold something up to my face. I never thought of a sofa pillow, and I couldn't have gotten it if I had thought, 'cause aunt had it crammed against her back. Oh, my eyes were a sight, Polly, and my nose was all over my face."

XXIII THE CLEMCY GARDEN PARTY

"You may go on those errands, Hortense, but first send Polly Pepper to me," commanded Mrs. Chatterton sharply.

The French maid paused in the act of hanging up a gown. "I will _re_-quest her, Madame. I should not like to send Mees Polly Peppaire."

"_Miss_ Polly Pepper!" Mrs. Chatterton was guilty of stamping her foot.

"Are you mad? I am speaking of Polly Pepper, this country girl, who is as poor and low-born here in this house, as if in her little brown house, wherever that may be."

Hortense shrugged her shoulders, and hung up the gown.

"Has Madame any further commands for me?" she asked, coming up to her mistress.

"Yes; be sure to get the velvet at Lemaire's, and take back the silk kimono. I will send to New York for one."

"Yes, Madame."

"That is all--besides the other errands. Now go." She dismissed her with a wave of her shapely hand. "But first, as I bade you, _send_ Polly Pepper to me."

Hortense, with another elevation of her shoulders, said nothing, till she found herself the other side of the door. Then she shook her fist at it.

"It ees not Miss Polly who will be sent for; it ees Madame who will be sent out of dees house, _j'ai peur_--ha, ha, ha!"