"Hah, hah!" ejaculated Percy. "You'd been scared to death, Van, if those
boys even winked at you."
"I wouldn't, either," declared Van, straightening up.
"Percy--Percy," said Polly warningly, turning around at him.
"Well, he would," said Percy uneasily, not looking at her; "you know he
would, Polly."
"Well, don't say any such thing," said Polly firmly, "and perhaps he
wouldn't, either."
"No, I wouldn't," protested Van stoutly, since Polly reinforced him, "and
you're just as mean as you can be, Percy Whitney, to say so."
"Boys"--Polly drew away from Van, and sank down on her chair again--"I
shan't have anything to say to either of you when you say such dreadful
things," and she folded her hands sorrowfully in her lap and looked
straight ahead at the opposite wall.
"Oh, we won't--we won't," cried both boys, running over to her. "Polly, we
won't"--shaking her arms.
"Well, don't, then," said Polly. "Now promise you won't do it again, or
else I'm really not going to talk to you."
So Percy and Van promised, and pretty soon the wide hall resounded with
merry peals of laughter.
"Oh, dear me!" exclaimed Polly, jumping to her feet in dismay.
"What's the matter?" cried both boys, tumbling back in astonishment.
"Just look what I've done!" Polly was wringing her hands now, and presented
a picture of distress.
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