"
"Well, we'll all be as still as mice now," said Polly; so no sound was
heard save the scratching of pens over the paper, as the work went gayly
on.
"Oh, isn't it too bad that we can't any of us find that ten-dollar bill
Joel lost at the garden party?" broke out Alexia, when this sort of thing
had proceeded for some time.
"Ugh!" cried Polly, and her pen slipped, making an awful scratch and just
spoiling the best notice she had written.
Jasper raised his head and cast a warning glance over the table at Alexia,
but it was too late.
"I do believe we shall find it some time," said Polly, scraping away with
the ink-eraser and only making matters worse.
"Take care, Polly; the ink is too fresh," warned Jasper. "Wait until it
dries."
"Well, I've smeared it all up now," said Polly, leaning back in her chair
and viewing her work with despair.
"Perhaps it can be fixed," said Alexia, overwhelmed with distress and
leaning forward to see the worst. "I 'most know it can; let me try, Polly."
"No, no, Alexia, I wouldn't," said Jasper; "it's quite bad enough already."
"Well, maybe I can do it," persisted Alexia, "if I could only try."
"You may try," said Polly, pushing the paper toward her, when she saw
Alexia's face, "but it's no matter anyway, I'll write another." And she had
already begun it when Alexia threw down the ink-eraser.
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