a summer in a canyon-第23部分

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Yet's　and　his　best　cap　with　the　red　button；　from　which　dangled　a
hastily　improvised　queue　of　black　worsted；　he　proceeded　to　convulse
everybody　with　his　Mongolian　antics。　　These　consisted　of　most
informal　remarks　in　clever　pigeon　English；　and　snatches　of　Chinese
melody；　rendered　from　time　to　time　as　he　carried　dishes　into　the
kitchen。　　Elsie　laughed　until　she　cried；　and　Laura　sat　in　the
shadiest　corner；　her　head　artistically　swathed　in　white　tarlatan。

Polly　occupied　the　seat　of　honour　at　the　end　of　the　table　opposite
Dr。　Winship；　and　was　happier　than　a　queen。　　She　wore　her　new　green
cambric；　with　a　bunch　of　leaves　at　her　belt。　　She　was　sun…burned；　but
the　freckles　seemed　to　have　disappeared　mysteriously　from　her　nose；
and　almost　any　one　would　have　admired　the　rosy　skin；　the　dancing
eyes；　and　the　graceful　little　auburn　head；　'sunning　over　with　curls。'

When　the　last　bit　of　dessert　had　been　disposed　of；　and　Dicky　had　gone
to　sleep　in　his　mother's　lap；　like　an　infant　boa…constrictor　after　a
hearty　meal；　the　presentation　of　gifts　and　reading　of　poems　took
place；　and　Polly　had　to　be　on　the　alert　to　answer　all　the　nonsensical
jokes　that　were　aimed　at　her。

Finally；　Bell　crowned　the　occasion　by　producing　a　song　of　Miss
Mulock's；　which　had　come　in　the　morning　mail　from　some　girl　friend　of
Polly's　in　the　East；　who　had　discovered　that　Polly's　name　had
appeared　in　poetry　and　song　without　her　knowledge；　and　who　thought
she　might　be　interested　to　hear　the　composition。　　With　the　aid　of
Bell's　guitar　and　Jack's　banjo　the　girls　and　boys　soon　caught　the
pretty　air；　and　sung　it　in　chorus。

1。　　Pretty　Pol…ly　Ol…i…ver；　will　you　be　my　own？
Pret…ty　Pol…ly　Ol…i…ver；　as　cold　as　a
stone；　But　my　love　has　grown　warm…er　as
cold…er　you've　grown；　O　Pret…ty　Pol…ly
Ol…i…ver；　will　you　be　my　own？

2。　　Pret…ty　Pol…ly　Ol…i…ver；　I　love　you　so　dear！
Pret…ty　Pol…ly　Ol…i…ver；　my　hope　and　my
fear；　I've　wait…ed　for　you；　sweet…heart；　this
many　a　long　year；　For　Pret…ty　Pol…ly
Ol…i…ver；　I've　loved　you　so　dear！

3。　　Pret…ty　Pol…ly　Ol…i…ver；　I'll　bid　you　good　bye：
Pret…ty　Pol…ly　Ol…i…ver；　for　you　I'll　not
die；　You'll　nev…er　get　a　tru…er　true
lov…er　than　I；　So　Pret…ty　Pol…ly
Ol…i…ver；　good…bye；　love；　good…bye！


At　the　end；　Dr。　Winship　raised　his　glass　of　lemonade；　and　proposed　to
drink　Miss　Oliver's　health。　　This　was　done　with　enthusiasm；　and
Geoffrey　immediately　cried；　'Speech；　speech！'

'I　can't；'　said　Polly；　blushing　furiously。

'Speech！'　sung　Jack　and　Philip　vociferously；　pounding　on　the　table
with　knife…handles　to　increase　the　furore。

'Speech！'　demanded　the　genial　doctor；　going　over　to　the　majority；　and
smiling　encouragingly　at　Polly；　who　was　pushed　to　her　feet　before　she
knew　very　well　what　she　was　doing。　　'Oh；　if　Laura　were　not　looking　at
me；'　she　thought；　'I'd　just　like　to　speak　right　out；　and　tell　them　a
little　bit　of　what　is　in　my　heart。　　I　don't　careI　will！'

'I　know　you　are　all　in　fun；'　she　said；　looking　bravely　into　the　good
doctor's　eyes；　'and　of　course　no　one　could　make　a　proper　speech　with
Jack　grinning　like　a　Cheshire　cat；　but　I　can't　help　telling　you　that
this　is　the　happiest　summer　and　the　happiest　birthday　of　my　whole
life；　and　that　I　scarcely　remember　nowadays　that　I　have　no　father　and
no　brothers　and　sisters；　for　I　have　never　been　alone　or　unhappy　since
you　took　me　in　among　you　and　Bell　chose　me　for　her　friend；　and　I
think　that　if　you　knew　how　grateful　I　am　for　my　beautiful　summer；
dear　Dr。　Paul　and　Aunt　Truth；　you　would　be　glad　that　you　gave　it　to
me；　and　I　love　you　all；　dearly；　dearly；　dearly！'　　Whereupon　the
impulsive　little　creature　finished　her　maiden　speech　by　dashing　round
the　table　and　giving　Mrs。　Winship　one　of　her　'bear　hugs；'　at　which
everybody　laughed　and　rose　from　the　table。

Laura　Burton；　who　was　thoroughly　out　of　conceit　with　the　world；　and
who　was　never　quite　happy　when　other　people　seemed　for　the　moment　to
be　preferred　to　herself；　thought　this　burst　of　affection　decidedly
theatrical；　but　she　did　not　know　of　any　one　to　whom　she　could　confine
her　opinions　just　then；　indeed；　she　felt　too　depressed　and　out　of
sorts　to　join　in　the　general　hilarity。

Dinner　being　over；　Dr。　Paul　and　the　boys　took　the　children　and
sauntered　up　the　canyon　for　a　lazy　afternoon　with　their　books。　　Elsie
went　to　sleep　in　the　new　hammock　that　the　doctor　had　hung　in　the
sycamores　back　of　the　girls'　sleeping…tent；　and　Mrs。　Winship　lay　down
for　her　afternoon　nap。　　Pancho　saddled　the　horses　for　Bell　and
Margery；　who　went　for　a　gallop。　　Polly　climbed　into　the　sky…parlour
to　write　a　long　letter　to　her　mother；　and　Laura　was　left　to　solitude
in　the　sleeping…tent。　　Now　everybody　knows　that　a　tent　at　midday　is
not　a　particularly　pleasant　spot；　and　after　many　a　groan　at　the　glare
of　the　sun；　which　could　not　be　tempered　by　any　system　of　shawls；　and
moans　at　the　gopher…holes　which　she　discovered　while　searching　for
her　ear…ring；　and　repeated　consultations　with　the　hand…glass　at　brief
intervals；　during　which　she　convinced　herself　that　she　looked　worse
every　minute；she　finally　discovered　a　series　of　alarming　new　spots
on　her　neck　and　chin。　　She　felt　then　that　camping　out　was　a　complete
failure；　and　that　she　would　be　taken　home　forthwith　if　it　could　be
managed；　since　she　saw　nothing　before　her　but　day　after　day　of　close
confinement　and　unattractive　personal　appearance。　　'It's　just　my
luck！'　she　grumbled；　as　she　twisted　up　her　hair　and　made　herself　as
presentable　as　possible　under　the　trying　circumstances。　　'I　don't
think　I　ever　had　a　becoming　or　an　interesting　illness。　　The　chicken…
pox；　mumps；　and　sties　on　my　eyesthat's　the　sort　of　thing　I　have！'

'I　feel　much　worse；　Mrs。　Winship；'　she　said；　going　into　the　sitting…
room　tent　and　waking　Aunt　Truth　from　a　peaceful　snooze。　　'If　you　can
spare　Pancho　over　night；　I　really　think　I　must　trouble　you　to　send
Anne　and　me　home　at　once。　　I　feel　as　if　I　wanted　to　go　to　bed　in　a
dark　room；　and　I　shall　only　be　a　bother　if　I　stay。'

'Why；　my　child；　I'm　sorry　to　have　you　go　off　with　your　visit
unfinished。　　You　know　we　don't　mind　any　amount　of　trouble；　if　we　can
make　you　comfortable。'

'You　are　very　kind；　but　indeed　I'd　rather　go。'

'I　hardly　dare　let　you　start　in　the　hot　sunwithout　consulting　the
doctor；　and　everybody　is　away　except　Polly；　they　will　feel　badly　not
to　say　good…bye。'

'It　is　nearly　three　o'clock　now；　so　the　worst　of　the　sun　is　over；　and
we　shall　be　at　the　ranch　by　eight　this　evening。　　I　feel　too　ill　to
say　good…bye；　any　way；　and　we　shall　meet　Bell　and　Margery　somewhere
on　the　road；　for　they　were　going　to　the　milk　ranch。'

'Very　well；　my　dear；　if　you've　made　up　your　mind　I　must　yield；'
replied　Mrs。　Winship；　getting　up　and　smoothing　her　hair。　　'I　don't
dare　wake　Elsie；　she　has　had　such　an　exciting　day；　but　I'll　call
Polly　to　help　you　pack；　and　then　tell　Pancho　to　find　Anne　and　harness
the　team。　　While　he　is　doing　that；　I'll　get　you　a　little　lunch　to
take　with　you　and　write　a　note　to　your　mother。　　Perhaps　you　can　come
again　before　we　break　camp；　but　I'm　sorry　to　send　you　home　in　such　a
sad　plight。'



CHAPTER　VIII：　　POLLY'S　BIRTHDAY：　　SECOND　HALF
IN　WHICH　SHE　WISHES　SEE　HAD　NEVER　BEEN　BORN。



'From　Hebrew　wit　the　maxim　sprung；
Though　feet　should　slip；　ne'er　let　the　tongue。


Polly　came　at　once　to　the　tent；　where　she　found　Laura　getting　her
belongings　together。

'Why；　Laura；　it　seems　too　bad　you　should　go　off　so　suddenly。　　What
can　I　do　to　help　you？'

The　very　spirit　of　evil　entered　Laura's　heart　as　she　looked　at　Polly；
so　fresh　and　pretty　and　radiant；　with　her　dimples　dancing　in　and　out；
her　hair　ruffled　with　the　effort　of　literary　composition；　and　the
glow　of　the　day's　happiness　still　shining　in　her　eyes。　　She　felt　as
if　Polly　was　'glad　inside'　that　she　was　poisoned；　she　felt　sure　she
was　internally　jumping　for　joy　at　her　departure；　and；　above　all；　she
felt　that　Polly　was　entirely　too　conceited　over　the　attention　she　had
received　that　day；　and　needed　to　be　'taken　down　a　peg　or　two。'

'Red…haired；　stuck…up；　saucy　thing；'　she　thought；　'how　I　should　like
to　give　her　a　piece　of　my　mind　before　I　leave　this　place；　if　I　only
dared！'

'I　don't　need　any　help；　thank　you；'　she　said　aloud；　in　her　iciest
manner。

'But　it　will　only　make　your　head　ache　to　bend　over　and　tug　away　at
that　valise；　and　I'll　be　only　too　glad　to　do　it。'

'I've　no　doubt　of　that；'　responded　Laura；　meaningly。　　'It　is　useless
for　you　to　make　any　show　of　regret　over　my　going；　for　I　know
perfectly　well　that　you　are　glad　to　get　me　out　of　the　way。'

'Why；　Laura；　what　do　you　mean？'　exclaimed　Polly；　completely　dazed　at
this　bombshell　of　candour。

'I　mean　what　I　say；　and　I　should　have　said　it　before　if　I　could　ever
have　found　a　chance。　　Because　I　didn't　mention　it　at　the　time；　you
needn't　suppose　I've　forgotten　your　getting　me　into　trouble　with　Mrs。
Winship；　the　day　before　the　Howards　came。'

'That　was　not　my　fault；'　said　Polly；　hotly。　　'I　didn't　speak　any
louder　than　the　other　girls；　and　I　didn't　know　Aunt　Truth　objected　to
Mrs。　Pinkerton；　and　I　didn't　know　she　was　anywhere　near。'

'You　roared　like　the　bull　of　Bashanthat's　what　you　did。　　Perhaps
you　can't　help　your　voice；　but　anybody　in　the　canyon　could　have　heard
you；　and　Mrs。　Winship　hasn't　been　the　same　to　me　since；　and　the　boys
don't　take　the　slightest　notice　of　me　lately。'

'You　are　entirely　mistaken；　Laura。　　Dr。　and　Mrs。　Winship　are　just　as
lovely　and　cordial　to　you　as　they　are　to　everybody　else；　and　the　boys
do　not　feel　well　enough　acquainted　with　you　to　〃frolic〃　with　you　as
they　do　with　us。'

'It　isn't　so；　but　you　are　not　sensitive　enough　to　see　it；　and　I
should　never　have　been　poisoned　if　it　hadn't　been　for　you！'

'Oh；　go　on；　do！'　said　Polly；　beginning　to　lose　her　self…control；
which　was　never　very　great。　　'I　didn't　know　I　was　a　Lucrezia　Borgia
in　disguise。　　How　did　I　poison　you；　pray？'

'I　didn't　say　you　poisoned　me；　but　you　made　me　so　uncomfortable　that
day；　bringing　down　Mrs。　Winship's　lecture　on　my　head　and　getting　my
best　friend　abused；　that　I　was　glad　to　get　away　from　the　camp；　and
went　out　with　Jack　for　that　reason　when　I　was　too　tired　and　warm；　and
you　are　always　trying　to　cut　me　out　with　Bell　and　the　boys。'

'That's　a　pe