tunes that one is never tired of were all Polly's store. The more she
sung, the better she did it; and when she wound up with "A Health to King
Charlie," the room quite rung with the stirring music made by the big
piano and the little maid.

11. "That's a jolly tune! Sing it again, please," cried Tom's voice; and
there was Tom's red head bobbing up over the high back of the chair where
he had hidden himself.

12. It gave Polly quite a turn, for she thought no one was hearing her but
the old lady dozing by the fire. "I can't sing any more; I'm tired," she
said, and walked away to Madam in the other room. The red head vanished
like a meteor, for Polly's tone had been decidedly cool.

13. The old lady put out her hand, and, drawing Polly to her knee, looked
into her face with such kind eyes that Polly forgot the impressive cap,
and smiled at her confidently; for she saw that her simple music had
pleased her listener, and she felt glad to know it.

14. "You mus'n't mind my staring, dear," said Madam, softly pinching her
rosy cheek, "I haven't seen a little girl for so long, it does my old eyes
good to look at you." Polly thought that a very odd speech, and could n't
help saying, "Are n't Fan and Maud little girls, too?"

15. "Oh, dear, no! not what I call little girls. Fan has been a young lady
this two years, and Maud is a spoiled baby. Your mother's a very sensible
woman, my child."

16. "What a queer old lady!" thought Polly; but she said "Yes'm,"
respectfully, and looked at the fire. "You don't understand what I mean,