first her mind was in too great a tumult for her to care for band
wagons. Then, as the music soothed her excited nerves and drew
her thoughts into pleasanter paths, she pictured the great wagons,
and ther performers in scarlet and gold, as she had seen them
scores of times, and she seemed to watch their progress under the
arch of elms as perfectly as if she were not in the idle of the
room with her eyes shut.

Them music grew faint and fainter, and was finally lost in the
noise of the street. The children returned to their various
occupations, giving Polly furtive tokens of sympathy on their way
back. Leonora squeezed her hand; Cornelius patted her shoulder;
Moses gently pulled a curl--one of his friendly amusements; and
Brida, who was now about on crutches, stooped to kiss her cheek.

"Brida, do not talk to Polly!"

The sudden command startled the child almost into tripping.

"I was n't talkin'!" she protested. "I was only kissin' her."

"Well, come away from her--clear away," for the little girl
was not making very quick time.

"I'm comin' s' fas' 's I can!" she pouted. "I can't _run_ on
these old crutches--so there!"

Polly almost giggled aloud at Brida's daring, but promptly
subsided into a safe look of gravity. It was pleasant to feel
sure of her friends. She was still thinking in this vein when a