"Mercy!" said Mrs. Pepper, "you'd have the house afire! Two
hundred candles! who ever heard of such a thing!"

"Would they burn?" asked Phronsie, anxiously, getting up from the
floor where she was crouching with David, overseeing Joel nail on
the cover of an old box; and going to Polly's side she awaited her
answer patiently.

"Burn?" said Polly. "There, that's done now, mamsie dear!" And
she put the coat, with a last little pat, into her mother's lap. "I guess
they would, Phronsie pet." And Polly caught up the little girl, and
spun round and round the old kitchen till they were both glad to
stop.

"Then," said Phronsie, as Polly put her down, and stood breathless
after her last glorious spin, "I do so wish we might, Polly; oh, just
this very one minute!"

And Phronsie clasped her fat little hands in rapture at the thought.

"Well," said Polly, giving a look up at the old clock in the corner;
"deary me! it's half-past five; and most time for Ben to come
home!"

Away she flew to get supper. So for the next few moments nothing
was heard but the pulling out of the old table into the middle of the
floor, the laying the cloth, and all the other bustle attendant upon
the being ready for Ben. Polly went skipping around, cutting the
bread, and bringing dishes; only stopping long enough to fling
some scraps of reassuring nonsense to the two~ys, who were