"Oh, dear, I can't bear it!" she said, when she knew by the noise in
the kitchen that everybody was out there; so nobody heard, except
a fat, old black spider in the corner, and he didn't tell anyone!

"I know it's a week," she said, "since dinnertime! If Ben were only
well, to talk to me."

"Oh, I say, Polly," screamed Joel at that moment running in, "Ben's
a-comin' down the stairs!"

"Stop, Joe," said Mrs. Pepper; "you shouldn't have told; he wanted
to surprise Polly."

"Oh, is he!" cried Polly, clasping her hands in rapture; "mainmy,
can't! take off this horrid bandage, and see him?"

"Dear me, no!" said Mrs. Pepper, springing forward; "not for the
world, Polly! Dr. Fisher'd have our ears off!"

"Well, I can hear, any way," said Polly, resigning herself to the
remaining comfort; "here he is! oh, Ben!"

"There," said Ben, grasping Polly, bandage and all; "now we're all
right; and! say, Polly, you're a brick!"

"Mammy told me not to say that the other day," said Joel, with a
very virtuous air.

"Can't help it," said Ben, who was a little wild over Polly, and