suddenly, to prance around the room, just like old times.

"Oh, Jasper! I'm eight years old," she cried, struggling to free
herself.

"Nonsense! What of it--you are the baby of this household. "But he set
her on her feet nevertheless, one hand still patting the soft yellow
waves over her brow. "Go on, Polly, do, and lay the whole magnificence
before father. He will be quite overcome."

"That would be disastrous," said Mr. King; "better save your effects
till the grand affair comes off."

"Jasper is to be one of the dragons," announced Polly, quite in her
element, "that is, the head dragon; Ben is to be another, and we haven't
quite decided whether to ask Archy Hurd or Clare to take the third one."

"Clare has the most 'go' in him," said Jasper critically.

"Then I think we'll decide now to ask him," said Polly, "don't you,
Jasper?"

"A dragon without 'go' in him would be most undesirable, I should fancy.
Well, what next do you propose to do, Polly?" asked Mr. King.

"Now that we know that you will allow us to have it," cried Polly in a
rapture, "why, we can think up splendid things. We've only the play
written so far, sir."

"Polly wrote the most," said Jasper.