curves, and looked the other way.

Just then Mr. Alstyne came up.

"Oh!" cried Polly suddenly, the color rushing over her face. "Could you,
Mr. Alstyne, give that to some one else? Percy and Van are going to wait
upon me."

"Yes, indeed," said Mr. Alstyne in a flash, "nothing easier;" and he
disappeared as suddenly as he came.

"Now, boys," said Polly, turning back to them and whispering busily, "I
know you won't ever say such perfectly dreadful things to each other
again. And so I'm going to ask you both to get me something to eat, will
you?"

"How do you know we won't?" cried Percy slowly. He was sorry enough for
the episode in the coach, yet couldn't resist the temptation to show he
was not to be driven.

"Because I shall then have nothing whatever to eat," said Polly merrily,
"for of course I can't take a bit from anybody else after refusing Mr.
Alstyne's kindness. Don't you see? Oh, Percy! you wouldn't quite do
that?"

Van laughed. "She's got us, Percy," he said, "quite fast. You know you
won't fight, and I won't again; we both said so a little while back; so
what's the good of holding out now?"

Percy drew himself up very slowly and decidedly. "I won't trouble you so