Polly, you may do as you like, but I warn you to keep them away from
me." And he went back to his paper.




XVIII

BAYREUTH AND OLD FRIENDS


Jasper turned around to gaze at the vast audience filing into the
Wagner Opera House before he took his seat. "This makes me think of
Oberammergau, Polly," he said.

"To think you've seen the Passion Play," she cried, with glowing
cheeks.

"That was when I was such a little chap," said Jasper, "ages ago,--nine
years, Polly Pepper,--just think; so it will be as good as new next
year. Father is thinking a good deal of taking you there next summer."

"Jasper," cried Polly, her cheeks all in a glow, and regardless of next
neighbours, "what can I ever do to repay your father for being so very
good to me and to all of us?"

"Why, you can keep on making him comfortable, just as you are doing
now, Polly," replied Jasper. "He said yesterday it made him grow
younger every minute to look at you. And you know he's never sick now,
and he was always having those bad attacks. Don't you remember when we