provision room, with the door shut, was one of the worst
punishments that Mrs. Pepper inflicted; and Polly's cheek got
quite white. Little Davie, on seeing this, untwisted his fingers
and went up to her. "Don't cry, Polly," he said suddenly, as he
saw her face, and laid his hand in hers.

Joel stopped roaring, and looked up at her through his tears.

"I'm not going to cry," said Polly, "because I know Joel will be
good now, and go at once and get on his stool in the provision
room."

Joel swallowed hard and stumbled up to his feet, wiping his
cheeks with the back of one grimy hand.

"That's right," said Polly; "now go right in and shut the door."

"O dear me," said little Davie, hiding his face in Polly's gown,
as Joel went slowly off. They could hear the provision room door
shut. Then Polly turned. "Oh, Davie," she cried. Then she
stopped, at the sight of his face.

"Now you and I must go in the house and think of something to do
for Mamsie before she gets home," she cried in a cheery burst.
So they both hurried in over the old flat stone.

"Now what will it be, Davie?" asked Polly, with another glance
at his pale little face. "Let's think," she wrinkled her brows
in perplexity.