face getting very red, "when I heard a scrunchin' an' a swishin',
an' I thought 'twas you, Polly, so I didn't look round."

"No," said Polly, with a little shiver, "it wasn't me. Go on,
Joey."

"Well, it scrunched an' it swished, and it didn't stop, so then
I looked around."

"O dear me!" exclaimed Polly, throwing one arm around Joel, and
drawing him to her. Little Davie sat up quite straight and
folded his hands.

"And he was sticking up his head behind the potato bag, looking
at me just like this." Joel flew off the doorstep and stood up
as tall as possible and ran out his tongue.

Little Davie gave a loud scream. "Oh, you brave Joel!" exclaimed
Polly, tumbling off from the doorstep to throw her arms around
him, and kiss his stubby black hair.

"Phoo! that's nothing!" cried Joel, who always hated to be
praised.

"And I'm just as proud of you as I can be," Polly ran on with
kindling eyes. "Oh, Joel!"

Joel wriggled all over with delight at that "Oh, Joel!"

"And now come back and tell us the rest," said Polly, hanging to