to burrow past her hands, and get into the comforting lap.

"Going to do what?" demanded Polly, still not moving.

"I was going to--going to--" said Joel, in smothered tones.

"Stop saying you were going to," commanded Polly, in her firmest
tones.

"You told me to tell you," said Joel. "O dear! I was going to--"

"Well, tell then, at once; what were you going to do? Hurry up,
Joe; now go on."

"I was going to--" began Joel again. "O dear me! I was going to--"
he mumbled, burrowing deeper yet.

"Joel Pepper!" cried Polly, in a tone that brought him bolt
upright, his round face streaked with tears that his dirty
little hands had tried to wipe off, the rest of them trailing
over his round nose. "O dear me! Now you must go into the
'provision room' and stay. Don't you remember Mamsie said you'd
have to go there the next time you wouldn't tell what you'd
done?" And Polly looked as if she were going to cry at once.

"Oh, no--no!" screamed Joel, in the greatest distress, and
clutching Polly's arm. "I'll tell you, Polly; I'll tell." And he
began to rattle off a lot of words, but Polly stopped him.

"No, it's too late now. I've said it, and you must go; for