BILLOFFAREFORHERMAJESTY\'SDINNER
QuailSoup。Crackers。
ChiliColorado。
(Muttonstew，inSpanishstyle，withChilipeppers，tomatoes，andonions。)
ColdBoiledHam。FriedPotatoes。
ApplesandOnionsstewedtogether。
Ginger-snaps。Pickles。
Peaches，Apricots，andNectarines。
CaliforniaNutsandRaisins。
Coffee。
Andlastofall，asurpriseofBell\'s，flapjacks，longteasedforbytheboys，andpreparedandfriedbyherownhandswhilethemerrypartywaitedattable，togetthemsmokinghot。
Shecameinflushedwithheatandpride，theprettiestcookanybodyeversaw，withherhairbobbedupoutofthewayanddoingitsbesttoescape，ahigh-neckedwhiteapron，sleevesrolleduptotheelbow，andaninsinuatingspotofbatterinthedimpleofherleftcheek。
\'There!\'shecried，joyfully，asshedepositedaheapingplateinfrontofhermother，andsetthetincanofmaplesyrupbyitsside。
\'Beginonthose，andI\'llfrylikelightningontwogriddlestokeepupwithyou，\'andsherushedtothebrushkitchentoturnhernextinstalmentsthathadbeenlefttobrown。HopYethadretiredtoadistantspotbythebrook，andwaswashingdish-towels。AllChinesecooksarealikeintheirhorrorofawomaninthekitchen；butsomeofthemwillunbendsofarastoallowhertoamuseherselfsolongastheyarenotrequiredtowitnessthedisagreeablespectacle。
Belldelicatelyinsertedthecake-turnerunderthecurlededgesoftheflapjacksandturnedthemoverdeftly，usingalittletoomuchforce，perhaps，inthedownwardstrokewhensheflungthembackonthegriddle。
\'Seemstometheycomedownwithconsiderableofathud，\'shesaid，reflectively。\'Ihopethey\'renottough，forIshouldneverhearthelastofit。GuessI\'llpunchonewiththehandleofthistinshovel，andseehowitacts。Goodness!it\'ssortof——elastic。That\'sfunny。
Well，perhapsit\'sthewaytheyoughttolook。\'Hereshetransferredthesmokingmysteriestoherplate，passedabitofporkoverthegriddles，and，afterladlingouteightmore，flewofftothegroupatthetable。
\'Aretheygood?\'shewasbeginningtoask，whenthewordswerefrozenonherlipsbythesightofasignificanttableau。
Thefourboyswerestandingonthebenchthatservedinsteadofdining-chairs，eachwithaplateandapancakeonthetableinfrontofthem。Jackheldahammerandspike，ScottBurtonahatchet，Geoffreyasaw，andPhiliparifle。Bellwasnothingifnotintuitive。Noelaborateexplanationseverwereneededtoshowherafact。Withoutawordsheflungtheplateofflapjackssheheldasfarintoathicketasshehadforcetoflingit，andthendroppedonherknees。
\"\'Shoot，ifyoumust，thisoldgreyhead，Butsparemyflapjacks，sirs，\"shesaid!
\'What\'sthematterwiththem?Tough?Irefusetobelieveit。Yourtoolsaretoodull，——that\'sall。Usemoreenergy!Nothinginthisworldcanbeaccomplishedwithouteffort。\'
\'They\'realovelybrown，\'beganMrs。Winship，sympathetically。
\'Andtheyhaveaverygoodflavour，\'addedElsie。
\'Don\'ttouchthem，dearest!\'criedBell，snatchingtheplatefromunderElsie\'sverynose。\'Iwon\'thaveyoumadeillbymyfailures。
Butasfortheboys，Idon\'tcareafigforthem。Letthemmakeflapjacksmoretotheirtaste，theodiousthings!PollyOliver，didyouputinthatbakingpowder，asItoldyou，whileIwentforthepork?\'
Pollyblanched。\'Bakingpowder?\'shefaltered。
\'Yes，bakingpowder!B-A-K-I-N-GP-O-W-D-E-R!DoImakemyselfplain?\'
\'Oh，bakingpowder，tobesure。Well，nowthatyoumentionthematter，IdorememberthatDickycalledmeawayjustasIwasgettingit；andnowthatIthinkofit，Elsiecamejustafterwards，and——and——
\'
\'Andthat\'sthewholeofmystory，O，\'sangJack。\'Irecommendthecriminaltothemercyofthecourt。\'
\'Acaseoftoomanycooks，\'laughedDr。Winship。\'Cheerup，girls；
betterfortunenexttime。\'
\'Thereareeightmoreofthemburningonthegriddlesthismoment，Polly，\'saidBell，scathingly；\'andastheyareyours，notmine，I
adviseyoutothrowtheminthebrook，withtherestofthebatter，sothatHopYetwon\'tknowthattherehasbeenafailure。\'
\'Somepeopleblighteverythingtheytouch，\'sighedPolly，gloomily，asshedepartedforthekitchen。
\'ButwhenIlieinthegreenkirkyard-
\'Oh，Polly，dear，\'interruptedMargery，\'thatapologywillnotserveanylonger；you\'veusedittoooften。\'
\'Thisisgoingtobeentirelydifferent，\'continuedPolly，tragically。
\'ButwhenIlieinthegreenkirkyard，WiththemoulduponmybreastsSaynotthatshemadeflapjackswell，Only，shedidherbest。\'
\'Wepromise!\'criedBell。
CHAPTERVII:POLLY\'SBIRTHDAY:FIRSTHALF
INWHICHSHEREJOICESATTHEMEREFACTOFHEREXISTENCE。
\'\"Ofrabjousday!Calooh!Callay!\"
Hechortledinhisjoy。\'
Polly\'sbirthdaydawnedauspiciously。Atsixo\'clockshewaskissedoutofasoundsleepbyBellandMargery，andthethreegirlsslippedontheirwrappers，andpreparedtorunthroughthetreesforamorningplungeinMirrorPool。AlthoughitwasAugusttherewasstillwaterenoughinMinnehahaBrooktogiveonearefreshingdip。
MirrorPoolwasaquarterofamiledistantandwellguardedwithrocksanddeephiddenintrees；butalittlepathwayhadbeenmadetothewater\'sedge，andthusthegirlshadeasyaccesstowhattheycalledTheMermaid\'sBath。Abay-treewasadornedwithalittleredwoodsign，whichboreapictureofamermaid，drawnbyMargery，andbelowthenametheselinesinrusticletters:-
\'Ahiddenbrook，ThattothesleepingwoodsallnightSingethaquiettune。\'
Laurahadnotlivedlongenoughinthewoodstoenjoythesecoldplunges；and，asheridealwasamarbletub，withscentedwater，andaFrenchmaidtoapplythesamewithavelvetsponge，itisnotmuchwonder。Sheinsistedthat，thoughitwasdoubtlessaveryromanticproceeding，thebottomandsidesofthenaturaltubwerequitetoorockyandroughforhertaste，andthatsheshouldbeinconstantterrorofsnakescurlingroundhertoes。
\'I\'veagreatmindtowakeLaura，justforonce，\'saidBell，openingthetentdoor。\'Thereneverwassuchamorning!(IbelieveI\'vesaidthatregularlyeveryday；butIsimplynevercangetusedtoit。)Theremusthavebeenawonderfulsunrise，dears，fortheglowhasn\'tfadedyet。Notabitofmorningfog——that\'sgoodforElsie。
Andwhatalovelydayforabirthday!DidtheyusetogiveyouanythinglikethisinVermont，Polly?\'
\'Hardly，\'saidPolly，peeringoverBell\'sshoulder。\'Let\'ssee。
WhatdidtheygiveusinVermontthismonth?Why，Ican\'tthinkofanythingbutdog-days，hotnights，andhayfever；butthatsoundsungrateful。Why，Geoff\'supalready!There\'sElsie\'sbunchofvines，andtwigs，andprettythingshangingonhertent-door。He\'sbeenoffonhorseback。Justmylucktohavehimgetupfirst。Jackalwaysdoes，youknow；andlastnightIsewedupthetent-openingwithcarpet-thread，goodandtight，overhand——stitchesIwouldn\'tbeashamedofatasewing-school。\'
\'Ohyounaughtygirl!\'laughedBell。\'Theboyscouldripitopenwithaknifeinhalfthetimeittookyoutosewit。\'
\'Certainly。Ididn\'tmeantokeepthemsewedupallday；butI
thoughtI\'dlikeJacktoremembermethefirstthingthismorning。\'
\'Girls，\'whisperedMargery，excitedly，\'don\'tstandtheremooning——orsunning——forever!Ithoughttherewasagopherinthistentlastnight。Iheardsomethingscratching，andIthoughtitwasthedogoutside；butjustlookatthesetwoholesalmostunderLaura\'spillow!\'
\'Let\'sfillthemup，coverthemover——anything!\'gaspedBell。\'Laurawillneversleephereanothernightifsheseesthem。\'
\'NobodyinsuredLauraagainstgophers，\'saidPolly。\'Shemusttakethefortunesofwar。\'
\'Iwouldn\'twakeher，\'saidMargery。\'Shedidn\'tsleepwell，andherfaceisflushed。Come，orweshallbelateforbreakfast。\'
Whentheyreturned，freshandrosy，fromtheirbath，therewasastiroflifeinallthetents。Panchohadcomefromthestage-stationwithmail；anodourofbreakfastissuedfromthekitchen，whereHopYetwashummingafragmentofChinesesong，thatransomethinglikethis，——notloud，butunearthlyenough，asBellusedtosay，tospoilalmostanycooking:-
[Musicfollows]
Fongfongmongmongtiuhesunyi-usowchonghowki-umeyuntan-tarchekuchoisong!
Dickywasabroad，radiantinanewsuitofclothes，andElsiepushedhergoldenheadoutbetweenthecurtains，andproclaimedherselfstrongenoughforawrestling-matchwithanyboyormanaboutthecamp。
ButtheyfoundLaurasittingontheedgeofherstrawbed，directlyovertheconcealedgopher-holes，amirrorinherhandandanexpressionofabjectmiseryonhercountenance。
\'What\'sthematter?\'criedthegirlsinonebreath。Buttheyneedednoanswer，assheturnedherfacetowardsthelight，foritwasplainlyacaseofpoison-oak——oneeyealmostclosed，andthecheekscarletandswollen。
\'Wheredoyousupposeyougotit?\'askedBell。
\'Oh，Idon\'tknow。It\'severywhere；soIdon\'tseehowIeverhopedtoescapeit。YetI\'veworngloveseveryminute。IthinkImusthavetoucheditwhenIwentupthemountaintrailwithJack。I\'maperfectfrightalready，andIsupposeithasonlybegun。\'
\'Isitverypainful?\'askedPolly，sympathetically。\'Oh，youdolooksofunny，Icanhardlyhelplaughing，butI\'massorryasIcanbe。\'
\'Ishouldexpectyoutolaugh——yougenerallydo，\'retortedLaura。
\'No，it\'snotpainfulyet；butIdon\'tcareaboutthat——it\'slookingsoridiculous。IwonderifDr。Winshipcouldsendmehome。IwishnowthatIhadgonewithScott，forIcan\'tbepennedupinthistentaweek。\'
\'Oh，itwon\'thurtyoutogoout，\'saidBell，\'andyoucanlieinthesitting-room。Justwait，andletmammatryandcureyou。She\'safamousdoctor。\'AndBellfinisheddressinghurriedly，andwenttohermother\'stent，whilePollyandMargerysmoothedthebedwithafurtivekickofstrawovertheoffendinggopher-holes，andhungadarkshawlsoastoshieldLaura\'seyes。
AuntTruthenteredspeedily，withafamilymedicalguideunderonearm，andaboxofremediesundertheother。
\'Thedoctorhastoldmejustwhattodo，andhewillseeyouafterbreakfasthimself。Itdoesn\'tlooksoverybadacase，dear；don\'trunaboutinthesunforadayortwo，andwe\'llbringyououtallright。Thedoctorhashadusallundertreatmentatsometimeorother，becauseofthattroublesomelittleplant。\'
\'Idon\'twanttogetuptobreakfast，\'moanedLaura。
\'Justasyoulike。ButitisPolly\'sbirthday，youknow(manyhappyreturns，mysweetPollykins)，andtherearegreatpreparationsgoingon。\'
\'Ican\'thelpit，Mrs。Winship。Theboyswouldmakefunofmylooks；
andIshouldn\'tblamethem。\'
\'AppearastheVeiledLady，\'suggestedMargery，asMrs。Winshipwentout。
\'Iwon\'tcome，andthat\'stheendofit，\'saidLaura。\'PerhapsifI
bathemyfaceallthemorningIcancometodinner。\'
Afterbreakfastwasclearedaway，HopYetandMrs。Howard\'slittleChinaboyGinweregivenahalf-holiday，andallowedtogotoa——
neighbouringranchtoseea\'flend\'ofHopYet\'s；foritwasapartofthebirthdayschemethatBellandGeoffreyshouldcookthefestivaldinner。
JackwassodelightedatthefailureofPolly\'sschemetosewhiminhistent，thathesimplyradiatedamiability，andspentthewholemorninghelpingElsieandMargerywithasetofelaboratedinner-
cards，executedonhalf-sheetsofnote-paper。
Thedinneritselfwasagrandsuccess。HalfofthecardsboreacaricatureofPollyintheshapeofaparrot，withtheinscription\'Pollywantacracker?\'Therestwereadornedwithprettysketchesofherinhercamping-dress，akettleinonehand，andunderneath，\'Polly，putthekettleon，We\'llallhavetea。\'
ThiswasthebilloffarearrangedbyBellandGeoffrey，andwrittenonthereversesideofthedinner-cardsDINNERALAMOTHERGOOSE。
CAMPCHAPARRAL。
August15，18。
\'Comewithawhoop，comewithacall；
Comewithagoodwill，ornotatall。\'
\'VICTUALSANDDRINK。\'
BEANSOUP。
\'Shegavethemsomebroth，shegavethemsomebread。\'
SALTCODFISH。
\'YoushallhaveafishyInalittledishy。\'
ROASTMUTTONALAVENISON。
\'Dearsensibility，Ola!
Iheardalittlelambcryba-a!\'
POTATOESINJACKETS。
\'Thebutcher，thebaker，thecandlestick-maker，Alljumpedoutofaroastedpotato。\'
STEWEDBEANS。
\'You，norI，nornobodyknows，Whereoats，peas，beans，andbarleygrows。\'
CHICKENANDBEEFSANDWICHES。
\'Hickety，pickety，myprettyhenLaidgoodeggsforgentlemen。\'
TaffywasaWelshman，Taffywasathief，Taffycametomyhouseandstoleapieceofbeef。\'
LEMONPIE。
\'Apiesatonapear-tree。\'
PLUMTARTS。
\'TheQueenofHearts，shemadesometarts，Allonasummer\'sday。\'
FRUIT，NUTS，ANDRAISINS。
\'Youshallhaveanapple，Youshallhaveaplum。\'
\'Ihadalittlenut-tree，nothingwoulditbearButasilvernutmegandagoldenpear。\'
BREADANDCHEESE。
\'WhenIwasabachelorIlivedbymyself，AndallthebreadandcheeseIgotIputupontheshelf。\'
COFFEEANDLEMONADE。
\'One，two，three，howgoodyoube!
IlovecoffeeandBillylovestea。\'
\'Orangesandlemons，SaysthebellofSt。Clemen\'s。\'
\'WhattheyateIcan\'ttell，But\'tisknownverywellThatnoneofthepartygrewfat。\'
BellandGeofftookturnsat\'dishingup\'inthekitchen，andsatdownatthetablebetweenwhiles；andtheybarelyescapedbeingmobbedwhentheyomittedoneortwodishesontheprogramme，andconfessedthattheyhadbeenputonprincipallyforthe\'style\'ofthething，——averypoorexcusetoacompanyofpeoplewhohavemadeuptheirmouthsforallthedelicaciesoftheseason。
Jackwasheadwaiter，andhavingdonnedacleanwhiteblouseofHopYet\'sandhisbestcapwiththeredbutton，fromwhichdangledahastilyimprovisedqueueofblackworsted，heproceededtoconvulseeverybodywithhisMongolianantics。TheseconsistedofmostinformalremarksincleverpigeonEnglish，andsnatchesofChinesemelody，renderedfromtimetotimeashecarrieddishesintothekitchen。Elsielaugheduntilshecried，andLaurasatintheshadiestcorner，herheadartisticallyswathedinwhitetarlatan。
PollyoccupiedtheseatofhonourattheendofthetableoppositeDr。Winship，andwashappierthanaqueen。Sheworehernewgreencambric，withabunchofleavesatherbelt。Shewassun-burned，butthefrecklesseemedtohavedisappearedmysteriouslyfromhernose，andalmostanyonewouldhaveadmiredtherosyskin，thedancingeyes，andthegracefullittleauburnhead，\'sunningoverwithcurls。\'
Whenthelastbitofdesserthadbeendisposedof，andDickyhadgonetosleepinhismother\'slap，likeaninfantboa-constrictorafteraheartymeal，thepresentationofgiftsandreadingofpoemstookplace；andPollyhadtobeonthealerttoanswerallthenonsensicaljokesthatwereaimedather。
Finally，BellcrownedtheoccasionbyproducingasongofMissMulock\'s，whichhadcomeinthemorningmailfromsomegirlfriendofPolly\'sintheEast，whohaddiscoveredthatPolly\'snamehadappearedinpoetryandsongwithoutherknowledge，andwhothoughtshemightbeinterestedtohearthecomposition。WiththeaidofBell\'sguitarandJack\'sbanjothegirlsandboyssooncaughttheprettyair，andsungitinchorus。
1。PrettyPol-lyOl-i-ver，willyoubemyown?
Pret-tyPol-lyOl-i-ver，ascoldasastone；Butmylovehasgrownwarm-erascold-eryou\'vegrown，OPret-tyPol-lyOl-i-ver，willyoubemyown?
2。Pret-tyPol-lyOl-i-ver，Iloveyousodear!
Pret-tyPol-lyOl-i-ver，myhopeandmyfear；I\'vewait-edforyou，sweet-heart，thismanyalongyear；ForPret-tyPol-lyOl-i-ver，I\'velovedyousodear!
3。Pret-tyPol-lyOl-i-ver，I\'llbidyougoodbye:
Pret-tyPol-lyOl-i-ver，foryouI\'llnotdie；You\'llnev-ergetatru-ertruelov-erthanI，SoPret-tyPol-lyOl-i-ver，good-bye，love，good-bye!
Attheend，Dr。Winshipraisedhisglassoflemonade，andproposedtodrinkMissOliver\'shealth。Thiswasdonewithenthusiasm，andGeoffreyimmediatelycried，\'Speech，speech!\'
\'Ican\'t，\'saidPolly，blushingfuriously。
\'Speech!\'sungJackandPhilipvociferously，poundingonthetablewithknife-handlestoincreasethefurore。
\'Speech!\'demandedthegenialdoctor，goingovertothemajority，andsmilingencouraginglyatPolly，whowaspushedtoherfeetbeforesheknewverywellwhatshewasdoing。\'Oh，ifLaurawerenotlookingatme，\'shethought，\'I\'djustliketospeakrightout，andtellthemalittlebitofwhatisinmyheart。Idon\'tcare——Iwill!\'
\'Iknowyouareallinfun，\'shesaid，lookingbravelyintothegooddoctor\'seyes，\'andofcoursenoonecouldmakeaproperspeechwithJackgrinninglikeaCheshirecat，butIcan\'thelptellingyouthatthisisthehappiestsummerandthehappiestbirthdayofmywholelife，andthatIscarcelyremembernowadaysthatIhavenofatherandnobrothersandsisters，forIhaveneverbeenaloneorunhappysinceyoutookmeinamongyouandBellchosemeforherfriend；andI
thinkthatifyouknewhowgratefulIamformybeautifulsummer，dearDr。PaulandAuntTruth，youwouldbegladthatyougaveittome，andIloveyouall，dearly，dearly，dearly!\'WhereupontheimpulsivelittlecreaturefinishedhermaidenspeechbydashingroundthetableandgivingMrs。Winshiponeofher\'bearhugs，\'atwhicheverybodylaughedandrosefromthetable。
LauraBurton，whowasthoroughlyoutofconceitwiththeworld，andwhowasneverquitehappywhenotherpeopleseemedforthemomenttobepreferredtoherself，thoughtthisburstofaffectiondecidedlytheatrical，butshedidnotknowofanyonetowhomshecouldconfineheropinionsjustthen；indeed，shefelttoodepressedandoutofsortstojoininthegeneralhilarity。
Dinnerbeingover，Dr。Paulandtheboystookthechildrenandsaunteredupthecanyonforalazyafternoonwiththeirbooks。Elsiewenttosleepinthenewhammockthatthedoctorhadhunginthesycamoresbackofthegirls\'sleeping-tent，andMrs。Winshiplaydownforherafternoonnap。PanchosaddledthehorsesforBellandMargery，whowentforagallop。Pollyclimbedintothesky-parlourtowritealonglettertohermother，andLaurawaslefttosolitudeinthesleeping-tent。Noweverybodyknowsthatatentatmiddayisnotaparticularlypleasantspot，andaftermanyagroanattheglareofthesun，whichcouldnotbetemperedbyanysystemofshawls，andmoansatthegopher-holeswhichshediscoveredwhilesearchingforherear-ring，andrepeatedconsultationswiththehand-glassatbriefintervals，duringwhichsheconvincedherselfthatshelookedworseeveryminute，——shefinallydiscoveredaseriesofalarmingnewspotsonherneckandchin。Shefeltthenthatcampingoutwasacompletefailure，andthatshewouldbetakenhomeforthwithifitcouldbemanaged，sinceshesawnothingbeforeherbutdayafterdayofcloseconfinementandunattractivepersonalappearance。\'It\'sjustmyluck!\'shegrumbled，asshetwistedupherhairandmadeherselfaspresentableaspossibleunderthetryingcircumstances。\'Idon\'tthinkIeverhadabecomingoraninterestingillness。Thechicken-
pox，mumps，andstiesonmyeyes——that\'sthesortofthingIhave!\'
\'Ifeelmuchworse，Mrs。Winship，\'shesaid，goingintothesitting-
roomtentandwakingAuntTruthfromapeacefulsnooze。\'IfyoucansparePanchoovernight，IreallythinkImusttroubleyoutosendAnneandmehomeatonce。IfeelasifIwantedtogotobedinadarkroom，andIshallonlybeabotherifIstay。\'
\'Why，mychild，I\'msorrytohaveyougooffwithyourvisitunfinished。Youknowwedon\'tmindanyamountoftrouble，ifwecanmakeyoucomfortable。\'
\'Youareverykind，butindeedI\'drathergo。\'
\'Ihardlydareletyoustartinthehotsun——withoutconsultingthedoctor，andeverybodyisawayexceptPolly；theywillfeelbadlynottosaygood-bye。\'
\'Itisnearlythreeo\'clocknow，sotheworstofthesunisover，andweshallbeattheranchbyeightthisevening。Ifeeltooilltosaygood-bye，anyway，andweshallmeetBellandMargerysomewhereontheroad，fortheyweregoingtothemilkranch。\'
\'Verywell，mydear，ifyou\'vemadeupyourmindImustyield，\'
repliedMrs。Winship，gettingupandsmoothingherhair。\'Idon\'tdarewakeElsie，shehashadsuchanexcitingday；butI\'llcallPollytohelpyoupack，andthentellPanchotofindAnneandharnesstheteam。Whileheisdoingthat，I\'llgetyoualittlelunchtotakewithyouandwriteanotetoyourmother。Perhapsyoucancomeagainbeforewebreakcamp，butI\'msorrytosendyouhomeinsuchasadplight。\'
CHAPTERVIII:POLLY\'SBIRTHDAY:SECONDHALF
INWHICHSHEWISHESSEEHADNEVERBEENBORN。
\'FromHebrewwitthemaximsprung，Thoughfeetshouldslip，ne\'erletthetongue。
Pollycameatoncetothetent，whereshefoundLauragettingherbelongingstogether。
\'Why，Laura，itseemstoobadyoushouldgooffsosuddenly。WhatcanIdotohelpyou?\'
TheveryspiritofevilenteredLaura\'sheartasshelookedatPolly，sofreshandprettyandradiant，withherdimplesdancinginandout，herhairruffledwiththeeffortofliterarycomposition，andtheglowoftheday\'shappinessstillshininginhereyes。ShefeltasifPollywas\'gladinside\'thatshewaspoisoned；shefeltsureshewasinternallyjumpingforjoyatherdeparture；and，aboveall，shefeltthatPollywasentirelytooconceitedovertheattentionshehadreceivedthatday，andneededtobe\'takendownapegortwo。\'
\'Red-haired，stuck-up，saucything，\'shethought，\'howIshouldliketogiveherapieceofmymindbeforeIleavethisplace，ifIonlydared!\'
\'Idon\'tneedanyhelp，thankyou，\'shesaidaloud，inhericiestmanner。
\'Butitwillonlymakeyourheadachetobendoverandtugawayatthatvalise，andI\'llbeonlytoogladtodoit。\'
\'I\'venodoubtofthat，\'respondedLaura，meaningly。\'Itisuselessforyoutomakeanyshowofregretovermygoing，forIknowperfectlywellthatyouaregladtogetmeoutoftheway。\'
\'Why，Laura，whatdoyoumean?\'exclaimedPolly，completelydazedatthisbombshellofcandour。
\'ImeanwhatIsay；andIshouldhavesaiditbeforeifIcouldeverhavefoundachance。BecauseIdidn\'tmentionitatthetime，youneedn\'tsupposeI\'veforgottenyourgettingmeintotroublewithMrs。
Winship，thedaybeforetheHowardscame。\'
\'Thatwasnotmyfault，\'saidPolly，hotly。\'Ididn\'tspeakanylouderthantheothergirls，andIdidn\'tknowAuntTruthobjectedtoMrs。Pinkerton，andIdidn\'tknowshewasanywherenear。\'
\'YouroaredlikethebullofBashan——that\'swhatyoudid。Perhapsyoucan\'thelpyourvoice，butanybodyinthecanyoncouldhaveheardyou；andMrs。Winshiphasn\'tbeenthesametomesince，andtheboysdon\'ttaketheslightestnoticeofmelately。\'
\'Youareentirelymistaken，Laura。Dr。andMrs。Winshiparejustaslovelyandcordialtoyouastheyaretoeverybodyelse，andtheboysdonotfeelwellenoughacquaintedwithyouto\"frolic\"withyouastheydowithus。\'
\'Itisn\'tso，butyouarenotsensitiveenoughtoseeit；andI
shouldneverhavebeenpoisonedifithadn\'tbeenforyou!\'
\'Oh，goon，do!\'saidPolly，beginningtoloseherself-control，whichwasneververygreat。\'Ididn\'tknowIwasaLucreziaBorgiaindisguise。HowdidIpoisonyou，pray?\'
\'Ididn\'tsayyoupoisonedme；butyoumademesouncomfortablethatday，bringingdownMrs。Winship\'slectureonmyheadandgettingmybestfriendabused，thatIwasgladtogetawayfromthecamp，andwentoutwithJackforthatreasonwhenIwastootiredandwarm；andyouarealwaystryingtocutmeoutwithBellandtheboys。\'
