Five Little Peppers Grown Up

by Margaret Sidney

  CHAPTER VII.

  PHRONSIE.

  "I can't tell her," groaned Mrs. Pepper, the next morning, at sight ofPhronsie's peaceful little face. "I never can say the word 'diphtheria'in all this world."

  Phronsie laughed and played with Baby quite merrily, all such time asMiss Carruth, the governess, allowed her from the schoolroom thatmorning.

  "Everything is beautiful, King dear," she would say on such littleflying visits to the nursery. "Grandpapa and Polly, I do think, will behome pretty soon; and Helen is going to get well, because you know Iasked God to let her, and he wouldn't ever, in all this world, take heraway from her mother. He wouldn't, King," she added confidentially inBaby's small ear.

  All day long the turreted Fargo mansion gleamed brightly in the glancingsunlight, giving no hint of the battle for a life going on within. Mrs.Fisher knew when her husband sent for the most celebrated doctor forthroat diseases; knew when he came; and knew also when each hour thosewho were fighting the foe, were driven back baffled. And several timesshe attempted to tell Phronsie something of the shadow hanging over thelittle playmate's home. But Phronsie invariably put aside all herattempts with a gentle persistence, always saying, "He wouldn't, youknow, Mamsie."

  And at nightfall Helen had gone; and two white little hands were foldedquietly across a young girl's breast.

  No one told Phronsie that night; no one could. And she clambered intoher little white bed, after saying her old prayer; then she lay in themoonlight again, watching Helen's house.

  "The light is out, Mamsie," she called, "in Helen's room. But I supposeshe is asleep." And presently Mrs. Fisher, stealing in, with unshedtears in her eyes, found her own child safe--folded in restful slumber,her hand tucked under her cheek.

  But the next morning, when she must hear it!

  "Phronsie," said Mrs. Fisher, "come here, dear." It was after breakfast,and Phronsie was running up into the school-room.

  "Do you mean I am not to go to Miss Carruth?" asked Phronsiewonderingly, and fingering her books.

  "Yes, dear. Oh, Phronsie"--Mrs. Fisher abruptly dropped her customaryself-control, and held out her arms. "Come here, mother's baby; I'vesomething bad to tell you, and you must help me, dear."

  Phronsie came at once, with wide-open, astonished brown eyes, andclimbed up into the good lap obediently.

  "Phronsie," said Mrs. Fisher, swallowing the lump in her throat, andlooking at the child fixedly, "you know Helen has been very sick."

  "Yes, mamma," said Phronsie, still in a wonder.

  "Well--and she suffered, dear, oh, so much!"

  A look of pain stole over Phronsie's face, and Mrs. Fisher hastened tosay, "But oh. Phronsie, she can't ever suffer any more, for--for--Godhas taken her home, Phronsie."

  "Has Helen died?" asked Phronsie, in a sharp little voice, so unlike herown that Mrs. Pepper shivered and held her close.

  "Oh, darling--how can I tell you? Yes, dear, God has taken her home toHeaven."

  "And left Mrs. Fargo without any little girl?" asked Phronsie, in thesame tone.

  "My dear--yes--He knows what is best," said poor Mrs. Fisher.

  The startled look on Phronsie's little face gave way to a grievedexpression, that slowly settled on each feature.

  "Let me get down, Mamsie," she said, quietly, and gently struggling tofree herself.

  "Oh, Phronsie, what are you going to do?" cried Mrs. Fisher. "Do sitwith mother."

  "I must think it out, Mamsie," said Phronsie, with grave decision,getting on her feet, and she went slowly up the stairs, and into her ownroom; then closed the door.

  And all that day she said nothing; even when Mother Fisher begged her tocome and talk it over with her, Phronsie would say, "I can't, Mamsiedear, it won't talk itself." But she was gentle and sweet with Baby, andnever relaxed any effort for his amusement. And at last, when they werefolding Helen away lovingly in flowers, from all who had loved her, Mrs.Fisher wrote in despair to Polly, telling her all about it, and adding,"You must come home, if only for a few days, or Phronsie will be sick."

  "I shall go, too," declared old Mr. King, "for Marian can spare me now.Oh, that blessed child! And I can come back here with you, Polly, ifnecessary."

  And Polly had nothing for it but to help him off, and Charlotte's fatherbeing ever so much better, she joined them; and as soon as it was apossible thing, there they were at home, and Thomas was driving them upat his best speed, to the carriage porch.

  "Polly!" Phronsie gasped the word, and threw hungry little arms aroundPolly's neck.

  "There, there, Pet," cried Polly cheerily, "you see we're all home.Here's Grandpapa!"

  "Where's my girl?" cried old Mr. King hastily. "Here, Phronsie," and shewas in his arms, while the tears rained down her cheeks.

  "Bless me!" exclaimed the old gentleman, putting up his hand at theshower. "Well, that is a welcome home, Phronsie."

  "Oh, Grandpapa, I didn't mean to!" said Phronsie, drawing back indismay. "I do hope it hasn't hurt your coat."

  "Never mind the coat, Phronsie," said Mr. King. "So you are glad to getus home, eh?"

  Phronsie snuggled close to his side, while she clung to his hand withouta word.

  "Well, we mustn't forget Charlotte," cried Polly, darting back to a tallgirl with light hair and very pale blue eyes, standing composedly in onecorner of the hall, and watching the whole thing closely. "Mamsie, dear,here she is," taking her hand to draw her to Mrs. Fisher.

  "Don't mind me," said Charlotte, perfectly at her ease. "You take careof the little girl," as Polly dragged her on.

  Mrs. Fisher took a good long look at Charlotte Chatterton. Then shesmiled, "I am glad to see you, Charlotte."

  CHARLOTTE, STANDING COMPOSEDLY IN ONE CORNER OF THEHALL.]

  Charlotte took the firm fingers extended to her, and said, "Thank you,"then turned off to look at Phronsie again.

  And it wasn't till after dinner that Phronsie's trouble was touchedupon. Then Polly drew her off to a quiet corner.

  "Now, then, Phronsie," she said, gathering her up close in her arms,"tell me all about it, Pet. Just think," and Polly set warm kisses onthe pale little cheek, "how long it is since you and I have had a goodtalk."

  "I know it," said Phronsie wearily, and she drew a long sigh.

  "Isn't it good that dear Aunty is so much better?" cried Polly cheerily,quite at a loss how to begin.

  "Yes, Polly," said Phronsie, but she sighed again, and did not lift hereyes to Polly's face.

  "If anything troubles you," at last broke out Polly desperately, "you'dfeel better, Phronsie, to tell sister about it. I may not know how tosay the right things, but I can maybe help a little."

  Phronsie sat quite still, and folded and unfolded her hands in her lap."Why did God take away Helen?" she asked suddenly, lifting her head."Oh, Polly, it wasn't nice of him," she added, a strange look cominginto her brown eyes.

  PHRONSIE WENT OVER TO THE WINDOW.]

  "Oh, Phronsie!" exclaimed Polly, quite shocked, "don't, dear; that isn'tlike you, Pet. Why, God made us all, and he can do just as he likes,darling."

  "But it isn't nice," repeated Phronsie deliberately, and quite firmly,"to take Helen now. Why doesn't He make another little girl then forMrs. Fargo?" and she held Polly with her troubled eyes.

  "Phronsie"--cried Polly; then she stopped abruptly. "Oh, what can I say?I don't know, dearie; it's just this way; we don't know why God doesthings. But we love him, and we feel it's right. Oh, Phronsie, don'tlook so. There, there," and she drew her close to her, in a loving,hungry clasp. "I told you I didn't think I could say the right things toyou," she went on hurriedly, "but, Phronsie, I know God did just rightin taking Helen to heaven. Just think how beautiful it must be there,and so many little children are there. And Helen is so happy. Oh,Phronsie, when I think of that, I am glad she is gone."

  "Helen was happy here," said Phronsie decidedly. "And she never--neverwould want to leave her mother alone, to go off to a nicer place. Never,Polly."

  Polly drew a long b
reath, and shut her lips. "But, Phronsie, don't yousee," she cried presently, "it may be that Mrs. Fargo wouldn't ever wantto go to Heaven unless Helen was there to meet her? It may be, Phronsie;and that would be very dreadful, you know. And God loved Mrs. Fargo sothat he took Helen, and he is going to keep her happy every singleminute while she is waiting and getting ready for her mother."

  Phronsie suddenly slipped down from Polly's lap. "Is that true?" shedemanded.

  "Yes, dear," said Polly, "I think it is, Phronsie," and her cheeksglowed. "Oh, can't you see how much nicer it is in God to make Mrs.Fargo happy for always with Helen, instead of just a little bit of awhile down here?"

  Phronsie went over to the window and looked up at the winter sky. "It isa long way off," she said, but the bitter tone had gone, and it was agrieved little voice that added, "and Mrs. Fargo can't see Helen."

  "Phronsie," said Polly, hurrying over to her side, "perhaps God wantsyou to do some things for Mrs. Fargo--things, I mean, that Helen wouldhave done."

  "Why, I can't go over there," said Phronsie wonderingly. "Papa Fishersays I am not to go over there for ever and ever so long, Polly."

  "Well, you can write her little notes and you can help her to see thatGod did just right in taking Helen away," said Polly; "and that would bethe very best thing you could do, Phronsie, for Mrs. Fargo; the veryloveliest thing in all this world."

  "Would it?" asked Phronsie.

  "Yes, dear."

  "Then I'll do it; and perhaps God wants me to like Heaven better; doeshe, Polly, do you think?"

  "I really and truly do, Phronsie," said Polly softly. Then she leanedover and threw both arms around Phronsie's neck. "Oh, Phronsie, can'tyou see--I never thought of it till now--but He has given you somebodyelse instead of Helen, to love and to do things for?"

  Phronsie looked up wonderingly. "I don't know what you mean, Polly," shesaid.

  "There's Charlotte," cried Polly, going on rapidly as she releasedPhronsie. "Oh, Phronsie, you can't think; it's been dreadfully hard anddull always for her at home, with those two stiff great-aunts pecking ather."

  "Tell me about it," begged Phronsie, turning away from the window, andputting her hand in Polly's.

  "Well, come over to our corner then." So the two ran back, Phronsieclimbing into Polly's lap, while a look of contentment began to spreadover her face.

  "You see," began Polly, "Charlotte's mother has always been too ill tohave nice times; she couldn't go out, you know, very much, nor keep thehouse, and so the two great-aunts came to live with them. Well, prettysoon they began to feel as if they owned the house, and Charlotte, andeverybody in it."

  "Oh dear!" exclaimed Phronsie, in distress.

  "And Charlotte's father, Mr. Alexander Chatterton, couldn't stop it; andbeside, he was away on business most of the time, and Charlotte didn'tcomplain--oh, she behaved very nice about it; Phronsie, her father toldGrandpapa all about it; and by and by her mother died, and then thingsgot worse and worse; but Mr. Chatterton never knew half how bad it was.But when he was sick it all came out, and it worried him so that he gotvery bad indeed, and then he sent for Grandpapa--Charlotte couldn't stophim; he made her go. You see he was afraid he was going to die, and hecouldn't bear to have things so very dreadful for Charlotte."

  "And is he going to die?" broke in Phronsie excitedly.

  "Oh no, indeed! he was almost well when we came away; it was only hisworrying over Charlotte that made him so bad. Oh, you ought to have seenhim, Phronsie, when Grandpapa offered to take Charlotte home with us forthe winter. He was so happy he almost cried."

  "I am so glad he was happy," cried Phronsie in great satisfaction, hercheeks flushing.

  "And so now I think God gave Charlotte to you for a little while becauseyou haven't Helen. I do, Phronsie, and you can make Charlotte glad whileshe is here, and help her to have a good time."

  "Can I?" cried Phronsie, her cheeks growing a deep pink. "Oh, Polly,how? Charlotte is a big girl; how can I help her?"

  "That's your secret to find out," said Polly merrily. "Well, come now,"kissing her, "we must hurry back to Grandpapa, or he'll feel badly tohave you gone so long."

  "Polly," cried Phronsie, as they hurried over the stairs, "put your eardown, do."

  "I can't till we get downstairs," laughed Polly, "or I'll tumble on mynose, I'm afraid. Well, here we are. Now then, what is it?" and she bentover to catch the soft words.

  "I'm sorry," said Phronsie, her lips quite close to Polly's rosy cheek,"that I said God wasn't nice to take Helen away. Oh, I love him, Polly,I truly do."

  "So you do," said Polly, with, a warm clasp. "Well, here's Grandpapa,"as the library door opened, and Mr. King came out to meet them.

  Polly, running over the stairs the next day to greet Alexia and some ofthe girls who were determined to make the most of her little visit athome, was met first by one of the maids with a letter.

  ALEXIA COOLLY READ ON, ONE ARM AROUND POLLY.]

  "Oh, now," cried Alexia, catching sight of it, "I almost know that's tohurry you back, Polly. She sha'n't read it, girls." With that she made afeint of seizing the large white envelope.

  "Hands off from my property," cried Polly merrily, waving her off, andsitting down on the stair she tore the letter open.

  Alexia worked her way along till she was able to sit down beside her,when she was guilty of looking over her shoulder.

  "Oh, Alexia Rhys, how perfectly, dreadfully mean!" cried one of theother girls, wishing she could be in the same place.

  Alexia turned a deaf ear, and coolly read on, one arm around Polly.

  "Oh, girls--girls!" she suddenly screamed, and jumping up, nearlyoversetting Polly, she raced over the remaining stairs to the bottom,where she danced up and down the wide hall, "Polly isn't going back--sheisn't--she isn't," she kept declaring.

  "What!" cried all the girls. "Oh, do stop, Alexia. What is it?"

  Meantime Cathie Harrison ran up and quickly possessed herself of thevacated seat.

  "Why, Mr. Whitney writes to say that Polly needn't go back--oh, howperfectly lovely in him!" cried Alexia, bringing up flushed and panting."Oh, dear me, I can't breathe!"

  "Oh! oh!" cried all the girls, clapping their hands.

  "But that doesn't mean that I shall not go back," said Polly, looking upfrom her letter to peer through the stair-railing at them. "Ithink--yes, I really do think that I ought to go back."

  "How nonsensical!" exclaimed Alexia impatiently. "If Mr. Whitney saysyou are not needed, isn't that enough? Beside he wrote it for Mrs.Whitney; I read it all."

  "No, I don't think it is enough," answered Polly slowly, and turning theletter with perplexed fingers, "for I know dear Aunty only told him towrite because she thought I ought to be at home."

  "And so you ought," declared Alexia, very decidedly. "She's quite rightabout it, and now you're here, why, you've just got to stay. So there,Polly Pepper. Hasn't she, girls?"

  "Yes, indeed," cried the girls.

  Polly shook her brown head, as she still sat on her stair busilythinking.

  "Here comes Mr. King," cried Cathie Harrison, suddenly craning her neckat the sound of the opening of a door above them. "Now I'm just going toask him," and she sprang to her feet.

  "Cathie--Cathie," begged Polly, springing up too.

  "I just will," declared Cathie, obstinately scampering up over thestairs. "Oh, Mr. King, mayn't Polly stay home? Oh, do say yes, please!"

  "Yes, do say yes, please," called all the other girls in the hall below.

  "Hoity-toity!" exclaimed the old gentleman, well pleased at theonslaught. "Now then, what's the matter, pray tell?"

  "I just won't have Cathie Harrison tell him," said Alexia, trying to runup over the stairs. "Let me by, Polly, do," she begged.

  "No, indeed," cried Polly, spreading her arms. "It's bad enough to haveone of you up there besieging Grandpapa."

  "Then I'll run up the back stairs," cried Alexia, turning in a flash.

  "Oh, yes, the back stairs!" exclaimed the othe
r girls, following her."Oh, do hurry! Polly's coming after us."

  But speed as she might, Polly could not overtake the bevy, who, laughingand panting, stood before Mr. King a second ahead of her.

  "A pretty good race," said the old gentleman, laughing heartily, "butagainst you from the first, Polly, my girl."

  "Don't listen to them, Grandpapa dear," panted Polly.

  "Mayn't she stay at home--mayn't she?"

  "Hush, girls," begged Polly. "Oh, Grandpapa dear, don't listen to them.Aunty told Uncle Mason to write the letter, and you know"--

  "Well, yes, I know all you would say, Polly. But I've also had a letterfrom Mason, and I was just going to show it to you." He pulled out ofhis vest pocket another envelope corresponding to the one in Polly'shand, which he waved at her.

  "Oh, Grandpapa!" exclaimed Polly, quite aghast at his so easily goingover to the enemy. With that, all the girls deserted the old gentleman,and swarmed around Polly.

  "See here, now," commanded Mr. King, "every single one of you youngthings come back here this minute. Goodness me, Polly, I should thinkthey'd be the death of you."

  Polly didn't hear a word, for she was reading busily: "Marian says'don't let Polly come back on any account. It worries me dreadfully tothink of all that she is giving up; and I will be brave, and do withouther. She must not come back.'"

  Polly looked up to meet old Mr. King's eyes fixed keenly upon her.

  "You see, Polly," he began, "I really don't dare after that to let yougo back."

  "Oh--oh--oh!" screamed all the girls.

  "There, I told you so," exclaimed Alexia.