cried Fanny; “she is going to give music lessons, and support
herself, so that Will may go to college. He is the studious one, and
Polly is very proud of him. Ned, the other brother, has a business
talent, and don’t care for books, so he has gone out West, and will
make his own way anywhere. Polly says she is n’t needed at home
now, the family is so small, and Kitty can take her place nicely; so
she is actually going to earn her own living, and hand over her
share of the family income to Will. What a martyr that girl does
make of herself,” and Fanny looked as solemn as if Polly had
proposed some awful self-sacrifice.
“She is a sensible, brave-hearted girl, and I respect her for doing
it,” said Mr. Shaw, emphatically. “One never knows what may
happen, and it does no harm for young people to learn to be
independent.”
“If she is as pretty as she was last time I saw her, she ‘ll get pupils
fast enough. I would n’t mind taking lessons myself,” was the
gracious observation of Shaw, Jr., as he turned from the mirror,
with the soothing certainty that his objectionable hair actually was
growing darker.
“She would n’t take you at any price,” said Fanny, remembering
Polly’s look of disappointment and disapproval when she came on
her last visit and found him an unmistakable dandy.
“You just wait and see,” was the placid reply.
“If Polly does carry out her plan, I wish Maud to take lessons of
her; Fanny can do as she likes, but it would please me very much
to have one of my girls sing as Polly sings. It suits old people
better than your opera things, and mother used to enjoy it so
much.”
As he spoke, Mr. Shaw’s eye turned toward the comer of the fire
where grandma used to sit. The easy-chair was empty now, the
kind old face was gone, and nothing but a very tender memory
remained.
“I ‘d like to learn, papa, and Polly is a splendid teacher, I know; she
‘s always so patient, and makes everything so pleasant. I do hope
she will get scholars enough to begin right away,” said Maud.
“When is she coming?” asked Mrs. Shaw, quite willing to help
Polly, but privately resolving that Maud should be finished off by
the most fashionable master in the city.
“She does n’t say. She thanks me for asking her here, as usual, but
says she shall go right to work and had better begin with her own
little room at once. Won’t it seem strange to have Polly in town,
and yet not with us?”
“We ‘ll get her somehow. The little room will cost something, and
she can stay with us just as well as not, even if she does teach. Tell
her I say so,” said Mr. Shaw.
“She won’t come, I know; for if she undertakes to be independent,
she ‘ll do it in the most thorough manner,” answered Fanny, and
Mrs. Shaw sincerely hoped she would. It was all very well to
patronize the little music-teacher, but it was not so pleasant to
have her settled in the family.
“I shall do what I can for her among my friends, and I dare say she
will get on very well with young pupils to begin with. If she starts
right, puts her terms high enough, and gets a few good names to
give her the entr,e into our first families, I don’t doubt she will do
nicely, for I must say Polly has the manners of a lady,” observed
Mrs. Shaw.
“She ‘s a mighty taking little body, and I ‘m glad she ‘s to be in
town, though I ‘d like it better if she did n’t bother about teaching,
but just stayed here and enjoyed herself,” said Tom, lazily.
“I ‘ve no doubt she would feel highly honored to be allowed to
devote her time to your amusement; but she can’t afford expensive
luxuries, and she don’t approve of flirting, so you will have to let
her go her own way, and refresh herself with such glimpses of you