smiling, yet looking as if with all his humility he did have faith in
the aspirations that came to him in his best moments.
“Some one said that very thing to father once, and I remember he
answered, ‘I am glad to give my best and brightest son to the
service of God.’ ”
“Did he say that?” and Will’s color rose, for the big, book-loving
fellow was as sensitive as a girl to the praise of those dearest to
him.
“Yes,” said Polly, unconsciously giving the strongest stimulus to
her brother’s hope and courage. “Yes, and he added, ‘I shall let my
boys follow the guide that is in them, and only ask of them to use
their gifts conscientiously, and be honest, useful men.’ ”
“So we will! Ned is doing well out West, and I ‘m hard at it here. If
father does his best to give us the chance we each want, the least
we can do is to work with a will.”
“Whatever you do, you can’t help working with a Will,” cried Tom,
who had been so interested, that he forgot he was playing
eavesdropper.
Polly flew up, looking so pleased and surprised, that Tom
reproached himself for not having called oftener.
“I ‘ve come for Maud,” he announced, in a paternal tone, which
made that young lady open her eyes.
“I can’t go till my apple is done; besides, it is n’t nine yet, and Will
is going to take me along, when he goes. I ‘d rather have him.”
“I ‘m going to take you both in the cutter. The storm is over, but it
is heavy walking, so you ‘ll drive out with me, old man?” said
Tom, with a nod at Will.
“Of course he will; and thank you very much. I ‘ve been trying to
keep him all night; Miss Mills always manages to find a corner for
stray people, but he insists on going, so as to get to work early
to-morrow,” said Polly, delighted to see that Tom was taking off
his coat, as if he meant to wait for Maud’s apple, which Polly
blessed for being so slow to cook.
Putting her guest into the best chair, Polly sat down and beamed at
him with such hospitable satisfaction, that Tom went up several
pegs in his own estimation.
“You don’t come very often, so we are rather over-powered when
you do honor us,” she said, demurely.
“Well, you, know we fellows are so busy, we have n’t much time to
enjoy ourselves,” answered Tom.
“Ahem!” said Will, loudly.
“Take a troche,” said Tom.
Then they both burst out laughing, and Polly, fully understanding
the joke, joined them, saying, “Here are some peanuts, Tom; do
enjoy yourself while you can.”
“Now I call that a delicate compliment!” And Tom, who had not
lost his early relish for this sort of refreshment, though he seldom
indulged his passion nowadays, because peanuts are considered
vulgar, fell to cracking and munching with great satisfaction.
“Do you remember the first visit I made at your house, how you
gave me peanuts, coming from the depot, and frightened me out of
my wits, pretending the coachman was tipsy?” asked Polly.
“Of course I do, and how we coasted one day,” answered Tom,
laughing.
“Yes, and the velocipede; you ‘ve got the scar of that yet, I see.”
“I remember how you stood by me while it was sewed up; that was
very plucky, Polly.”
“I was dreadfully afraid, but I remember I wanted to seem very
brave, because you ‘d called me a coward.”
“Did I? Ought to have been ashamed of myself. I used to rough you
shamefully, Polly, and you were so good-natured, you let me do
it.”
“Could n’t help myself,” laughed Polly. “I did use to think you were
an awful boy, but seems to me I rather liked it.”
“She had so much of it at home, she got used to it,” put in Will,
pulling the little curl behind Polly’s ear.
“You boys never teased me as Tom did, that ‘s the reason it amused
me, I suppose; novelty hath charms, you know.”
“Grandma used to lecture Tom for plaguing you, Polly, and he