Chapter XII

The Kidnapping of Polly

“Mamma and I are going to live with Uncle David.”  So the boy told Polly late that afternoon.  “He says he has lost time enough, and now we must come as soon as we can pack up.”

“Is n’t that splendid!” beamed Polly, thinking she had never seen David look so happy or so handsome.

“Uncle David is nicer—­a great deal nicer—­than I dreamed he could be.  O Polly, I can’t thank you enough!”

“Thank me?” repeated Polly.  “What for?”

“Polly May!” and David gazed at her incredulously.  Then he laughed.

“Oh, you little bunch of unselfishness!” he cried.  “I believe you have n’t the least idea that Uncle David’s making up with us is all your doing!”

“Why, David Collins, it is n’t!  I just told him it would make me happy if he would—­that’s all!”

“Just as I said!” he laughed.  “O Polly, Polly!  Don’t you see—­ no, no, I’d rather you would n’t!  Don’t try to see!”

“I could n’t!” chuckled Polly.  “There is n’t anything to see!”

“All right!  It’s grand anyway!  Mamma looks so much prettier and younger!  Oh, you can’t think how happy—­”

The telephone cut off his sentence, and he ran across the office.

He listened a moment; then Polly heard him say, “She is right here.  If you’ll wait, please, I’ll ask her.”

David turned from the instrument.  “It is Mrs. Jocelyn,” he explained.  “She wants you to come up there to-morrow afternoon, and stay all night and next day.  Her cousin’s little girl—­ Dorothy Cannon, I think the name is—­will be there, and she wants you too.”

“Oh, of course I’ll go!” and Polly’s eyes shone:  “that is, if Miss Lucy or Dr. Dudley don’t need me for anything, and I don’t suppose they will.  Tell her I’ll come, unless they do.  Oh, and, David,”—­for he had taken up the receiver again,—­“ask her what time she wants me, please!”

He gave the message, and then turned back to Polly.

“She says to come as early as you can after dinner.  Dear me, it will be awfully lonesome without you!”

“It will, won’t it?” Polly’s face sobered.  “But then,” she brightened, “you’ll have to be home helping your mother pack up, shan’t you?”

“So I shall,” he returned.  “And it will be a good time for you to go.  Ever hear of this Dorothy before?”

“Oh, yes!  Mrs. Jocelyn has told me lots about her.  I guess she’s nice.  She’s twelve.”

“You’ll have a fine time, and I’ll try to be glad you’re going,” laughed David.

Polly danced off to tell Miss Lucy and Leonora of her invitation, waving a gay good-bye to David from the doorway.  She had made several visits of a day to Mrs. Jocelyn, who had left the hospital some weeks before; but she had never remained overnight.  And to see the Dorothy Cannon of whom she had heard so many happy things!  She went upstairs on tiptoe of anticipation.