“You are right, Mrs. Pepper,” cried Jasper with a laugh, and seating himself before the piano.  “Come, Polly!”

“Mamsie is always right, isn’t she, Jasper?” cried Polly with pride, putting her hands down for the first chords.

“Indeed she is,” responded the boy heartily.  “Here now, Polly, remember, you slipped up a bit on that first bar.  Now!”

The twenty-first of December came all too soon for Polly and Jasper, whose school duties had engrossed them till two days before, but after hard work getting up the stage properties, and the many rehearsals, everything was at last pronounced ready, the drawing-room and music-room locked, the keys given to Mrs. Whitney who promised faithfully to see that no one peeped in who should not, and Polly hurried into her hat and jacket, to go to the station with Jasper to meet the boys.

Thomas drove furiously, as they were a bit late, and they arrived only a minute before the train puffed in.

“Here they are!” cried Polly, and “Here they are!” cried Jasper, together, in great excitement, on the platform.

“Halloo, Polly!” cried Joel, prancing out of the car first, and “How d’ye do, Polly?” as they all hurried after.  “Halloo, Jasper!”

“Oh, Polly! it’s good to see you!” This from Davie, not ashamed to set a kiss on her red lips.

Van and Percy looked as if they wanted to, but contented themselves with wringing her hand nearly off, while Joel declared he would look after the luggage.

“No, I will,” cried Van, dropping Polly’s hand.

“You forget,” said Percy quietly, “I hold the checks, I’ll attend to it myself.”  He unclosed his brown traveling glove, and Van, at sight of them, turned back.

“Go along, do, then,” he cried; “I don’t want to, I’m sure; I’d much rather stay with Polly.  How d’ye do, Thomas?” he called carelessly to the coachman on his box, who was continually touching his hat and indulging in broad smiles of content.

Polly was tiptoeing in very delight, holding Davie’s hand closely while her eyes roved from one to the other of the boys, and her tongue ran fast indeed.  A group of girls, who had also come down to the station to meet friends, stopped a bit as they came laughing and chatting by.

“How d’ye, boys?” they said carelessly to the three home-comers.  “Oh, Polly! won’t it be entrancing to-night?” cried one of them, seizing her arm as she spoke.

“Hush!” said Polly, as she tried to stop her.

“May I bring Elsie Fay? she’s come on the train to stay over Christmas with her aunt.  May I, Polly?” begged another girl eagerly.

“Yes, yes,” said Polly in a paroxysm of fear lest Joel, who was crowding up between them, should catch a word; “do be still,” she whispered.  “Bring anybody; only stop, Alexia.”

“He won’t hear,” said Alexia carelessly; “that boy doesn’t mind our talking; his head’s full of skating and coasting.”