Page:An Old Fashioned Girl.djvu/158

142 Mr. Shaw had not said he should come home so early, but Polly thought he might, and went to meet him. Mr. Shaw didn't expect to see Polly, for he had left her very busy, and now a light snow was falling; but, as he turned into the mall there was the round hat, and under it the bright face, looking all the rosier for being powdered with snow-flakes, as Polly came running to meet him.

"There won't be any one to help the old gentleman safely home to-morrow," he said, as Polly took his hand in both hers with an affectionate squeeze.

"Yes, there will; see if there isn't," cried Polly, nodding and smiling, for Fan had confided to her that she meant to try it after her friend had gone.

"I'm glad of it. But, my dear, I want you to promise that you will come and make us a visit every winter,—a good long one," said Mr. Shaw, patting the blue mittens folded round his hand.

"If they can spare me from home, I'd love to come dearly."

"They must lend you for a little while, because you do us all good, and we need you."

"Do I? I don't see how; but I'm glad to hear you say so," cried Polly, much touched.

"I can't tell you how, exactly; but you brought something into my house that makes it warmer and pleasanter, and won't quite vanish, I hope, when you go away, my child."

Polly had never heard Mr. Shaw speak like that before, and didn't know what to say, she felt so proud and happy at this proof of the truth of her mother's words, when she said that "even a little girl could