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"Never mind, Pollykins!" comforted Marraine, who could find stars in the darkest sky. "We'll each take a dollar and go shopping." "Only a dollar, Marraine? That won't buy much," said Polly, who had walked in ways where dollars seem very small indeed. "Oh, yes, it will! There's no telling what it can buy in Jonah's junk shop," laughed Marraine.
Even the two grandmammas, being really grandmammas at heart, softened to it, and dad declared gruffly it had been a fool business altogether, while Polly flung herself sobbing into her godmother's arms. "O Dan, poor Dan! He is the nicest boy I ever saw, the nicest and the kindest, Marraine! And now now he will never come back here any more!" "I don't think he will, Pollykins," was the low answer.
"Now, don't tease," said Polly, with dignity; "this is in sober earnest. What do you think, Fairy Godmother? I 've written to my dear Miss Mary Denison in Santa Barbara, and she likes the idea." "I think it is charming. In fact, I can hardly wait to begin. I will be your business manager, my Pollykins, and we 'll make it a success, if it is possible.
"I got a rusted tea tray that polished into silver plate, a blackened vase that rubbed into burnished copper. I should not wonder if he had an Aladdin's lamp hidden somewhere in his dusty shelves." "Let us go look for it," said Polly, roused into gleeful interest. "Oh, I'd love to have Aladdin's lamp! Wouldn't you, Marraine?" "What would you wish for, Pollykins?" asked Marraine, softly.
He is a goose, oh, there 's no shadow of doubt as to that, but he 's an awfully nice goose." Mrs. Bird's letter ran thus: "MY DEAREST POLLYKINS: We have lived without you just about as long as we can endure it. The boys have returned to school and college. Mr. Bird contemplates one more trip to Honolulu, and brother John and I need some one to coddle and worry over.
"Dan Dolan!" exclaimed Miss Stella. "Oh, does he mean my my Dan, Marraine?" chirped Polly, breathlessly. "What! You know the boy?" cried the old sailor, in amazement. "God bless me, you!" "Why, yes, we know him, don't we, Pollykins?" said Miss Stella. "But what he is doing with the medal we can't say. Suppose you come with us, and see the owner of the medal, and strike a bargain yourself?"
As Polly untied Blanquita and gave a heroic cinch to the saddle, she gave a last searching look at Margery, and said finally, "Peggy dear, I am very sure you are blue this morning; tell your faithful old Pollykins all about it." One word was enough for Margery in her present mood, and she burst into tears on Polly's shoulder. "Is it Edgar again?" whispered Polly. "Yes," she sobbed.
They always have a welcome for me, bless them! and I always come back ready to take up my trials again. Edgar is waiting to take this to the post-box, so I must say good-night. He is such a pleasure to us and such a comfort to mamma. I know for the first time in my life the fun of having a brother. Ever your affectionate POLLYKINS.
Marraine flung a slender golden chain around Polly's neck. "Oh, you darling, you darling!" murmured Polly. "But you are the best of all birthday presents, Marraine, the very best of all!" "Now, really we must stop all this 'spooning, Pollykins, and start things," said Marraine, dropping her, and emerging in a shining silvery robe, with a big bunch of starry jessamine pinned on her breast.
"Oh, much better!" assented Polly. "'Godmother' is too old and solemn to suit Marraine. Oh!" "All the way from Newport!" answered the lady. "Why, that dear letter you sent would have brought me from the moon. You will be ten years old to-night, it said, ten years old! O Pollykins! Pollykins!" I could and I would, so here I am! And here is your birthday present."
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