Her lips moved, but with no word. She looked up into his eyes, a sweet, tremulous smile on the lips that would not speak. “Bless you, little girl!” he breathed, and took a quick step round the table. “Teeters and tongs!” ejaculated Benedicta from the back piazza, “what in the universe are you doin’? Ain’t you ready yet? I’ve been sittin’ there in the chariot for an hour or less. I thought we were goin’ to Overlook!” “Yes, Benedicta, I’ll be out in a minute!” Polly’s lips had spoken. There was a knock, and then the inner door crept open, Lilith calling out, “Anybody here?--Oh, I beg your pardon!” “What is it, Lilith?” Polly said hurriedly. She flung the door wide. “I thought there was nobody there,” she apologized. “I was afraid you were waiting. The children are all ready.” “I was asking Mr. Merrifield to go with us, and just found out that he could drive,” explained Polly, somewhat lamely, as the girls went upstairs together. “Say, Miss Polly,” called Benedicta. Polly came to the head of the flight. “Do you mind if I drive the chariot down? I was dyin’ to get my hands on that wheel, and I’ve been holdin’ ’em on it for the longest time, waitin’ for you folks. It did feel amazin’ly rapturous.” “Why, certainly you can drive,” Polly assured her. “Just as lief as not?” was the anxious inquiry. “Surely, Benedicta, and I’ll be down directly.” “How lovely you look!” beamed Lilith innocently. “Your eyes are even brighter than they were last night. I wish David Collins had got engaged a year ago if it is going to make you look this way.” “Thank you,” replied Polly. “I am glad he is all right; now I can be happy with a clear conscience.” The horn was honking as they went out. “Hurry up!” called Benedicta. “We shan’t arrive till noon.” “Miss Polly is going to walk down with me,” Sardis Merrifield answered. “Teeters and tongs!” she replied, “you’ll be totally exhausted by the time you reach the foot.” “Oh, no,” laughed Polly, “one couldn’t be tired. Look over there--fringes of purple and gold as far as you can see! It is a royal road to Overlook to-day.” “Teeters and tongs!” floated out to them as the doors clicked together. “’Course it’s a ‘royal road’ ... but ’tain’t the goldenrod and asters!... God bless ’em!” THE END The Riverside Press CAMBRIDGE . MASSACHUSETTS U . S . A End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of When Polly was Eighteen, by Emma C. Dowd