An Old-Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott Read Free Book Online

“toughening” much better than the other. They laughed and talked, and kept taking “just one more,” till the sunshine was
     all gone, and the clocks struck dinnertime.
    “We shall be late; let’s run,” said Polly, as they came into the path after the last coast.
    “You just sit still, and I’ll get you home in a jiffy;” and before she could unpack herself, Tom trotted off with her at a
     fine pace.
    “Here’s a pair of cheeks! I wish you’d get a color like this, Fanny,” said Mr. Shaw, as Polly came into the dining room after
     smoothing her hair.
    “Your nose is as red as that cranberry sauce,” answered Fan, coming out of the big chair where she had been curled up for
     an hour or two, deep in “Lady Audley’s Secret.”
    “So it is,” said Polly, shutting one eye to look at the offending feature. “Never mind; I’ve had a good time, anyway,” she
     added, giving a little prance in her chair.
    “I don’t see much fun in these cold runs you are so fond of taking,” said Fanny, with a yawn and a shiver.
    “Perhaps you would if you tried it;” and Polly laughed as she glanced at Tom.
    “Did you go alone, dear?” asked grandma, patting the rosy cheek beside her.
    “Yes’m; but I met Tom, and we came home together.” Polly’s eyes twinkled when she said that, and Tom choked in his soup.
    “Thomas, leave the table!” commanded Mr. Shaw, as his incorrigible son gurgled and gasped behind his napkin.
    “Please, don’t send him away, sir. I made him laugh,” said Polly, penitently.
    “What’s the joke?” asked Fanny, waking up at last.
    “I shouldn’t think you’d make him laugh, when he’s always making you cwy,” observed Maud, who had just come in.
    “What have you been doing now, sir?” demanded Mr. Shaw, as Tom emerged, red and solemn, from his brief obscurity.
    “Nothing but coast,” he said, gruffly, for papa was always lecturing him, and letting the girls do just as they liked.
    “So’s Polly; I saw her. Me and Blanche were coming home just now, and we saw her and Tom widing down the hill on his sled,
     and then he dwagged her ever so far!” cried Maud, with her mouth full.
    “You didn’t?” and Fanny dropped her fork with a scandalized face.
    “Yes, I did, and liked it ever so much,” answered Polly, looking anxious but resolute.
    “
Did
anyone see you?” cried Fanny.
    “Only some little girls, and Tom.”
    “It was horridly improper; and Tom ought to have told you so, if you didn’t know any better. I should be mortified to death
     if any of my friends saw you,” added Fan, much disturbed.
    “Now, don’t you scold. It’s no harm, and Polly shall coast if she wants to; mayn’t she, grandma?” cried Tom, gallantly coming
     to the rescue, and securing a powerful ally.
    “My mother lets me; and if I don’t go among the boys, I can’t see what harm there is in it,” said Polly, before Madam could
     speak.
    “People do many things in the country that are not proper here,” began Mrs. Shaw, in her reproving tone.
    “Let the child do it if she likes, and take Maud with her. I should be glad to have one hearty girl in my house,” interrupted
     Mr. Shaw, and that was the end of it.
    “Thank you, sir,” said Polly, gratefully, and nodded at Tom, who telegraphed back “All right!” and fell upon his dinner with
     the appetite of a young wolf.
    “Oh, you sly-boots! You’re getting up a flirtation with Tom, are you?” whispered Fanny to her friend, as if much amused.
    “What!” and Polly looked so surprised and indignant, that Fanny was ashamed of herself, and changed the subject by telling
     her mother she needed some new gloves.
    Polly was very quiet after that, and the minute dinner was over, she left the room to go and have a quiet “think” about the
     whole matter. Before she got halfway upstairs, she saw Tom coming after, and immediately sat down to guard her feet. He laughed,
     and said, as he perched himself on the post of the