Chapter XXVIII: Home to the Little Brown House 416

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Phronsie and the children _Frontispiece._

PAGE

“There! I got it all out alone by myself,” said Barby 15

“Oh, goody! here comes Mr. Tisbett,” howled King 26

“Oh, what richness!” sighed Polly 29

“Dance me up and down, daddy!” screamed Elyot 32

“We’ve come out to dinner, Polly,” said Alexia 42

“Somebody take off this!” 46

Tying on her big garden hat, Phronsie went across the road 55

“Johnny! open your eyes,” cried Dick 60

“Oh, he’s rolled off,” cried Polly, aghast 63

“The idea of a school-girl going to a reception,” said Aunt Fay 69

Grace darted behind a tall fern, and hid her hot, distressed face 86

“Are you ill, Miss Tupper--or--Strange?” and she laughed
unpleasantly 91

“I shall get my Mamsie,” cried a small, determined voice 101

Elyot perched at the foot, where he surveyed Grace at his leisure 106

So Polly went off, her baby on her arm 109

“Dear child,” said Polly, “I know just how you feel” 116

“Polly’s gone to town,” said Phronsie, cutting off some
blossoms to add to the bundle in her hand 131

Phronsie led the little old white-haired woman to the
vacated seat 150

The loving-cup was filled with pure cold water to the
brim, “The only thing worthy of it,” said Polly 168

With her arms full, Phronsie entered the kitchen 174

Elyot gathered up his small soul with the best courage he could
muster, and sat down on a big stone by the side of the road 181

He propped Barby up against the upper step, and ran and
peered into the little window strung with shoes 193

There was Barby in a little wooden chair, eating bread
and butter with a very sticky face 215

“The ‘Scrannage Girls,’ as their neighbors called them” 221

“There, now, it’s done, Grandpapa, dear,” said Phronsie,
tucking the bit of paper under the old door 241

Phronsie leaned her head upon Mamsie’s old rocking-chair 247

“Ar-goo!” said Algernon, finding it very pleasant to pull
at the pillow-shams 262

Barby hurried over to Grace. “I’m sorry, too,” she
said: “and I’ll take the bears” 290

“Now, Celestine,” said Mr. Bayley, rolling a fresh cigarette,
“the Peppers are perfectly well able to take care
of themselves.” 297

“Bless the Lord, Phronsie,” he lifted his sea-cap reverently,
“we’re almost there.” 305

“The sailor roared out, ‘The ship’s on fire!’ and was
plunging on” 312

“I must go to Grandpapa,” cried Phronsie, “save her;”
and dashed off by herself 316

And I say, “Boo, grandmamma!” laughed Barby confidentially 324

Polly threw herself on her knees by Mamsie’s big four-poster 327

“Of course,” cried Polly, with kindling eyes, “splendid
old Joel would do just that very thing, Davie” 333

“She’s gone; and I don’t never ’xpect to live to see her
again, nor him, nor those pretty creeters,” went on Grandma 350

“There,” said Joel, marching across the room, “I’m as
good as new, made over, and patched up, and warranted.” 356

Oh, when Polly found herself in the dear arms, and felt
the dear eyes upon her 365

Old Mr. King stood in front of Polly waiting for her to proceed 374

“O my bressed Chilluns!” mourned Candace 391

Johnny whirled around to see the heap of papers and shavings on
the floor in the merriest little blaze imaginable 397

“We might as well all be dead, as to have the little
brown house burnt up,” said Alexia 403

“An’ I want to hev the priv’lege to drive yer par up
too,” said Mr. Tisbett 421

The little children from the Dunraven Home marched around
Phronsie and her husband, each giving her a white rose
as they passed 433

PHRONSIE PEPPER.