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every minute；she finally discovered a series of alarming new spots
on her neck and chin。 She felt then that camping out was a complete
failure； and that she would be taken home forthwith if it could be
managed； since she saw nothing before her but day after day of close
confinement and unattractive personal appearance。 'It's just my
luck！' she grumbled； as she twisted up her hair and made herself as
presentable as possible under the trying circumstances。 'I don't
think I ever had a becoming or an interesting illness。 The chicken…
pox； mumps； and sties on my eyesthat's the sort of thing I have！'
'I feel much worse； Mrs。 Winship；' she said； going into the sitting…
room tent and waking Aunt Truth from a peaceful snooze。 'If you can
spare Pancho over night； I really think I must trouble you to send
Anne and me home at once。 I feel as if I wanted to go to bed in a
dark room； and I shall only be a bother if I stay。'
'Why； my child； I'm sorry to have you go off with your visit
unfinished。 You know we don't mind any amount of trouble； if we can
make you comfortable。'
'You are very kind； but indeed I'd rather go。'
'I hardly dare let you start in the hot sunwithout consulting the
doctor； and everybody is away except Polly； they will feel badly not
to say good…bye。'
'It is nearly three o'clock now； so the worst of the sun is over； and
we shall be at the ranch by eight this evening。 I feel too ill to
say good…bye； any way； and we shall meet Bell and Margery somewhere
on the road； for they were going to the milk ranch。'
'Very well； my dear； if you've made up your mind I must yield；'
replied Mrs。 Winship； getting up and smoothing her hair。 'I don't
dare wake Elsie； she has had such an exciting day； but I'll call
Polly to help you pack； and then tell Pancho to find Anne and harness
the team。 While he is doing that； I'll get you a little lunch to
take with you and write a note to your mother。 Perhaps you can come
again before we break camp； but I'm sorry to send you home in such a
sad plight。'
CHAPTER VIII： POLLY'S BIRTHDAY： SECOND HALF
IN WHICH SHE WISHES SEE HAD NEVER BEEN BORN。
'From Hebrew wit the maxim sprung；
Though feet should slip； ne'er let the tongue。
Polly came at once to the tent； where she found Laura getting her
belongings together。
'Why； Laura； it seems too bad you should go off so suddenly。 What
can I do to help you？'
The very spirit of evil entered Laura's heart as she looked at Polly；
so fresh and pretty and radiant； with her dimples dancing in and out；
her hair ruffled with the effort of literary composition； and the
glow of the day's happiness still shining in her eyes。 She felt as
if Polly was 'glad inside' that she was poisoned； she felt sure she
was internally jumping for joy at her departure； and； above all； she
felt that Polly was entirely too conceited over the attention she had
received that day； and needed to be 'taken down a peg or two。'
'Red…haired； stuck…up； saucy thing；' she thought； 'how I should like
to give her a piece of my mind before I leave this place； if I only
dared！'
'I don't need any help； thank you；' she said aloud； in her iciest
manner。
'But it will only make your head ache to bend over and tug away at
that valise； and I'll be only too glad to do it。'
'I've no doubt of that；' responded Laura； meaningly。 'It is useless
for you to make any show of regret over my going； for I know
perfectly well that you are glad to get me out of the way。'
'Why； Laura； what do you mean？' exclaimed Polly； completely dazed at
this bombshell of candour。
'I mean what I say； and I should have said it before if I could ever
have found a chance。 Because I didn't mention it at the time； you
needn't suppose I've forgotten your getting me into trouble with Mrs。
Winship； the day before the Howards came。'
'That was not my fault；' said Polly； hotly。 'I didn't speak any
louder than the other girls； and I didn't know Aunt Truth objected to
Mrs。 Pinkerton； and I didn't know she was anywhere near。'
'You roared like the bull of Bashanthat's what you did。 Perhaps
you can't help your voice； but anybody in the canyon could have heard
you； and Mrs。 Winship hasn't been the same to me since； and the boys
don't take the slightest notice of me lately。'
'You are entirely mistaken； Laura。 Dr。 and Mrs。 Winship are just as
lovely and cordial to you as they are to everybody else； and the boys
do not feel well enough acquainted with you to 〃frolic〃 with you as
they do with us。'
'It isn't so； but you are not sensitive enough to see it； and I
should never have been poisoned if it hadn't been for you！'
'Oh； go on； do！' said Polly； beginning to lose her self…control；
which was never very great。 'I didn't know I was a Lucrezia Borgia
in disguise。 How did I poison you； pray？'
'I didn't say you poisoned me； but you made me so uncomfortable that
day； bringing down Mrs。 Winship's lecture on my head and getting my
best friend abused； that I was glad to get away from the camp； and
went out with Jack for that reason when I was too tired and warm； and
you are always trying to cut me out with Bell and the boys。'
'That's a perfectlyjet blackfib！' cried Polly； who was now
thoroughly angry； 'and I don't think it is very polite of you to
attack the whole party； and say they haven't been nice to you； when
they've done everything in the world！'
'It isn't your party any more than mine； is it？ And if I don't know
how to be polite； I certainly shan't ask YOU for instruction； for I
must know as much about the manners of good society as you do；
inasmuch as I have certainly seen more of it！'
Polly sank into a camp…chair； too stunned for a moment to reply；
while Laura； who had gone quite beyond the point where she knew or
cared what she said； went on with a rush of words： 'I mean to tell
you； now that I am started； that anybody who isn't blind can see why
you toady to the Winships； who have money and social position； and
why you are so anxious to keep everybody else from getting into their
good graces； but they are so partial to you that they have given you
an entirely false idea of yourself； and you might as well know that
unless you keep yourself a little more in the background； and grow a
little less bold and affected and independent； other people will not
be quite as ready as the Winships to make a pet of a girl whose
mother keeps a boarding…house。'
Poor Laura！ It was no sooner said than she regretted ita little；
not much。 But poor Polly！ Where was her good angel then？ Why could
she not have treated this thrust with the silence and contempt it
deserved？ But how could Laura have detected and probed the most
sensitive spot in the girl's nature？ She lost all command of
herself。 Her rage absolutely frightened her； for it made her deaf
and blind to all considerations of propriety and self…respect； and
for a moment she was only conscious of the wild desire to strike
yes； even to killthe person who had so insulted all that was
dearest to her。
'Don't dare to say another word！' she panted； with such flaming
cheeks and such flashing eyes that Laura involuntarily retreated
towards the door； half afraid of the tempest her words had evoked。
'Don't dare to say another word； or I don't know what I may do！ Yes；
I am glad you are going； and everybody will be glad； and the sooner
you go the better！ You've made everybody miserable ever since you
came； with your jealousy and your gossip and your fine…lady airs； and
if Aunt Truth hadn't loved your mother； and if we were mean enough to
tell tales； we would have repeated some of your disagreeable speeches
long ago。 How can you dare to say I love the Winships for anything
but themselves？ And if you had ever seen my darling mother； you
never could have called her a boarding…house keeper； you cruel'
Oh； but the dashing torrent of angry words stopped at the mere
mention of her mother。 The word recalled her to herself； but too
late。 It woke in her memory the clasp of her mother's arms； the
sound of the sweet； tired voice： 'Only two of us against the big
world； Pollyyou and I。 Be brave； little daughter； brave and
patient。' Oh； how impatient and cowardly she had been！ Would she
never learn to be good？ The better impulses rushed back into her
heart； and crowded out the bad ones so quickly that in another moment
she would have flung herself at Laura's feet； and implored her
forgiveness merely to gain again her own self…respect and her
mother's approval； but there was no time for repentance （there isn't
sometimes）； for the clatter of wheels announced Pancho's approach
with the team； and Mrs。 Winship and Anne Burton came into view；
walking rapidly towards the tent。
Laura was a good deal disconcerted at their ill…timed appearance； but
reflected rapidly that if Mrs。 Winship had overheard anything； it was
probably Polly's last speech； in which case that young person would
seem to be more in fault than herself； so stepping out of the tent
she met Mrs。 Winship and kissed her good…bye。
Little Anne ran on and jumped into the wagon； with all a child's joy
at the prospect of going anywhere。 Polly's back was turned； bu