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'I can't be mistaken。 I was too excited not to hear very clearly；
and the moment the words were spoken I knew my poor dear's fiery
temper would never endure that。 And it didn't； it blazed out in a
second； but it didn't last long； for before I could get to the tent
she had stopped herself right in the middle of a sentence； and in
another minute I heard your voice； and crept back to the hammock；
thinking that everything would be settled by Laura's going away。 I'd
no idea that she would pounce on Polly and get her in disgrace； the
very last thing； when she knew that she was responsible for the whole
matter。 You see； auntie； that； impolite as Polly was； she only told
Laura that we girls were glad she was going。 She didn't bring you
in； after all； and Laura knew perfectly well that she was a welcome
visitor； and we all treated her with the greatest politeness； though
it's no use to say we liked her much。'
'I am very sorry for the whole affair；' sighed Mrs。 Winship； 'there
is so much wrong on both sides。 Laura's remark； it is true； would
have angered almost anybody who was not old and wise enough to see
that it deserved only contempt； but both the girls should have had
too much respect for themselves and for me to descend to such an
unladylike quarrel。 However； I am only too glad to hear anything
which makes Polly's fault less； for I love her too dearly not to
suffer when I have to be severe with her。'
'She wouldn't ask you to overlook her fault；' continued Elsie； with
tears in her eyes。 'I know just how wretched and penitent she must
bePolly is always so fierce against her own faultsbut what must
be making her suffer most is the thought that she has entirely lost
your confidence and good opinion。 Oh； I can't help thinking that God
feels sorrier this very minute for Polly； who fights and fights
against her temper； like a dear sunbeam trying to shine again and
again when a cloud keeps covering it up； than He does for Laura； who
has everything made smooth for her； and who is unhappy when her
feathers are ruffled the least bit。'
'You are right； dear； in so far that a fiery little soul like Polly's
can； if it finds the right channels； do God's work in the world
better than a character like Laura's； which is not courageous； nor
strong； nor sweet enough for great service； unless it grows into
better things through bitter or rich experiences。 Now； good…night；
my blessed little peacemaker； sleep sweetly； for I am going into
Polly's tent to have a good talk with her。'
As Mrs。 Winship dropped the curtains of Elsie's tent behind her； and
made her way quietly through the trees； the tinkling sound of a banjo
fell upon the still night air； and presently； as she neared Polly's
retreat； this facetious serenade； sung by Jack's well…known voice；
was wafted to her ears：
'Prithee； Polly Oliver； why bide ye so still？
Pretty Polly Oliver； we fear you are ill。
I'm singing 'neath thy window； when night dews are chill；
For； pretty Polly Oliver； we hear you are ill。'
She was about to despatch Master Jack to his tent with a round
scolding； when the last words of the song were frozen on his lips by
the sound of a smothered sob； in place of the saucy retort he hoped
to provoke。 The unexpected sob frightened him more than any fusilade
of hot words； and he stole away in the darkness more crestfallen than
he had been for many a year。
Mrs。 Winship； more troubled than ever； pulled apart the canvas
curtains； and stood in the opening； silently。 The sight of the
forlorn little figure； huddled together on the straw bed； touched her
heart； and； when Polly started up with an eloquent cry and flew into
her extended arms； she granted willing forgiveness； and the history
of the afternoon was sobbed out upon her motherly shoulder。
The next morning Mrs。 Winship announced that Polly was better； sent
breakfast to her tent； and by skilful generalship drove everybody
away from the camp but Elsie； who brought Polly to the sitting…room；
made her comfortable on the lounge； and； administering much good
advice to Margery and Bell concerning topics to be avoided； admitted
them one by one into her presence； so that she gradually regained her
self…control。 And at the dinner…table a very pale Polly was present
again； with such a white face and heavy eyes that no one could doubt
there had been a headache； while two people； at least； knew that
there had been a heartache as well。 The next day's mail carried the
following letter to Laura Burton：
CAMP CHAPARRAL； August 16； 188…。
My dear Laura；As I told you when you were leaving； I cannot well
say how sorry I am that anything should have occurred to mar your
pleasant remembrance of your stay with us。 That your dear mother's
daughter should have been treated with discourtesy while she was my
guest was very disagreeable to me； but I have learned that you were
yourself somewhat to blame in the affair； and therefore you should
have borne the harsh treatment you received with considerable
patience； and perhaps have kept it quite to yourself。 （'That little
cat told her； after all；' said Laura； when she read this。 'I didn't
think she was that kind。'） Polly would never have confessed the
cause of the quarrel； because she knew nothing could justify her
language； but Elsie was lying in the hammock behind the tent and
overheard the remark which so roused Polly's anger。 You were not
aware； of course； how sore a spot you touched upon； or you could
never have spoken as you did； though I well know that you were both
too angry to reflect。 Polly is a peculiarly proud and high…spirited
girlproud； I confess； to a fault； but she comes； on her mother's
side； from a long line of people who have had much to be proud of in
the way of unblemished honesty； nobility； fine attainments； and
splendid achievements。 Of her father's honourable services to his
country； and his sad and untimely death； you may have heard； but you
may not know that Mrs。 Oliver's misfortunes have been very many and
very bitter； and that the only possibility of supporting and
educating Polly lies at present in her taking boarders； for her
health will not admit just now of her living anywhere save in
Southern California。 I fail to see why this is not thoroughly
praiseworthy and respectable； but if you do not consider it quite an
elegant occupation； I can only say that Mrs。 Oliver presides over the
table at which her 'boarders' sit with a high…bred dignity and grace
of manner that the highest lady in the land might imitate； and that；
when health and circumstances permit her to diminish the distance
between herself and the great world； she and her daughter Polly； by
reason of their birth and their culture； will find doors swinging
wide to admit them where you and I would find it difficult to enter。
Polly apologises sincerely for her rudeness； and will write you to
that effect； as of course she does not know of this letter。
Sincerely your friend；
TRUTH WINSHIP。
CHAPTER IX： ROUND THE CAMP…FIRE
'The time before the fire they sat；
And shortened the delay by pleasing chat。'
The August days had slipped away one after another； and September was
at hand。 There was no perceptible change of weather to mark the
advent of the new month。 The hills were a little browner； the dust a
little deeper； the fleas a little nimbler； and the water in the brook
a trifle lower； but otherwise Dame Nature did not concern herself
with the change of seasons； inasmuch as she had no old dresses to get
rid of； and no new ones to put on for a long time yet； indeed； she is
never very fashionable in this locality； and wears very much the same
garments throughout the year。
Elsie seemed almost as strong as any of the other girls now； and
could enter with zest into all their amusements。 The appetite of a
young bear； the sound； dreamless sleep of a baby； and the constant
breathing in of the pure； life…giving air had made her a new
creature。 Mrs。 Howard and Jack felt； day by day； that a burden of
dread was being lifted from their hearts； and Mrs。 Howard especially
felt that she loved every rock and tree in the canyon。
It was a charming morning； and Polly was seated at the dining…room
table； deep in the preparation of a lesson in reading and
pronunciation for Hop Yet。 Her forehead was creased with many
wrinkles of thought； and she bit the end of her lead…pencil as if she
were engaged in solving some difficult problem； but； if that were so；
why did the dimples chase each other in and out of her cheeks in such
a suspicious fashion？ She was a very gentle； a very sedate Polly；
these latter days； and not only astonished her friends； but surprised
herself； by her good behaviour； her elegant reserve of manner； her
patience with Jack； and her abject devotion to Dicky。
'I'm afraid it won't last；' she sighed to herself occasionally。 'I'm
almost too good。 That's always the way with meI must either be so
bad that everybody is discouraged； or else so good that I frighten
them。 Now I catch Bell and Elsie exchanging glances every day； as
much as to say； 〃Poor Polly； she will never hold out at this rate； do
you notice that nothing ruffles herthat