good long time before breakfast. Oh, mayn't I go just once,
mamsie? Nobody'll see me if I tuck my foot under the piano; and I
can sew 'em on afterwards--there'll be plenty of time. Do, just
once, mamsie!"

"No," said Mrs. Pepper firmly, "there isn't any time but now. And
piano playing isn't very nice when you've got to stick your toes
under it to keep your shoes on."

"Well then," grumbled Polly, hopping around in her stocking-feet,
"where is the work-basket, mamsie? Oh--here it is on the
window-seat." A rattle of spools, scissors and necessary utensils
showed plainly that Polly had found it, followed by a jumble of
words and despairing ejaculations as she groped hurriedly under
chairs and tables to collect the scattered contents.

When she got back with a very red face, she found Phronsie, who
had crawled out of bed, sitting down on the floor in her little
nightgown and examining the boot with profound interest.

"I can sew 'em, Polly," she said, holding up her hand for the big
needle that Polly was trying to thread--"I can now truly; let me,
Polly, do!"

"Dear no!" said Polly with a little laugh, beginning to be very
much ashamed. "What could you do with your little mites of hands
pulling this big thread through that old leather? There, scamper
into bed again; you'll catch cold out here.

"Tisn't very cold," said Phronsie, tucking up her toes under the