as Polly ran off, determined to get it over with as soon as
possible.

She had her bundle tucked under her arm, glad that no one had
spoken to her; for Jim just pointed to it, when she laid the
money down on the counter, and then turned back to study the
poster again, and was skipping over the ground, when she met
Joel coming at a lively pace down the road.

"Oh, Polly, what a lot of time you've been gone!" he exclaimed.
"Mamsie sent me after you."

"Did she?" cried Polly, in dismay. "Well, we must hurry back
then, as fast as we can."

"I'm goin' to the store," said Joel, edging down toward Mr.
Atkins'.

"What for?" demanded Polly, stopping a moment. "Did Mamsie send
you for anything?"

"N-no--not exactly," said Joel, digging his bare toes into the
sand; "but I might--might--p'r'aps get a letter, Polly," he
added, as a bright idea struck him. Mr. Atkins, besides being
the storekeeper, was also postmaster.

"Nonsense!" exclaimed Polly; "why, Mamsie never has any letters,
Joel. There isn't anybody to write to her."

"She may, p'r'aps," said Joel, confidently "there may be one