"Must is a hard word to use, Polly," said Mother Pepper, dryly.

"I mean you'll let us, I 'most know," mumbled Polly, her cheeks
turning scarlet, and twisting her hands together. "Won't you,
Mamsie?"

"Won't you, Mamsie?" piped Phronsie, poking her head up like a
little bird out of her nest, to look into Mother Pepper's face.

"How much does it cost, Ben?" asked Mrs. Pepper, smiling down at
her baby, but not answering.

"Fifteen cents for any one over twelve, and ten cents for boys
and girls under twelve," said Ben.

"Um, that would be one fifteen cents for you, and ten cents for
Polly and Joel, and--"

"Why, you must go, Mamsie," cried Polly; "we shouldn't any of us
want to go without you, should we, Ben?"

"No, indeed," said Ben. "But we ain't any of us going, Polly,"
he finished.

At this there was another howl, breaking out from the two boys.
Polly turned quite pale, but said nothing.

"Be quiet, Joel and David," said Mrs. Pepper, turning her black
eyes on them. "No, children, if I could let you go at all, I
should trust you with such a boy as Ben, and such a girl as