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"IT'S time to go to the station, Tom.""Come on, then.""Oh, I'm not going; it's too wet. Should n't have a crimp left if I went out such a day asthis; and I want to look nice when Polly comes.""You don't expect me to go and bring home a strange girl alone, do you?" And Tomlooked as much alarmed as if his sister had proposed to him to escort the wild woman ofAustralia."Of course I do. It's your place to go and get her; and if you was n't a bear, you'd like it.""Well, I call that mean I supposed I'd got to go; but you said you'd go, too. Catch mebothering about your friends another time No, sir " And Tom rose from the sofa with an airof indignant resolution, the impressive effect of which was somewhat damaged by a tousledhead, and the hunched appearance of his garments generally."Now, don't be cross; and I'll get mamma to let you have that horrid Ned Miller, that youare so fond of, come and make you a visit after Polly's gone," said Fanny, hoping to soothehis ruffled feelings."How long is she going to stay?" demanded Tom, making his toilet by a promiscuousshake."A month or two, maybe. She's ever so nice; and I shall keep her as long as she's happy.""She won't stay long then, if I can help it," muttered Tom, who regarded girls as a veryunnecessary portion of creation. Boys of fourteen are apt to think so, and perhaps it is awise arrangement; for, being fond of turning somersaults, they have an opportunity ofindulging in a good one, metaphorically speaking, when, three or four years later, theybecome the abject slaves of "those bothering girls.