Polly regarded these noble beings with awe, and they recognized her existence with the condescension of their sex; but they evidently considered her only "a quiet little thing," and finding her not up to society talk, blandly ignored the pretty child, and devoted themselves to the young ladies.

Fortunately for Polly, she forgot all about them in her enjoyment of the fine music, which she felt rather than understood, and sat listening with such a happy face, that several true music-lovers watched her smilingly, for her heart gave a blithe welcome to the melody which put the little instrument in tune.
It was dusk when they went out, and Polly was much relieved to find the carriage waiting for them, because playing third fiddle was not to her taste, and she had had enough of it for one day.
"I 'm glad those men are gone; they did worry me so talking, when I wanted to hear," said Polly, as they rolled away.
"Which did you like best ?" asked Fanny, with a languid air of superiority.
"The plain one, who did n't say much; he picked up my muff when it tumbled down, and took care of me in the crowd; the others did n't mind anything about me." "They thought you were a little girl, I suppose." "My mother says a real gentleman is as polite to a little girl as to a woman; so I like Mr.Sydney best, because he was kind to me." "What a sharp child you are, Polly.

I should n't have thought you 'd mind things like that," said Fanny, beginning to understand that there may be a good deal of womanliness even in a little girl.
"I 'm used to good manners, though I do live in the country," replied Polly, rather warmly, for she did n't like to be patronized even by her friends.
"Grandma says your mother is a perfect lady, and you are just like her; so don't get in a passion with those poor fellows, and I 'll see that they behave better next time.

Tom has no manners at all, and you don't complain of him," added Fan, with a laugh.
"I don't care if he has n't; he 's a boy, and acts like one, and I can get on with him a great deal better than I can with those men." Fanny was just going to take Polly to task for saying "those men" in such a disrespectful tone, when both were startled by a smothered "Cock-a-doodle-doo!" from under the opposite seat.
"It 's Tom!" cried Fanny; and with the words out tumbled that incorrigible boy, red in the face, and breathless with suppressed laughter.

Seating himself, he surveyed the girls as if well satisfied with the success of his prank, and waiting to be congratulated upon it.
"Did you hear what we were saying ?" demanded Fanny, uneasily.
"Oh, did n't I, every word ?" And Tom exulted over them visibly.
"Did you ever see such a provoking toad, Polly?
Now, I suppose you 'll go and tell papa a great story." "P'r'aps I shall, and p'r'aps I shan't.