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Polly。
〃Well；〃 he rejoined； 〃IYes； I suppose we are。〃
〃Do you like your dinner？〃 asked the child。
〃Why； on the whole；〃 said Barbox Brothers； 〃yes； I think I do。〃
〃I do mine；〃 said Polly。 〃Have you any brothers and sisters？〃
〃No。 Have you？〃
〃Mine are dead。〃
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〃Oh！〃 said Barbox Brothers。 With that absurd sense of unwieldiness
of mind and body weighing him down； he would have not known how to
pursue the conversation beyond this curt rejoinder； but that the child was
always ready for him。
〃What；〃 she asked； turning her soft hand coaxingly in his； 〃are you
going to do to amuse me after dinner？〃
〃Upon my soul； Polly；〃 exclaimed Barbox Brothers； very much at a
loss； 〃I have not the slightest idea！〃
〃Then I tell you what；〃 said Polly。 〃Have you got any cards at your
house？〃
〃Plenty；〃 said Barbox Brothers in a boastful vein。
〃Very well。 Then I'll build houses； and you shall look at me。 You
mustn't blow； you know。〃
〃Oh no；〃 said Barbox Brothers。 〃No； no； no。 No blowing。
Blowing's not fair。〃
He flattered himself that he had said this pretty well for an idiotic
monster； but the child； instantly perceiving the awkwardness of his
attempt to adapt himself to her level； utterly destroyed his hopeful opinion
of himself by saying compassionately： 〃What a funny man you are！〃
Feeling； after this melancholy failure； as if he every minute grew
bigger and heavier in person； and weaker in mind； Barbox gave himself up
for a bad job。 No giant ever submitted more meekly to be led in triumph
by all…conquering Jack than he to be bound in slavery to Polly。
〃Do you know any stories？〃 she asked him。
He was reduced to the humiliating confession： 〃No。〃
〃What a dunce you must be； mustn't you？〃 said Polly。
He was reduced to the humiliating confession： 〃Yes。〃
〃Would you like me to teach you a story？ But you must remember it；
you know； and be able to tell it right to somebody else afterwards。〃
He professed that it would afford him the highest mental gratification
to be taught a story； and that he would humbly endeavour to retain it in his
mind。 Whereupon Polly； giving her hand a new little turn in his；
expressive of settling down for enjoyment； commenced a long romance； of
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which every relishing clause began with the words： 〃So this；〃 or； 〃And
so this。〃 As； 〃So this boy；〃 or； 〃So this fairy；〃 or； 〃And so this pie was
four yards round； and two yards and a quarter deep。〃 The interest of the
romance was derived from the intervention of this fairy to punish this boy
for having a greedy appetite。 To achieve which purpose； this fairy made
this pie； and this boy ate and ate and ate； and his cheeks swelled and
swelled and swelled。 There were many tributary circumstances； but the
forcible interest culminated in the total consumption of this pie； and the
bursting of this boy。 Truly he was a fine sight； Barbox Brothers； with
serious attentive face； and ear bent down； much jostled on the pavements
of the busy town； but afraid of losing a single incident of the epic； lest he
should be examined in it by…and…by； and found deficient。
Thus they arrived at the hotel。 And there he had to say at the bar； and
said awkwardly enough； 〃I have found a little girl！〃
The whole establishment turned out to look at the little girl。 Nobody
knew her； nobody could make out her name； as she set it forthexcept one
chamber…maid； who said it was Constantinople which it wasn't。
〃I will dine with my young friend in a private room；〃 said Barbox
Brothers to the hotel authorities； 〃and perhaps you will be so good as to let
the police know that the pretty baby is here。 I suppose she is sure to be
inquired for soon； if she has not been already。 Come along； Polly。〃
Perfectly at ease and peace； Polly came along； but； finding the stairs
rather stiff work； was carried up by Barbox Brothers。 The dinner was a
most transcendant success； and the Barbox sheepishness； under Polly's
directions how to mince her meat for her； and how to diffuse gravy over
the plate with a liberal and equal hand； was another fine sight。
〃And now；〃 said Polly； 〃while we are at dinner； you be good； and tell
me that story I taught you。〃
With the tremors of a Civil Service examination upon him； and very
uncertain indeed； not only as to the epoch at which the pie appeared in
history； but also as to the measurements of that indispensable fact； Barbox
Brothers made a shaky beginning； but under encouragement did very
fairly。 There was a want of breadth observable in his rendering of the
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cheeks； as well as the appetite； of the boy； and there was a certain
tameness in his fairy； referable to an under…current of desire to account for
her。 Still； as the first lumbering performance of a good…humoured
monster； it passed muster。 〃I told you to be good；〃 said Polly； 〃and you
are good； ain't you？〃
〃I hope so；〃 replied Barbox Brothers。
Such was his deference that Polly； elevated on a platform of sofa
cushions in a chair at his right hand； encouraged him with a pat or two on
the face from the greasy bowl of her spoon； and even with a gracious kiss。
In getting on her feet upon her chair； however； to give him this last reward；
she toppled forward among the dishes； and caused him to exclaim； as he
effected her rescue： 〃Gracious Angels！ Whew！ I thought we were in
the fire； Polly！〃
〃What a coward you are； ain't you？〃 said Polly when replaced。
〃Yes； I am rather nervous；〃 he replied。 〃Whew！ Don't； Polly！ Don't
flourish your spoon； or you'll go over sideways。 Don't tilt up your legs
when you laugh； Polly； or you'll go over backwards。 Whew！ Polly； Polly；
Polly；〃 said Barbox Brothers； nearly succumbing to despair； 〃we are
environed with dangers！〃
Indeed； he could descr