13 Phronsie’s Big Adventure

CHAPTER 13 Phronsie's Big Adventure Phronsie settled right into life at the Kings's household. But each day, while Polly, Jasper, and the boys had their lessons, Phronsie had no one to play with. So, Mr. King made sure that Phronsie had a new doll each day. One day while Phronsie played tea party in the far corner of Marian's bedroom, Polly rushed in, waving a letter in the air. Phronsie overheard

Polly say that she had forgotten to give Thomas, Mr. King's butler, her weekly letter to the Little Brown House to take to the post office. "Mamsie will be so disappointed, I can't bear it," Polly cried. "We'll send out the letter tomorrow, my dear," Marian said, putting down her sewing. "But she'll be expecting it tomorrow," Polly said, practically in tears. "Now, Polly, your mother wouldn't want you to be upset and miss your piano lesson over this. Leave the letter in the hallway, and Thomas will take it into town tomorrow for the morning mail," Marian said, comforting Polly. "I guess I must," Polly said, leaving to meet her music teacher in the drawing room for her piano lesson. Marian returned to her sewing. A thoughtful expression came over Phronsie's face. She kissed each of her dolls good-bye and pattered out the hallway and down the stairs. There, she found

the letter to Mamsie that Polly had been holding. "Mamsie will feel so bad when she doesn't get Polly's letter. I know the way to the post office. I've been there with Grandpa King," Phronsie said to herself. Phronsie picked up the letter and slipped out the door. Nobody saw the little girl going down the driveway. At the gate, she looked up and down the street trying to remember which way she had gone with Grandpa King. Phronsie started out and immediately turned down the wrong street, but she continued on and on, carefully holding the letter from Polly. At last, Phronsie reached the main street. She didn't come to the post office, so she kept on going. Phronsie kept turning, corner after corner, ducking out of the way of the crowds of people who were walking up and down the street. A woman carrying a big basket bumped into Phronsie. She knocked off Phronsie's bonnet, sending it into the middle of the coach-filled

street. Without thinking, Phronsie ran into the middle of the road to get her bonnet. "Look out!" someone called. "Stop!" shouted another. The crowd gasped as a powerful pair of horses, whose driver could not stop them in time, came racing along the street, straight toward Phronsie. "The little girl will be killed!" cried someone from the crowd. Phronsie sprang between the horses' hooves and reached the curb on the other side of the street just in time! Phronsie fell into a crowd of men. "What's this?" asked a man as Phronsie bumped against him. "That was a narrow escape! This little girl was nearly killed a moment ago—careless driving," said another. "Bless me!" said a third. "Phronsie, is that

you?" asked Mr. King. His face went deathly pale. "Grandpa!" Phronsie cried out. Without another word, Mr. King scooped up Phronsie into his strong arms as if he would never let her go. "What in heaven's name are you doing here, child?" Mr. King asked. Phronsie explained about Polly's letter to Mamsie. Mr. King shuddered at the thought of what could have happened to Phronsie. "Well, I'll make sure that Mamsie gets her letter, my child. Let's get you home safe and sound, now," Mr. King said tenderly, as he hailed a coach. When Mr. King arrived home with Phronsie, no one had realized she was gone! "How could this have happened?" Mr. King roared. He explained about Phronsie's near- escape under the hooves of the horses. Polly grew pale at the thought. She held

Phronsie close in her lap. "I don't care about doing lessons. I'll never let you out of my sight again," Polly promised. "It's okay, Polly," Phronsie said, patting Polly's cheek. "Mamsie will get her letter. You'll see. Grandpa will take care of it." "Oh, Phronsie!" Polly cried, hugging her tight. Mr. King realized how much both little girls needed and missed their mother. So, Mr. King came up with another plan, and he wrote it in a letter to Mrs. Pepper. Several nights later, when the rest of the house was asleep, Phronsie woke up suddenly. She heard a noise downstairs. "Grandpa!" Phronsie thought to herself. "I want to see Grandpa."