"You're fourteen, Polly," said Fanny later, fluffing her elaborate curls, "and at that age, we consider ourselves young ladies."
Polly smiled. "My mother likes me to dress simply, and I don't mind. I wouldn't know what to do with all that lace and fluff."
Before Fanny could respond, a loud shriek echoed from downstairs.
"It's only Maud," said Fanny. "She fusses all day long."
Moments later, a little girl burst into the room crying, "Tom's laughing at me! Make him stop!"
"What did you say this time?" Fanny asked.
"I just told him we had cold cream at the party last night, and he laughed!"
Fanny burst out laughing too. "Ice-cream, Maud — ice-cream!"
Polly couldn't help giggling, and soon Maud was laughing too.
At dinner that night, Polly met the rest of the Shaw family:
Mr. Shaw, who greeted her kindly but then buried himself in the newspaper;
Mrs. Shaw, pale and gentle;
and Madam Shaw, the dignified grandmother, who said warmly, "Bless my heart! The image of your mother, dear!"
Tom, of course, stared at her shamelessly the whole time.
Later that evening, Polly was left alone in the grand drawing room. The firelight flickered across soft carpets and glittering chandeliers. Feeling homesick yet curious, she began to hum one of her favourite country songs.
The old lady in the next room called softly, "That's a lovely old tune, my dear. Sing it for me."
Polly hesitated, but then sat at the piano and sang. Her clear, natural voice filled the room — simple but full of heart.
When she finished, Madam smiled. "That's the kind of music one never tires of. Sing another."
Polly did — "Jock o' Hazeldean," then "Down Among the Heather," and finally, with a bright laugh, "A Health to King Charlie."
As the last notes faded, a voice suddenly called, "By George, that's a jolly tune! Sing it again!"
Polly turned in surprise. Over the back of a chair popped Tom's red head.
"I can't sing any longer," Polly said coolly, and went to sit beside Madam.
The red head vanished like lightning.
Madam chuckled softly. "You have a sweet gift, my dear — never lose it."
And Polly smiled, feeling for the first time that maybe she belonged here after all.