Chapter 13 Francie's Big Adventure.
Francie settled right into life at the king's household, but each day, while Polly, Jasper and the boys had their lessons, Francie had no one to play with.
So Mr. King made sure that Francie had a new doll each day.
One day, while Francie played tea party in the far corner of Merion's bedroom, Polly rushed in waving a letter in the air.
Francie 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.
Mamsey will be so disappointed.
I can't bear it, Polly cried.
We'll send the letter out tomorrow, my dear, Marianne said, putting down her sewing.
But she'll be expecting it tomorrow, Polly said practically in tears.
Now.
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 down tomorrow for the morning mail, Marion said, comforting Polly.
I guess I must, Polly said leaving to meet her music teacher in the drawing room for her piano lesson.
Marion returned to her sewing.
A thoughtful expression came over Francie's face.
She kissed each of her dolls goodbye and pattered out the hallway down the stairs.
There she found the letter to Mamsy that Polly had been holding.
Mamsy 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, Francie said to herself.
Francie 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.
Francie started out and immediately turned down the wrong street, but she continued on and on, carefully holding the letter from Polly.
At last, Francie reached the main street.
She didn't come to the post office, so she kept going.
Francie 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 Francie.
She knocked off Francie's bonnet, sending it to the middle of the coach-filled street.
Without thinking, Francie 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 Francie.
The little girl will be killed, cried someone from the crowd.
Francie sprang between the horse's hooves and reached the curb on the other side of the street just in time.
Francie fell into a crowd of men.
What's this? asked a man as Francie 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.
Francie, is that you? asked Mr. King.
His face went deathly pale.
Grandpa, Francie cried out.
Without another word, Mr King scooped up Francie 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.
Francie explained about Polly's letter to Mamsy.
Mr. King shuddered at the thought of what could have happened to Francie.
Well, I'll make sure that Mamsy 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 Francie, no one had realized she was gone.
How could this have happened?
Mr. King roared.
He explained about Francie's near escape under the hooves of the horses.
Polly grew pale at the thought.
She held Francie 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, Francie said, patting Polly's cheek.
Mamsie will get her letter.
You'll see.
Grandpa will take care of it.
Oh, Francie, 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, Francie woke up suddenly.
She heard a noise downstairs.
"'Grandpa,' Francie thought to herself.
"'I want to see Grandpa.'
Francie climbed out of bed and with her little feet bare slowly tiptoed down the wide oak staircase.
She saw a light coming from Grandpa's library.
"'I'll surprise him,' Francie thought happily.
Her soft feet pattered over the thick carpet.
She stood at the library doorway, then she stopped perfectly still.
Two men were taking things out of Grandpa's writing desk and putting them into a great big sack.
"'What are you doing with my grandpa's things?'
Franzi asked.
The two masked men stared with surprise at the little girl, too shocked to move.
Franzi took a step into the library.
"'Don't touch my dear grandpa's things!'
Suddenly a deep growl and rush of fur flew past Franzi, heading straight for the burglars.
Yikes!
Let's get out of here, cried one.
The burglars dropped the sack filled with Mr King's things, leaped out the window and ran across the long lawn prints, chasing behind them.
Polly!
Grandpa!
Francie called.
Polly, followed by Mr King, Mary and Jasper and his nephews, rushed down the stairs to find Francie in the library in the middle of the clutter of Mr King's belongings.
Whatever is going on?
Mr. King asked, scooping Francie up in his arms.
Some bad men were taking your things, Grandpa, Francie said, shaking her head.
Prince, chase them away, she added.
Just then Prince returned to the room, panting and tired.
Good dog, Jasper said, patting his head and scratching Prince between the ears.
Oh my, Polly said, realizing the danger Francie had been in.
Then, before anyone could say anything,
