noon
She longed intensely to earn some money to help out the situation , thinking how delightful it would be to put ten dollars into her father 's hand with the astonishing announcement that it was her very own to do with as she pleased . But , realizing her helplessness in this line , she would resolve again and again to eat as little as possible , and as far as she was able to insist on wearing her old clothes , and to protest against spending even precious pennies for the pretty things she so loved to wear . But it was the eating question that troubled her more than the dress , for her healthy appetite often tempted her into indulgences which she would afterwards regret . One noon she so far forgot herself as to ask for a second helping of strawberry shortcake . `` Why , '' exclaimed her father playfully , `` if you keep on at this rate , I shall have to charge you more for board ! '' Polly looked up , dropped her fork , and covering her face with her hands broke into tears . `` Thistledown ! ''