"Be quiet, Polly!" ’Possum said sharply.  She took the paddles and turned the boat towards the shore.  Polly, utterly unabashed, glared angrily at Miss Parker as they drew away, but was reduced to a lamentable state of mind by the conduct of Flossie’s coxswain, who put but her tongue at her with gestures of scorn and derision.  Polly would gladly have retaliated in kind but for wholesome fear of her sister, who had been known to fall severely on such natural exhibitions of distaste for a foe.  She endeavoured to content herself by tilting her nose in the air as far as Nature would permit; but it was an unsatisfying reprisal, and cast a gloom over her until they neared the shore and caught sight of little Joe’s face of ecstasy.