POLLY AND THE PRINCESS

BY

EMMA C. DOWD

AUTHOR OF

POLLY OF THE HOSPITAL STAFF. POLLY OF LADY GAY COTTAGE. DOODLES, ETC. 

ILLUSTRATED

1917

CONTENTS

 I. WAFFLES AND DEWLAPS II. IN MISS MAJOR'S ROOM III. POLLY ADDRESSES THE BOARD IV. A JUNE HOLIDAY V. MISS LILY AND DOODLES VI. "BETTER THAN THE POORHOUSE" VII. ROSES--AND THORNS VIII. WAITING TO BE THANKED IX. BLANCHE PUDDICOMBE X. "GOOD-BYE, PUDDING" XI. "SO MYSTERIOUS!" XII. MRS. DICK ESCAPES XIII. ALONG A BROOK-SIDE ROAD XIV. POLLY PLANS XV. "LOTS O' JOY" XVI. THE HIKING CLUB XVII. GRANDAUNT SUSIE AND MISS SNIFFEN XVIII. VICTOR VON DALIN XIX. A MOONSHINE PARTY XX. THE PARTY ITSELF XXI. TWO OF THEM XXII. DANCING HIKERS XXIII. "HILLTOP DAYS" XXIV. "HOPE DEFERRED" XXV. ALICE TWINING, MARTYR XXVI. MR. PARCELL'S LESSON XXVII. "I LOVE YOU, DAVID!"XXVIII. A VISIT WITH MRS. TENNEY XXIX. DISAPPOINTMENT XXX. DOODLES SINGS XXXI. SHUT OUT XXXII. THE TALE IS TOLDXXXIII. THE PRINCESS AND THE DRAGON XXXIV. A MIDNIGHT ANNOUNCEMENT XXXV. A NEW WIRE XXXVI. POLLY DUDLEY TO CHRISTOPHER MORROWXXXVII. HOLLY AND MISTLETOE

POLLY AND THE PRINCESS

CHAPTER I

WAFFLES AND DEWLAPS

The June Holiday Home was one of those sumptuous stations whereindigent gentlewomen assemble to await the coming of the last train. 

Breakfast was always served precisely at seven o'clock, and certaindishes appeared as regularly as the days. This was waffle morningon the Home calendar; outside it was known as Thursday. 

The eyes of the "new lady" wandered beyond the dining-room andfollowed a young girl, all in pink. 

"Who is that coming up the walk?"

Fourteen faces turned toward the wide front window. 

Miss Castlevaine was quickest. Her answer did not halt the syrupon its way to her plate. 

"That's Polly Dudley. "

"Oh! Dr. Dudley's daughter?"

"Yes. She's come over to see Miss Sterling. They're veryintimate. "

"Miss Sterling?" mused Miss Mullaly, with a sweeping glance roundthe table. "I don't believe I've seen her. "

"Yes, you have. She was down to tea last night. She had on alight blue waist, and sat over at the end. "

"Oh, I remember now! She's little and sweet-looking. Somebodytold me she had nervous prostration. Too bad! She is so young andpretty!"

A tiny sneer fluttered from face to face, skipping one here andthere in its course. It ended in Miss Castlevaine's "Huh!"

"I think Miss Sterling is real pretty!" Miss Crilly, from theopposite side, beamed on the "new lady. "

"She has faded dreadfully, " asserted Mrs. Crump. "They used tocall her handsome years ago, though she never was my style o'beauty. But now--" She shook her head with hard emphasis. 

"She has been through a good deal, " observed Mrs. Grace mildly. 

"No more'n I have!" was the retort. "If she'd stop thinking aboutherself and eat like other folks, she'd be better. "

"Nervous prostration patients have to be careful about their diet, don't they?" ventured Miss Mullaly. 

"She hasn't got it!" snapped Mrs. Crump. 

"She thinks she has. " Miss Castlevaine's thick lips curved in asmile of scorn. 

"If she can't digest things, it won't do her much good to eatthem, " interposed Miss Major positively. "Nobody could digestthese waffles--they're slack this morning. "

Miss Castlevaine gave her plate a little push. "I wish I needn'tever see another waffle, " she fretted. 

"Oh!" exclaimed the "new lady, " "I don't understand how anybody canget tired of waffles!"

"Nor I!" laughed Miss Mullaly's right-hand neighbor. "I shall haveto tell you about the time I went to Cousin Dorothy's weddingluncheon. 

"I never had eaten waffles but once; that was at my aunt's. Shehad gone to housekeeping directly after the wedding ceremony, andwas spoken of in the family as 'the bride. ' I had been her firstguest, and, as she had treated me to waffles, I thought waffles andbrides always went together. So when I was included in theinvitation to Dorothy's wedding luncheon, my first thought was ofwaffles. I said something about it to my brother, and Ralph wasjust tease enough to lead me on. He told me that the table wouldbe piled with waffles, great stacks of them at every plate! Like alittle dunce I believed it all and went to that party anticipatinga blissful supply of waffles. In vain I looked up and down theelegant table! I ate and ate, but never a waffle appeared!Finally, when I could stand it no longer, I piped out, 'CousinDorothy, please can I have my waffles now?' Of course, my motherwas dreadfully mortified, for some of the guests were strangers, and very great people; but Dorothy took it as a mighty good joke, and even after I was married she used to laugh about my 'w'awful'disappointment. I've not gotten over my appetite for waffleseither! I believe I could eat and relish them three times a day. "

"You couldn't! Just wait till you've had 'em fifty-two times ayear, five years running--as I have!" Mrs. Crump's lips made astraight line. 

"Mrs. Crump has kept tabs on her waffles, " giggled Miss Crilly. "How many does this morning make--five hundred and--?"

"Sh!" nudged Mrs. Bonnyman at Miss Crilly's elbow. 

Two youngish women entered the room. They were the superintendentand the matron. 

Upstairs, meanwhile, Miss Juanita Sterling; in bed, and PollyDudley, seated on the outside, were having a familiar talk. 

"I shouldn't think you'd want to die till God gave you something todie of, " Polly was saying wistfully. "I think He must want you tolive, or He would give you something to die of. Perhaps He hassome beautiful work for you to do and is waiting for you to getwell and do it. "

"Polly, I cannot work! And there is no lack of things for me to dieof!" Impatience crept into the sweet voice. "Being in prison isbad enough even with good health; but to be sick, wretched--theworst kind of sickness, because nobody understands!--and to growold, too, grow old fast--oh, I wish God would let me die!" Thelittle woman gave a sudden whirl and hid her face in the pillow. 

"Don't, Miss Nita!" Polly's voice was distressed. She stroked thesmooth, soft hair. "Don't cry! You're not old! You're not old abit! And you're going to be well--father says so!"

"That won't take away the dewlap--oh!" cried Miss Sterlingfiercely, "I don't want a dewlap!"

"Dewlap?" scowled Polly. "What's a dewlap?"

"Polly! You know!" came from down among the feathers. 

"I don't!" Polly protested. "Is it some kind of--cancer?"

"Cancer! Polly!" Miss Sterling laughed out. 

"Well, I don't know what it is. " Polly laughed in sympathy. 

"Look here!" The little lady raised herself on her elbow andlifted her chin. "See that!"

Polly peered at the fair, pink skin. 

"What? I don't see anything. "

"Why, that! It's getting wabbly. " Her slim forefinger pushed theflesh back and forth. 

"Oh!" Polly's face brightened. "I remember! That's whatGrandaunt Susie called it! She said she used to have an awfulone--it hung 'way down. And she cured it! You'd never dream shehad one ever!"

"Oh, yes, you can do away with such things if you have money--ifyou can go to a beauty-doctor!" The tone was bitter. 

"No, she didn't!" hastened the eager voice. "She did it herself!"

"Of course, if you have expensive creams and all theparaphernalia--"

"But she didn't--she said so! She just used olive oil!"

"How old was she?" Miss Sterling inquired with a now-I-'ve-got-youair. 

"She was seventy when she had the dewlap; now she's seventy-threeor four. "

"Polly Dudley! I don't believe it!"

"Why, Miss Nita, I'm telling you the solemn truth!"

"Yes, yes, child! I didn't mean you! But this Aunt Susie--"

"Oh, she's just as honest! Why, she's mother's grandaunt, andshe's lovely! She was sick and couldn't do anything, and her hairwas thin and her cheeks hung down and she was all wrinkles and shehad the dewlap--she said she looked dreadful. Now you ought to seeher! She's perfectly well, and her hair is as thick, and it'ssmooth and solid all under her chin, and her face is 'most as roundas mine!"

"How did she work the miracle?" Miss Sterling's eyes twinkled. 

"Why, I guess by massage and exercises. She didn't take anything. She did lots of stunts; she had piles of them for her legs and armsand neck and face and feet and all over. She made up mighty funnyfaces. You lie over this way, and I'll show you one. 

"First you must smile--just as hard as you can. " Polly laughed tosee the prompt grin. "Now I'll put my hands so, and you must doexactly as I tell you. " Polly's little palms were pressed againstthe other's cheeks, and she began a rotary motion. 

"Open your mouth--wide, and then shut it again--oh, keep onsmiling! And keep your mouth going all the time, while I do themassaging. "

"Goodness!" Miss Sterling broke into a laugh. "I should think thatwas a stunt! It ought to do something. " She turned on the pillowin another paroxysm of mirth. 

"But you made me stop too soon, " objected Polly. "You ought toopen and shut your mouth twenty-five times. 'Most everything AuntSusie did twenty-five or fifty or a hundred times. "

"I don't wonder she got well! She'd have to if she didn't die. Ishould laugh before I got through twenty-five times, I'm sure. What's it for, anyhow?"

"To make the cheeks plump up and not sag--oh, yours look so pink!"Polly danced over to the dresser and back. 

The handglass showed a face of surprise. The thin, white cheekshad taken on a soft rose tint and--yes, an extra fullness!

"Queer!" Miss Sterling ejaculated. "I wouldn't have believed it!"

"Oh, let's try it again! Then you get up and go to walk withme--won't you?"

"I can't, Polly! Wish I could! But I don't feel as if I couldeven stand up. I suppose I shall have to go down to dinner. Idon't dare not. "

"Haven't you had any breakfast?"

"No. Folks that can't get up don't need to eat. " She laughedsadly. "It's well I'm not hungry. "

"But you ought--"

"Tap! tap!"

The matron opened the door while Polly was on the way. 

"Mr. Randolph is at the other end of the building and will be herepresently to see about the new wing. "

Mrs. Nobbs was gone. 

"Nelson Randolph!" cried Miss Sterling. "Hand me my blue kimono, Polly, quick! It's right there in the closet, by the door!"

She swung her feet to the floor and caught up her stockings. 

"You going to get up?"

"Of course! Hurry! I believe he's coming--no, he isn't! Oh, Ican get this on all right! You fix the bed! Never mind thewrinkles--plump up the pillows! Yes, hang my clothes anywhere youcan find room. There! Does my hair look all right?"

"Lovely! That kimono is very becoming. "

"Little flatterer!"

By the time Nelson Randolph, president of the June Holiday Home, appeared in the doorway, what he saw was a well-appointed bedroom, a little blue-clad lady demurely reading a small volume, and Pollyhovering near. With a perfunctory good-morning to Miss Sterling, and a genial handshake for Dr. Dudley's daughter, he passed withMrs. Nobbs to the southwest corner of the apartment. He took aglance around the ceiling, a look from the window, and somemeasurements with a foot-rule; then he walked briskly across theroom, nodded politely, and departed. 

"What a lovable man he is!" commented Polly, as the retreatingfootsteps told of their safe distance. 

"Is he?"

"Don't you know him?" Polly queried. 

"Not very well. Probably he doesn't remember me at all. He usedto come to the house occasionally to see father. That was beforehe was married. I was only seventeen or eighteen. "

"I like to look at him, he is so handsome. " Polly's head waggedadmiringly. "I guess he'd remember you all right, only he doesn'tknow you're here. He hasn't been president very long, just sinceMr. Macy died. What are they going to build now?"

"I don't know. First I've heard of it. They have more money thanthey know what to do with, so they've decided to put up an L andspoil my view, " laughed Miss Sterling. 

"I could tell them lots of things better than an L--some newdresses for Mrs. Crump and Mrs. Albright and Miss Crilly. They'vebeen here longest and look the worst. That brown one of Mrs. Crump's is just full of darns. "

"Same as mine will be when I've been here as long, " added MissSterling. 

"Strange, when they have so much money, they don't give the ladiesnice things to wear, " mused Polly. "Perhaps that is what makesMrs. Crump so cross-grained. Mrs. Albright isn't. She's sweet, Ithink. "

"She is a dear, " Miss Sterling agreed. "But she's had enoughtrouble to crush most women. I wonder sometimes if anything couldmake her blue. "

"Miss Crilly's cheerful, " observed Polly. "I like her pretty well. "

"She is kind-hearted. If only she weren't all gush and giggle!She raves over everything, cathedral or apron trimming--it's allthe same to her. "

Polly laughed. "She's rather pretty, I think. "

"Too fat. "

"No, you can't call her fat; only her bones don't show. I wishMiss Castlevaine could thin up and show her bones just a little, and I do feel sorry for her because she can't curl her hair. She'dlook a thousand per cent better with some little fluffs. "

"Why don't you be sorry for me?"

"Oh, you don't need curly hair as the rest do!" answered Pollycomfortably. 

"Need it! I'm a scarecrow with my hair straight!"

Polly took the smooth head between her two palms. "You'll never bea scarecrow if you live to be a hundred and fifty!" she declared. "But the dear homely ones--it is hard on them. What do you supposeis the reason Miss Sniffen won't let them curl their hair just amite?"

"Walls are said to have ears, " replied Miss Sterling, with a littlescornful twist to her pretty mouth. "It wouldn't be safe for me toexpress my opinion. "

Polly smiled. "It's a shame! And it isn't fair when she has curlyhair that doesn't need any putting up. I just wish hers wouldstraighten out--straight as Miss Castlevaine's!"

"You seem to have taken a sudden liking to Miss Castlevaine. "

"Oh, no! Only I feel sorry for her, she is so fat and fretty, andher hair won't fluff a mite. It must be dreadful to think as muchscorn as she does. "

"And talk it out, " added Miss Sterling. "I wish she wouldn't, forshe is really better than she sounds. "

"Oh, if she'd try some of Aunt Susie's exercises, perhaps they'dmake her face thin!"

"I thought they were to make it plump. "

"So they are--and thin, too, in the right places. They'd cure herdouble chin. "

"Anyway, she hasn't any dewlap yet. When it comes it will be anawful one. I can't imagine her in that exercise you tried on me. "

"Are you going to do it every day?"

"I would if I had any faith in it. " Miss Sterling sighed--with awrinkled forehead. 

"Oh, you mustn't pucker in wrinkles if I'm going to rub them out!"Polly smoothed the offending lines. "Now I'll run over home andget yon that book Aunt Susie gave to mother. It tells all abouteverything, and it will make you have faith. It did mother. "

"She doesn't need it. "

"No; but Aunt Susie said she'd better begin pretty soon, for it waseasier to cure wrinkles before they came. "

"Yes, I guess it is, " Miss Sterling laughed, "and dewlaps too!"

CHAPTER II

IN MISS MAJOR'S ROOM

When Russell Holiday and his wife named their only child June, theyplanned to make her life one long summer holiday. For eighteenyears success went hand in hand with their desire; then anunfortunate marriage plunged the joyous girl into bleak November. She grew to hate her happy name. But with the passing of the manshe called husband much of the bitterness vanished, and she beganto plan for others. 

"I want this Home to be as beautiful as money can make it and asfull of joy as a June holiday, " she told her approving lawyer. "There must be no age limit. It shall welcome as freely the womanof forty as her mother or her grandmother. I will gather in theneedy of any sect or race, --the oppressed, the disabled, thesorrowful, and the lonely, --and as much as can be give to them thefreedom and happiness of a delightful home. "

In just one week from the day the ground was broken for the bigbuilding, a drunken chauffeur drove the donor and her lawyer totheir death, and the institution was continued in a totallydifferent way from that intended by the two who could make noprotest. 

To be sure, it stood at last, in gray granite magnificence, on thecrest of Edgewood Hill, a palace without and within; but to thosefor whom it was built had never come, through the years of itsbeing, a single June holiday. 

It was this that some of the residents were discussing, as theycrocheted, knitted, or embroidered in Miss Major's room on a dullMay morning. 

"Too bad June Holiday couldn't have lived just a little longer!"Mrs. Bonnyman sighed. 

"What would she say if she knew how her wishes were ignored!" MissCastlevaine shook her head. 

"Regular prison house!" snapped Mrs. Crump. 

"Well, I'm glad to be here if I do have to obey rules, " confessed ameek little woman with grayish, sandy hair. "It's a lovely place, and there has to be rules where there's so many. "

"There don't have to be hair-crimping rules, Mrs. Prindle--huh!"

As the curly-headed maker of the hated law walked across the lawn. Miss Castlevaine sent her an annihilating glance. 

"Is that Miss Sniffen?" queried Miss Mullaly, adjusting hereyeglasses. 

Miss Castlevaine nodded. 

The others watched the tall, straight figure, on its way to thevegetable garden. 

"She has the expression of a basilisk I saw the picture of theother day. " spoke up Mrs. Dick. 

"What kind of an expression was that?" inquired Mrs. Winslow Teed. "I saw a stuffed basilisk in a London museum when I was abroad, butI can't seem to recollect its expression. "

"Look at _her_!" laughed Mrs. Dick. "She has it to perfection. "

Miss Crilly's giggle preceded her words. 

"She's like a beanpole with its good clothes on, ain't she? But, then, I think Miss Sniffen is real nice sometimes, " she amended. 

"So are basilisks and beanpoles--in their proper places, " retortedMiss Major; "but they don't belong in the June Holiday Home. "

"Are her rules so awful?" inquired Miss Mullaly anxiously. 

"I don't like them very, " answered the little Swedish widow. 

"Mis' Adlerfeld puts it politely. " laughed Miss Crilly. "I'll tellyou what they are, they are like the little girl in the rhyme--witha difference, --

 'When they're bad, they're very, very bad, And when they're good, they're horrid!'"

"I heard you couldn't have any company except one afternoon aweek, " resumed Miss Mullaly, after the laughing had ceased, --"notanybody at all. "

"Sure!" returned Miss Crilly. "Wednesday afternoon, from three tofive, is the only time you can entertain your best feller. "

"Why, Polly Dudley was here Thursday morning!"

"Now you've got me!" admitted Miss Crilly. "She's a privilegedcharacter. She runs over any blessed minute she wants to. "

"And she brings her friends with her, " added MissCastlevaine, --"David Collins and his greataunt's daughter, --LeonoraJocelyn, --Patricia Illingworth, and Chris Morrow, and that girlthey call Lilith, besides the Stickney boys up in Foxford--huh!"

"She must be pretty bold, when it's against the rule, " observedMiss Mullaly. 

"No, " dissented Mrs. Albright, "it isn't boldness. Polly runs inas naturally as a kitten. The rest don't come so very often. Ishouldn't say they'd let 'em; but they do. "

"There's never any favoritism in the June Holiday Home--never!"Mrs. Crump's brown poplin bristled with sarcasm. 

"Maybe it's on Miss Sterling's account, " interposed Mrs. Albright. "She thinks so much of Polly, perhaps they hope it'll help to bringher out of this sooner. "

"Don't you believe it!" Miss Castlevaine's head nodded out thewords with emphasis. "Dr. Dudley's a good one to curry favor with. "

"Is Miss Sterling a relative of his?" asked Miss Mullaly. 

"No. Haven't you heard how they got acquainted? Quite a prettylittle story. " Mrs. Albright settled herself comfortably in therocker and adjusted the cushion at her back. 

The others, who were familiar with the facts, moved closer togetherand nearer the window, both to facilitate their needles and theirtongues. 

"It was the day after Miss Sterling came, along in September, " thestory-teller began, "and she was up in her room feeling prettylonesome--you know how it is. "

Miss Mullaly nodded--with a sudden droop of her lips. 

"She stood there looking out of the window toward the back of thenew hospital, --it was building then, --and she saw a little girlclimbing an apple tree. She watched her go higher and higher, after a big, bright red apple that was away up on a top branch. Miss Sterling says she went so fast that she fairly held herbreath, expecting to see her slip; but she didn't, she's sosure-footed, and it would have been all right if she hadn'tventured on a rotten branch. When she stepped out on that andreached up one hand to pick the apple, the branch broke, and downshe went and lay in a little heap under the tree. 

"Well, Miss Sterling said she felt as if she must fly right out ofthat window and go pick her up. But it didn't take her manyminutes to run down the stairs and out the front door--she didn'tstop to ask permission--and over across lots to Polly. She was ina dead faint, but in a minute she came to, and Miss Sterling ran upto the house and got Dr. Dudley and his wife, and they carried herin, and Miss Sterling went too. The Doctor couldn't find thatPolly was hurt at all, only bruised a little--you see, the brancheshad broken her fall, and she was all around again in a few days. Miss Sterling was pretty well upset by it, so that the Doctor camehome with her, and she had to go to bed, same as Polly did! Itmade quite a stir here. 

"Ever since then Polly has run in and out, any time of day, just asI hear she does at the hospital. She's that kind of a girl, nevermakes any trouble, and so nothing is said. "

"I guess I shall break lots of the rules before I know what theyare. "

"You'll learn 'em soon enough, don't you worry! There's a longlist; but you'll get used to 'em after a while--we have to. There's nothing like getting used to things. It's a great help. "

CHAPTER III

POLLY ADDRESSES THE BOARD

"It is a shame, Miss Nita!" Polly was saying. "To think ofit--that you can't curl your hair even to go to a wedding! Iwonder if father or mother could do anything. "

"Oh, no!" cried Miss Sterling, in sudden terror. "Don't, I beg ofyou, let them say a word to Miss Sniffen! She'd turn me right out!"

"I should wish she would, if I were you. "

"Where could I go? I'd have to sit on the sidewalk!"

Polly laughed. 

"No, Miss Nita, " catching one of the slim white hands and pressingit against her cheek, "you come right over to our house when MissSniffen turns you outdoors, and we'll take care of you!"

"It isn't anything to laugh at, " sobbed the little woman. 

"I know, I'm wicked to laugh; but I had a picture of you sitting onthe curb in your nightgown, and I couldn't help it!"

Then Miss Sterling laughed too. 

Shortly she fell to crying again. "I did want to look nice atCousin Jennie's wedding, as nice as I could, and I do think it isdownright mean!" She hammered out the last words with desperateforce. 

Polly stood by her side, distressed into silence. 

"You don't know that she'll let you go anyway, do you?" she askedpresently. 

"Yes, she said I could, and then I asked her if I might curl myhair. She snapped out a disagreeable 'no, ' and I turned and cameupstairs. "

Polly was doing some hard thinking. 

"Queer, Jennie should marry at her age, " Miss Sterling resumedafter a brief pause, wiping her eyes dry. "She is forty-one, onlytwo years younger than I. "

"Are you forty-three? Nobody'd ever guess it. " Polly gazed at hercritically. "I wonder if I couldn't curl your hair at the lastminute, and smuggle you downstairs, all wrapped up, so Miss Sniffenwouldn't know. You could wet it out the next morning. "

Miss Sterling shook her head with a wee smile. "I would if Idared, but I don't. If Miss Sniffen weren't there to see, Mrs. Nobbs would be, and nothing escapes her eyes. No, 't would be toomuch risk. "

"Maybe it would, " Polly admitted, and then paused to listen. "It'sthree o'clock and I must go. I halfway promised David and LeonoraI'd come down there this afternoon. I guess they're a little bitjealous of you. It's handy to run over here, and they're so faraway. I should think you'd get tired of me, I come so much. "

"Tired of you!" echoed Miss Sterling. "You are the only bit ofcheerfulness I have to look forward to. Last night I couldn'tsleep; I was just upset after seeing Miss Sniffen, and my head feltwretched. But I kept saying to myself, 'Polly will be here in themorning!' and that helped me through the night. You don'tknow--you never will know!--what a comfort you are!" She pulledPolly down and gave her a little squeeze. 

"And then I didn't come this morning after all!" cried Polly insudden contrition. "That was mean! But I had some things to dofor mother, and Chris wanted me to help him with his stamps, and soI didn't get to it. I'm sorry. "

"Dear child! I don't expect you to spend all your time with an oldgray-haired woman who hasn't the mite of a claim on you. "

"Gray-haired!" chuckled Polly. "You can't find one gray hair. Idare you to try!" She shook a threatening finger. 

"Don't have to try. I know just where there are two--right inthere. " She bent her head. 

"Oh, they're only a little pale!" laughed Polly. "They aren'treally gray. But I must go, Miss Nita. Good-bye. "

"If you come across the Board anywhere downstairs, you may give itmy compliments. "

"Does the Board meet this afternoon?" whispered Polly. "Itwouldn't be compliments I'd give them!" She waved her hand, andthe door shut. 

Yes, the Board was in session, the Board of Managers of the JuneHoliday Home. A little hum of voices came to Polly's ears from aroom at the left. "I wish--" She stopped midway between thestaircase and the front entrance, her forehead wrinkled in thought. 

A maid came from the rear of the house, duster in hand. 

"Oh, Mabel!" Polly began in a low tone, "would you mind taking amessage to the Board for me?"

The girl, with a shade of surprise on her face, said, "Certainly, Miss Polly, I'll take it in. Who shall I give it to?"

"Mrs. Beers--she's president. Tell her, please, that I havesomething very important to say to the Board, and ask her if I cancome in now, or pretty soon--whenever it won't interfere with theirbusiness. "

The maid knocked and disappeared. In a moment she returned. 

"She says you can come now. "

There was very evident curiosity mingled with the smiles ofgreeting. 

"I happened to think, " Polly began at once, "that maybe you coulddo something to help out matters. I've been up to see MissSterling, and she is feeling pretty bad because she can't curl herhair to go to her cousin's wedding, and I didn't know but you wouldfix things so she can. "

"'Fix things'?" scowled the lady at the head of the table. "Youmean, put on an electric attachment?"

"Oh, no!" Polly came near disgracing herself by a laugh. "Butit's against the rule, you know, to curl your hair, and MissSterling asked if she couldn't, just for the evening, and MissSniffen said no. "

The ladies gazed at one another, plain surprise on their faces. Then they looked questioningly at their presiding officer. 

"The Board never interferes with the superintendent's rules--"began Mrs. Beers. 

"Unless it is something we especially don't like, " put in themember with a conscience. 

The president sent a severe glance down the table. 

"I thought, maybe, just for this once, you'd fix it so shecould--she would wet it all out before breakfast. " Polly was verymuch in earnest. 

"There's altogether too much complaint among the inmates, " spoke upa fat woman on Mrs. Beers's left. "They should be made to realizehow fortunate they are to have such a beautiful Home to live in, instead of finding fault with every little thing and sending peopleto try to wheedle us into giving them something different from whatthey have. "

"Oh, Mrs. Puddicombe!" burst out Polly, "Miss Sterling didn't sendme at all! She doesn't know a thing about it! I never thought ofcoming in until I passed the door--then it occurred to me thatmaybe you would like to help her out. It's pretty hard to have togo to a wedding with your hair all flat, just as they do it at ahospital--I don't believe you'd like it yourself, Mrs. Puddicombe. "

Several smiles were visible. A titter escaped the youngest member. 

Mrs. Puddicombe's broad face reddened under her amazing labyrinthof screwlike curls. 

"These charity people, " she resumed irrelevantly, "never know whenthey're well off. Why, this Home is the very gate of heaven! Justlook at that new rug in the library--it cost three hundred dollars!But who appreciates it?"

"Well, I should rather walk over a thirty-cent rug than every timeI turned round have to have a rule to turn by!" Polly tossed outthe words impetuously. 

"You're a saucy girl!" returned Mrs. Puddicombe. "You'd better gohome and tell your father to teach you good manners. " Thepresident rapped for order. 

"I beg your pardon, if I was saucy, " Polly hastened to say. "Ididn't mean to be. I was only thinking--"

"That will do, " interrupted Mrs. Beers. "There has been too muchtime given to a very trivial matter. "

Polly walked away from the June Holiday Home in the company ofuneasy thoughts. She feared she had made matters worse for herdear Miss Nita. 

CHAPTER IV

A JUNE HOLIDAY

The wedding night brought no recall of the negative answer whichMiss Sniffen had given to Juanita Sterling, although the littlewoman hoped until the last moment for some sign of relenting. 

But Polly was on hand to braid the thick, soft hair into a becomingcoronet, and to assert that she knew the bride wouldn't look halfso pretty. 

Several days after, Polly danced in, her face full of the morning. 

"You feel pretty well, don't you?" she began in her most coaxingway. 

"A little better than usual, " Miss Sterling laughed. "What do youwant me to do?"

"You know David and Leonora and I went down to Fern Brook lastweek, " Polly began deliberately, seating herself in the rockerwhich Miss Sterling did not like, "and ever since then I've beenwishing it would come a lovely day for you and me to have a littlepicnic all by ourselves. Or we might ask one or two others, if youlike. Will you, Miss Nita? You'll break my heart if you say no--Isee it coming! Just say, 'I should be de-e-lighted to go!'"

"Oh, I'd love to, but--"

"No, there isn't a 'but' or an 'if' or anything! We're going! Whoelse do you want?"

"You crazy child! I'm afraid it will use me up. I don't dare riskit. We'll have to take the trolley--and the walk across lots--oh, I can't, Polly!"

"Yes, you're going! I've made up my mind! The trolley ride won'thurt you; you'll have nothing to do but to sit still, and the walkisn't long. "

"Remember, I haven't been off the grounds, except for the wedding, in months. "

"I don't forget, and it's awful. You felt better the day after thewedding. "

"Ye-s, but--"

"We're going! It's decided!" Polly jumped up. "Say quick whowe'll invite, and then I'll run down and beg permission to go on apicnic--unless you'd rather. "

"Mercy--no! I guess that's one reason why I haven't been away; Ihaven't had life enough to want to unwind red tape. "

"I shall love it, " laughed Polly. "Shall we ask Mrs. Albright?She's nice. "

"Yes, and how would you like Mrs. Adlerfeld? I think she's prettylonely. "

"First-rate! She is sweet, and she talks the dearest way. Hurryup now, and get ready! I'll be back in no time with the passports. "

"Why, I don't know, " Miss Sniffen hesitated, "How far is it, do yousay?"

"We take the trolley out to Grafton Street, " Polly explainedslowly, "and then we go 'cross lots just a little way to thedearest grove and a lovely little brook that tumbles over thestones--oh, it's beautiful! Can't you go with us, Miss Sniffen?"cried Polly in a burst of generosity, shivering the next minute forfear her invitation would be accepted!

"No, thank you, " actually smiled the superintendent; "my businessdoesn't include picnics, and I doubt whether it would be wise forMiss Sterling to go so far away from the Home. It might causetrouble--and unnecessary expense; the others may go if they wish. "

"Oh, Miss Sniffen, please let Miss Sterling go! That's one reasonwhy I want it, because I think it will do her good, " wheedledPolly, adding tactfully, "Father says it often makes the nervesbetter to get the muscles tired. "

"Yes, I think that myself. Of course, it would do her no realharm, if you could manage to keep her from getting wrought up andhaving one of her tantrums. "

"Oh, I promise you I'll bring her home as good as new!" declaredPolly recklessly. And with profuse thanks she darted softly away. 

The four walked sedately down the long stairs in repressed glee, the three ladies waiting on the piazza while Polly registered theirnames, destination, time of starting, and expected return, in thedaybook on the secretary's desk. 

"Red tape all wound up!" she finally announced in a whisper, andthe quartette proceeded to the corner below, to be in readiness forthe car. 

Juanita Sterling appeared to have lost her weak nerves somewhere onthe way, as the four left the road behind them and made a paththrough the clover into the distance. 

"I want to sit right down and enjoy it!" she exclaimed, droppingamong the blossoms. "Hear that bird! It's a bobolink--it is! Oh, me! Oh, my! I haven't heard a bobolink for--I'm not going tobother to think how long. It is glorious!"

"This isn't anything compared to the woods and the brook, " assertedPolly. 

She put down her lunch-basket and snipped off some clover heads. 

"Those are full of honey, Miss Nita, --taste! They aren't buggy amite. "

Like bees they sipped and sipped, and laughed and said foolishthings like children at a merry-making. 

Suddenly Miss Sterling sprang to her feet. 

"The day is going, " she cried, "and we must get there quick! Come!"

The "just a little way" of Polly's lengthened on and on until thethree who were not accustomed to country fields looked in dismaytoward the long line of trees which seemed so very far off. 

"Are you fearfully tired?" Polly would reiterate, and "Not a bit!"Miss Sterling would lie with complacency, while Mrs. Albright grewwondrously jolly in her effort to keep everybody from realizing thetruth. 

When, finally, they stepped into the dim, cool wood, melodious withthe gurgle and splash of hurrying water and the lilting of unseenbirds, nobody remembered the hot, weary way she had come. 

Miss Sterling, stretched upon a bed of vines and moss, announcedthat she was in "heaven. "

Little Mrs. Adlerfeld looked across in answering sympathy. 

"It makes me so glad and happy, it hurts, " she said, her hand uponher breast. 

"I knew you'd love it!" exulted Polly, dropping lightly between thetwo and laying a hand upon each. "Let's come out here every week!"

Nobody objected. Mrs. Albright wagged an approving smile, Mrs. Adlerfeld continued her dreamy gaze into the brook, the invalid wastoo drowsy to speak. 

"Go to sleep, all of you!" Polly commanded gayly. "I'll have ared-and-green luncheon for you when you wake up!"

She bounded off along the slippery pine-needled path anddisappeared behind a curtain of foliage. 

Miss Sterling awoke with a start--where was she? Then the eventsof the morning flashed into view, and she smiled contentedly. 

Mrs. Adlerfeld, leaning back against a stone, was peacefullynodding, and a gentle snore from the other of the trio told thatPolly's order had been obeyed. 

Where was Polly? Miss Sterling looked around, but she was not insight. Even with the springing of a sudden fear she caught thesound of distant talking--a man's voice! She rose to her feet andstood irresolute, listening. Then she smiled. That was Polly'slaugh' In a moment two figures rounded a clump of young pines. Juanita Sterling caught her breath--the man walking beside Pollywas Mr. Randolph!

The president of the June Holiday Home found a welcoming hand as hestrode up the piney path. 

"Weren't you surprised. Miss Nita?" cried Polly. "He's going tohave us arrested for trespassing on his land!"--with a roguishglance toward the owner. 

"Then we shall have to invite him to luncheon, shan't we?" MissSterling's blue eyes held pleasant twinkles. "It is too pleasantto-day to go to jail!"

The gentleman chuckled. 

"Oh! will you stay?" begged Polly. 

"You'd better!" urged Miss Sterling. "There are Banbury turnoversand chicken sandwiches!"

"It is hard to refuse--" he began. "Oh, I knew you couldn't say nowhen Miss Nita asked you!" sang Polly delightedly. "Nobody can!Except Miss Sniffen!" she added conscientiously. 

"Miss Sniffen" appeared to pass unnoticed. Polly suddenlyremembered her handful of wintergreen sprigs and berries, and thesleepers awoke to join the merriment and the little pungent feast. 

"I came up, " Mr. Randolph explained, "to look over some trees thata man wants, and I rather think I ought to go directly back; but, "he went on with a whimsical laugh, "I guess business won't know itif I steal this June holiday. It is a good while since I had one. "His face grew instantly grave. 

"You have to catch June holidays quick, " smiled Mrs. Adlerfeldwistfully. "They don't stay!"

"No, they don't stay, " Mr. Randolph agreed gravely. "But, " hebrightened, "you of June Holiday Home have them all the yearround. " He looked from one face to another. 

Mrs. Albright smiled a wordless response, the swift color flushedMiss Sterling's face, while fun played about Polly's mouth. 

"You have a pretty good time there, don't you?" he persisted. 

His eyes were bent on Miss Sterling; yet Mrs. Albright kindlyinterposed with the safe assertion, "It is a beautiful place. "

"Yes, it is beautiful, " he replied, scanning the cheery, wrinkledface. "Any town should consider it a great privilege to have suchan institution within its borders. Mrs. Milworth--or June Holiday, as she preferred to be called--was a wonderful woman. I am glad tobe in a position to help in the carrying-out of her plans. "

Miss Sterling smiled a little queerly. Polly opened her lips, thenshut them tight, and finally announced quite irrelevantly that shewas hungry. 

One of Mrs. Dudley's prettiest tablecloths was spread on a littlepiney level close to the brook, and Polly set out the paper platesand cups and the boxes of food. 

"Which do you like best, Mr. Randolph, coffee or chocolate?" Pollyqueried anxiously. 

"I will answer as a little boy of my acquaintance did, --'Whicheveryou have the most of. '"

"Well, you see, we have only one, and I do hope you don't likecoffee best. "

"I don't!" he declared. "I always drink chocolate when I can getit. "

"I'm glad I brought it, then!" cried Polly. "You cut the cake, please, Miss Nita. I'm afraid I couldn't do it straight. "

The little feast was ready at last, appetites were found to be ofthe keenest sort, and everything went merrily. 

"I have never had the pleasure of a meal at the Home, "--Mr. Randolph was eating a Banbury turnover with plain enjoyment. "Isuppose you ladies are treated to this sort of thing every day. "

"We have a pretty good cook, " answered Miss Sterling discreetly;"but these pies are of Mrs. Dudley's make. Polly brought thelunch. "

"Oh!" The man's eyebrows raised themselves a little. "Then Ishould say, Mrs. Dudley is an excellent Banbury pie-ist. "

"I shall have to tell her that, " laughed Polly. "It will pleaseher very much. "

"Nothing delights a woman more than to have her cooking praised, "laughed Mrs. Albright. 

"I learned that years ago. " Mr. Randolph smiled reminiscently. "When I was first married, I think I must have been a rathernotional man to cook for. My wife seldom did much in the kitchen, but one day she made a salad. As it did not exactly appeal to myappetite, after one taste I remarked that I was not very hungry. To my dismay she burst into tears. It was her favorite salad, andshe had made it with unusual care, never dreaming that I would notlike it as well as she did. Ever afterwards I ate the whole billof fare straight through. "

"It sometimes takes courage to do that, " smiled Mrs. Albright. "Ihope you had a good cook. How much people think of eating! Idon't blame 'em either. Nobody enjoys anything better than--forinstance, a lunch like this. "

"Robert Louis Stevenson did, " spoke up Mrs. Adlerfeld. "I read inmy day-to-day book this morning--I can't quite 'remember--yes, thisis it: 'After a good woman, and a good book, and tobacco, there isnothing so agreeable on earth as a river. ' I did not think then Ishould be eating my dinner right on the bank of a little river!"She gazed down lovingly on the water swirling and, foaming amongthe stones. 

"Stevenson ought to know, " said Mr. Randolph with a pleased smile. "So he is one of your favorites as well as mine!"

"Yes, I like him very. " Her little sunny face beamed withpleasure. "His book is more educating as many things said by ateacher. "

"He is a good teacher. "

"I wish he had not put in tobacco, " scowled Mrs. Adlerfeld. "Thereare a many things better as tobacco. "

"You have not tried it, " he returned. "Stevenson knew because hehad tried it. "

The little woman shook her head decidedly. "I have been suffered amany times by tobacco. " Then a smile broke mischievously. "Youmay smoke after dinner, Mr. Randolph. "

The man laughed. "I was not pleading for myself, " he protested. "This is sufficiently soothing--" His hand made a comprehensivesweep. "Tobacco would be superfluous. "

Miss Sterling had risen and gone over to the lunch-box, where shewas trying to open a second thermos bottle. 

"Let me do that for you!" He sprang to help her. 

She stepped back heedlessly, her foot slipped, and with a sharp cryshe fell on the smooth slope. 

Polly and Mr. Randolph reached her together. 

"Are you hurt?" Polly's voice was distressed. 

"Any damage done?" The man's tone was cheery, yet concerned. 

She laughed bravely. 

"Oh, no!" taking the proffered hands and trying to rise. Then shesank back, catching her breath hard. 

"It's just my ankle--but it isn't hurt!" she declared fiercely. "Let me try it again. "

She stood on her feet. "I guess I'm all here, " she laughed; yeteven with the words her face grew white. 

Mr. Randolph caught her, and she drooped limply against him. 

He laid her down gently, and at once she opened her eyes. 

Mrs. Albright was rubbing her hands. "You will be all right in aminute, " she said cheerily. 

"I am all right now, " Miss Sterling maintained. "How stupid of meto faint! I won't have a sprained ankle--so there!"

The rest laughed, though a little uncertainly. 

Polly, like a true doctor's daughter, was examining the injury. 

"It doesn't swell, so it can't be sprained, " she decided positively. 

Miss Sterling sat up and supplemented Polly's inspection. "Merelya strain. I'll be able to walk in a little while. "

"You'd better not tax it, " Mr. Randolph advised. "I am glad my caris so near. I drove in as far as the road was good. "

"Oh!" Miss Sterling's voice was grateful. "I was wondering how Icould ever walk over to the trolley. "

"You would not have had to do that in any case, but my car is readywhenever you care to return. "

"The ride will be a lovely ending to the day, " Miss Sterlingassured him, "and, if it won't hinder you, suppose we don't go anysooner on my account. "

Four o'clock found the picnickers leaving the wood, the injured oneassisted on either side by Polly and Nelson Randolph. 

The way was not long, but time after time it took all the pluck ofwhich Juanita Sterling was mistress not to stop in the path and cryout that she could not go a step farther. 

Her escorts were solicitous. 

"Lean on me more, Miss Nita, " Polly would urge. "I'm awfullystrong. Favor your foot all you can. "

"Hadn't I better carry you the rest of the way?" asked Mr. Randolphwhen she could no longer hide her pain. 

Her thanks were gracefully given, but she refused to proceed exceptupon her own feet. 

"It is nothing, " she insisted. "I shall be all right in a moment. "

Never did hospitable inn look more inviting to a weary travelerthan did the waiting car to Juanita Sterling. 

"You sit in front, " advised Polly, "it will be much easier for you. "

"Certainly!" the man exclaimed, throwing open the other door. 

But before Polly could stay her she had stepped to therunning-board--and was on the back seat!

"You are naughty!" Polly pouted. 

Miss Sterling laughed softly. 

The man said nothing, only helped Mrs. Adlerfeld to a place besidehim. 

The cooling, sunlit air was delightful. It was long since MissSterling had been in an automobile, and the car rode as easy as arocking-chair. She drew deep breaths, and half forgot that herankle was still throbbing from its recent effort. 

"Feel equal to a little longer ride?" suddenly inquired the driver, throwing the query toward Miss Sterling. 

"Equal to anything!" was the happy reply. 

"Oh, that will be nice!" cried Polly, squeezing her friend's arm, and beaming on her right-hand neighbor. 

"Am I going too fast for you?" was the next question. 

"Not a bit!"--"It is lovely!"--"The faster the better!" came inmerry succession from the back seat. 

They spun along the smooth road with greater speed, and thefreshness of the country was brought to them in one steady sweep. 

"This is glorious!" breathed Miss Sterling. 

"I never rode in one of these cars before, " confessed Mrs. Adlerfeld blithely. 

"Indeed!" a pleasant light flashed in the driver's eyes. "And howdo you like it?"

"Oh, I like it very!" The wrinkled face was radiant. "It makes meso glad and happy!"

"We will have another ride some day, " was the unexpected response, which made the little Swedish woman fairly gasp in delight. 

The gayety of the party came to a sudden end when Mr. Randolphdrove into the Home grounds. 

"Please, not a word to anybody about my fall, " said Miss Sterlingin a low voice, as she was helped from the car. 

"Is that wise?" It was asked in a surprised tone. 

"Extremely wise, " was the smiling response. "I might wish to gopicnicking again, you know. " Her twinkling eyes met his puzzledface. 

"As you will, " he promised gravely. 

There was time for no more. The others were waiting. 

Polly kept beside Miss Sterling who walked without a limp and gaveno sign of the torture she was undergoing. 

"Go right upstairs!" whispered Polly. "I'll report for all of youwhen I come down. "

"You needn't go up, the rail will be sufficient. "

But Polly would not relinquish her charge until she saw her safe inher room. 

"How came you to be riding with the president of the Home?" MissSniffen looked down sternly on Polly. 

"Oh! did you see us come? Wasn't it lucky--nice that Mr. Randolphhad his car? And wasn't he good to bring us?"

"Was the meeting by arrangement?" questioned Miss Sniffen severely. 

"Oh, no! I was so surprised! We all were! He happened to go overthere to see about some trees, and so stayed to luncheon. We had alovely time! Wasn't it queer it happened to be his land?"

Miss Sniffen's thin lips drew themselves into a sarcastic line. 

"'Happened!' There seems to have been a number of _happenings_. "

"I know it, " Polly agreed demurely, looking at her watch to makesure of the time. "We came in about five minutes ago, MissSniffen. It was twenty minutes of six just before we got here. "

"What time did you leave the picnic grounds?"

"I think it was four o'clock. "

"Did you come directly back?" Miss Sniffen's hard eyes fastened onPolly's face. 

"Oh, no! We had a beautiful ride! We went way out on the Flaxtonroad, along by the river. Don't you think Mr. Randolph is a verylovable man?"

"I think it was entirely out of place for you to spend the day inthe woods with an unmarried man. I shall look into it. "

Polly's brown eyes grew big and wondering. "Why, Miss Sniffen, Idon't see what harm there was! We had the loveliest time!"

The superintendent did not reply. She turned deliberately andwalked down the great hall. 

Polly watched her a moment, the wondering look still in her eyes. Then she sped swiftly toward home. She hoped Miss Sniffen wouldnot find out about Miss Nita's ankle. 

CHAPTER V

MISS LILY AND DOODLES

The long line of choir boys issued decorously from the side door ofSt. Bartholomew's. The running, pushing, scuffling, and laughterwere reserved for the next street. Sly nudges and subdued chuckleswere all that the most reckless indulged in under the shadows ofthe church. 

At the foot of the steps stood a slender, whitehaired woman withstooping shoulders. She scanned each face as it emerged from thedim passageway, and her own grew a bit anxious as the boys passed. Then it suddenly brightened with recognition. Doodles had appeared. 

The woman stepped forward to meet him. "Excuse me, " she hesitated, "but are you the one who sang that solo, 'Take heart, ye weary'?"

The boy smiled his modest answer. 

"Oh, I want to thank you for it! I've been waiting till you came, and I was so afraid I'd missed you after all, for I probably shan'thave another chance. I wanted you to know how much good it hasdone me. "

"Has it?" Doodles looked his pleasure. 

"Oh, it was beautiful!" she said tremulously. "I never heardanything like it! I always enjoy your singing, and am sodisappointed when you don't sing alone; but seems to me this piecewas sweetest of all!"

"I guess you'll like the one for next Sunday, " Doodles toldher, --"'And God shall wipe away all tears. '"

"Oh!" It was mingled longing and regret. "That must be beautiful!I wish I could hear it--seems as if I must!" Her voice broke alittle. "But I'm afraid I can't. I shan't be here next Sunday. "

"That's too bad! I'm sorry!"

"It can't be helped. I am glad I could come to-day and hearyou--it does me more good than sermons!" Tears made the blue eyesshine. 

"Perhaps I shall sing it some other time when you are here, "Doodles suggested hopefully. 

The woman shook her head. Her reply was soft and broken. "Ishan't ever be here again. "

"Oh!" Doodles was instantly sympathetic. Then a gleam lighted hissorrowing face. "I'll tell you what, " he began hurriedly, "I'llcome to your house and sing for you this afternoon--that is, ifyou'd like me to, " he added. 

Such joy flooded the tearful eyes! "Oh, you dear boy! if you would!I don't know how to thank you!"

"That's all right! I'd love to do it. Shall I come early, rightafter dinner, or--"

"Oh, come early! It is so good of you!" The tears threatened tooverflow their bounds. 

Doodles glanced down the street. "What is your address, please? Ihave to take the next car. "

"Why, yes! I forgot! I live at 304 North Charles Street. "

"Thank you. " He lifted his cap with a bright smile. "I'll bethere!" he promised and was off. 

The woman watched him as he hailed the passing car. He saw herfrom a window and waved his hand. She returned the salute, andthen walked slowly away. 

"I hope he won't forget the number, " she said to herself, "hedidn't take it down. And I never thought to give him my name!"

Doodles easily found the place the woman had designated. The housewas small and dingy, and two grimy babies were playing on thedoorstep. 

"Miss Lily's upstairs, in back, " answered the girl to whom theinquiry had been referred. "I guess it's her you want. Ther'ain't nobody else, 'cept Miss Goby, an' she's a big un. "

The top of the dim flight was nearly reached when a door opened andthrew a stream of light on the stairway. The boy saw his newfriend waiting for him. 

"Walk right in!" she said cordially. "It's awfully good of you tocome!"

The room was in noticeable contrast with the rest of the house. Here everything was neat and homelike, although there was littleattempt at ornament. Doodles was soon seated in a cushioned rockerand listening to the little old lady's grateful talk. 

"When you spoke of that new song, 'God shall wipe away all tears, 'it did seem as if I just couldn't miss hearing you sing it! But Inever dreamed that you could do such a thing as to come and sing itto me here. I wish I had a better place for you to sing in, butI've had to take up with 'most anything these days. "

The lad hastened to assure her that he was accustomed to sing in asmall room, and that it made no difference to him where he was. 

"Then you don't mind not having an organ or piano or anything?"The tone was anxious. 

"Not a bit, " he smiled. "I never used to have accompaniment--I cansing anywhere. "

After the first note Miss Lily sat motionless, bending forward alittle, her hands clasped in her lap, her eyes on the singer. Whether she saw him was doubtful, for her tears fell fast asDoodles sang the comforting words. 

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes;. . . And thereshall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, . . . Neither shallthere be any more pain:. . . For the former things are passed away. "

With silence the listener suddenly dropped her face in her handsand began to sob. 

In a moment Doodles was singing again, and soon she grew calmer. When he stopped she was ready to talk. 

"I don't see what makes me cry so!" she broke out, with a greateffort fighting back the tears. "I'm all upset anyway. It is solovely having you sing--right here! You don't know! I'm afraid Ishan't ever want you to stop. " She laughed quiveringly. 

"More now?" he asked. 

"If you aren't tired, " she hesitated. 

"Never!"

He sang again. 

In the doorways upstairs and down people were listening. Thelittle house on North Charles Street had never heard such musicwithin its walls. As the song ceased, applause came, --uncertainlyat first, then louder and steady. 

The two in the back room looked at each other and smiled. 

"I guess they like it as well as I do, " Miss Lily said. 

In response Doodles sang "Only an armor-bearer, " still one of hisfavorites, and at its close the approval of those outside wasprompt and long. 

Many other songs followed; apparently the audience grew. 

"They'll tire you out, " the little lady fretted. 

The boy shook his head decidedly, beginning for the second time, "And God shall wipe away all tears. "

"Oh, it is like heaven itself!" Miss Lily breathed. Then shesighed softly. "What if I had missed it!"

"I think I shall have to go now, " at last Doodles said; "but I willcome and sing for you again any time, if you like, --any time whenyou are here. " He rose and picked up his cap. 

"Oh, my dear boy, I'm not ever coming back! I'm"--she began tosob, and Doodles could scarcely make out the words--"I'm going--tothe--poorhouse!" She broke down, and her slight shoulders shookpitifully. 

The boy stood as if stunned. Then he stepped near. "Don't cry!"he said softly, "don't cry!"

"Oh--I can't help it!" she mourned. "I've kept up--I thought maybeI shouldn't have to go; but my eyes have given out, and I can'tearn anything only by sewing--and I can't sew now! To think of mein the poorhouse!"

"I'll come and sing for you there!" cried the boy impulsively. 

"Oh! you wouldn't--would you?" She clutched at the only straw ofhope. 

"Of course, I will! I'd be glad to!"

"You're awfully good!" She wiped her eyes. 

"I didn't mean to entertain you with tears, " she smiled. "Seems asif I might stop, but I can't. " Her eyes were wet again. 

A sudden light illumined the lad's face. He opened his lips, thenshut them. 

"How soon do you expect to go?" he asked. 

"Some time the last of the week, the man thought. " She swallowedhard. "He said he'd give me time to pick up my things--he was realgood. "

"I'll see you again before the last of the week, " promised Doodles, putting out his hand. 

She clasped it in both of hers. 

"You are just a dear--that's what you are!" she said tremulously. "And you don't know how I thank you! I can't tell you what it hasbeen to me!"

As the singer passed down the stairs curious eyes peered out athim; but he did not know it. His heart was full of Miss Lily'sgrief, although overspreading it was the beautiful thought that hadcome to him so suddenly a moment ago. 

CHAPTER VI

"BETTER THAN THE POORHOUSE"

Polly was on the veranda when Doodles came. 

"Why, Doodles Stickney! I was just thinking of you! How did youknow I wanted to see you this morning?"

"I didn't, " he laughed; "but I wanted to see you'"

"I'm so glad--oh, I forgot! I'm due at the dentist's at teno'clock! Maybe I can get off. "

"No, no! I couldn't stay till that time anyway. I came down onbusiness--"

"Dear me!" laughed Polly, "how grand we are this morning!"

"I don't know whether it is 'grand' or not--it depends a good dealon the president of June Holiday Home. I'll tell you all aboutit, " dropping into a chair beside Polly. 

He related the incidents of the day before, of Miss Lily's meetinghim at the church door, of his singing to her in the afternoon, andfinally of her distress at going to the poorhouse. 

"And I happened to think if she could only come to the June HolidayHome--"

"Lovely!" cried Polly. "I don't see why she can't!"

"Nor I, but somebody may. I thought I'd see you first and maybeyou'd give me a little note of introduction--you know Mr. Randolphso well, and I never spoke to him. "

"Certainly I will! I'll go right and do it now! Chris will wantto see you--I'll send him out. "

The note that Doodles carried away with him was in Polly's beststyle. 

 _Dear Mr. Randolph_:-- This is to introduce my friend Doodles Stickney, or to be perfectly proper, Julius Stickney. He will tell you about Miss Lily, and I do hope you will make a place for her at the Home. I have never seen her, but I know she is nice, or Doodles wouldn't like her or take so much trouble to get her in. I feel awfully sorry for her. It must be dreadful to have your eyes give out so you have to go to the poorhouse. 

 Miss Sniffen made a terrible fuss because you stayed at the picnic with us--or because we stayed with you. Anyway, she scolded Miss Nita like everything. I'm afraid we can't ever have a picnic again. She began on me when I went to report our arrival--she happened to be at the desk. You know you have to report as soon as you get in, and I said I'd do it for the crowd. Miss Nita couldn't because her ankle ached so. It turned black and blue--just awful! She wouldn't say a word to anybody, and father sent some liniment by me. The first smelt so strong Miss Nita didn't dare use it for fear they'd suspect, so father sent her another kind. He said it wasn't quite so good as the smelly sort, but her ankle is a whole lot better. Don't you think she is brave? I don't know what Miss Sniffen would say if she knew about that. We've all kept whist. 

 This is a pretty long letter, but I knew you'd want to hear about Miss Nita's ankle. You will let Miss Lily in, won't you? Yours with hope, POLLY MAY DUDLEY. 

 Thank you ever so much for that beautiful ride! I shall never forget it. 

Doodles walked into the great office of the Fair Harbor PaperCompany and asked to see Mr. Randolph. 

"We hired a boy last week. We don't want any more. " The clerk wasturning away. 

"Oh, I'm not applying for a place!" cried Doodles, his voice fullof laughter. "I wish to see the president on business. "

The young man scowled, irritated by his blunder, and surveyed theboy with a disagreeable sneer. 

"Well, he's too busy to attend to kids. What do you want anyhow?"

Doodles hesitated. He did not wish to tell his errand to thispompous young person. 

"Please say to Mr. Randolph that I would like to see him onimportant business about the June Holiday Home. "

"Who sent you?"

"No one; but I have a letter of introduction. "

"Oh, you have! Hand it out!"

Doodles made no move toward his pocket. 

"I wish to give it to Mr. Randolph himself, " he said gently. 

"Well, you can't see him. He's busy now. "

"I will wait, " replied the boy, and took a chair. 

The clerk went behind the railing and sat down at a desk. 

Doodles looked out on the street and watched the passers. Occasionally his eyes would wander back to the office and over thearray of men and women bent to their work, then they would returnto the wide doorway. He felt that he had small chance to speakwith Mr. Randolph until he should go to luncheon, and that, heargued to himself, would not be a very good time to present hisbusiness. He wished that the unpleasant young clerk would gofirst--he would like to try some other. 

Men and women came and went, some of them disappearing in the rear, where, undoubtedly, was the man he sought. If only he daredfollow! Finally the offensive youth came out through the gate andover to where he sat. 

"Here, you kid, " he began in an insolent tone, "you've hung roundhere long enough! Now beat it!"

Into the soft brown eyes of Doodles shot an angry light. 

The other saw it and smiled sneeringly. He did not count on thelad's strength. 

In a moment the indignation had passed. There was none of it inthe quiet voice. "Good-day, sir!"

Doodles was gone. 

A plan had instantly formed in his mind. He would get himself alunch, and then wait outside the office until Mr. Randolphappeared. That was the only way. It never occurred to him to givethe matter up. 

One restaurant was passed; it did not look inviting. The next wasbetter, but flies were crawling over the bottles and jars in thewindow. He went on. 

"It will cost more, I suppose, " he muttered regretfully to himself, as he entered a neat cafe where the door was opened to him by a boyin livery. 

"Bread and milk, " he ordered of the trim maid, and he smiled tohimself contentedly at the daintiness with which it was served. 

The milk was cool and sweet, and Doodles was hungry. The whistlesand clocks announced that it was noon, and soon afterward peoplebegan to stream in. Women with shopping-bags and bundles, men withnewspapers, hatless working-girls; but everywhere were courtesy andlow voices. Doodles was glad of his choice. 

He sat eating slowly, wishing he knew at what time he would be mostlikely to meet Mr. Randolph, when he stared at a man coming towardhim--it was the president of the Paper Company! The boy drew in adelighted breath--what great good luck!

Mr. Randolph sat down at a little table not far away. He lookedtired, the lad thought, and he decided to wait until the close ofthe meal, if he could manage to make his own small supply of milklast long enough. 

"Nothing more, thank you, " Doodles told the maid who came to ask. "This milk is very nice, " he added, which brought out an answeringsmile. 

At last the president had reached his fruit. 

The boy's last crumb had vanished long ago, and he thought he mightventure across to the other table. 

"May I speak with you a moment, sir?" he asked softly, taking theletter from his pocket. 

"Certainly. " The man bowed with his accustomed courtesy. 

"Polly Dudley gave me this for you. "

At mention of the name a pleasant light over-spread the grave face. 

The lad watched him as he read. The light deepened, then the browsdrew together in a scowl. Doodles wondered what Polly had written. 

"This lady is a friend of yours, I take it. "

The keen gray eyes looked straight at the boy. 

"Yes, sir, " Doodles smiled, "though a very new one. I never sawher till yesterday. "

The eyes bent upon him widened a little. 

The lad told his story as simply as possible, touching lightly uponhis own part in it. "And so, " he ended artlessly, his appealingbrown eyes looking straight into the steady gray ones, "I thought, even if there were rules and patches and things she didn't like, itwould be better than the poorhouse. "

A little amused smile replaced the hint of surprise on the man'sface. 

"Where do you sing?" he asked abruptly. 

"At St. Bartholomew's Church, Foxford. "

"Did you come down expressly to see me about this?"

"Yes, sir, " answered Doodles. 

"How did you know I was here?"

"I didn't. " A smile overspread the small face. "I waited at youroffice until"--he hesitated an instant--"I thought I would find youafter I had had a lunch. "

"Get hungry?"

"Oh, no, sir!"

Mr. Randolph eyed him questioningly. 

"The young man thought I'd waited long enough, " was the gentleexplanation. 

"So he told you to go!"

"I guess he got tired of seeing me there, " smiled Doodles. 

"Did you wait long?"

"'Most two hours. "

"Tall, light-haired fellow, was it?"

The boy assented. 

The president mused a moment and then resumed:--

"In any case your friend will have to make an application. I thinkI will let her take a blank. Have her fill it out, and you cansend it down to me. I will attend to the rest. "

Doodles rose from his chair, feeling that it was time to go, yet hecould not forbear one question. 

"Do you think she can come to the Home?" His tone betrayed hissolicitude. 

"I will do the best I can for her, Master Stickney. " Mr. Randolphhad also risen, and he smiled down into the upturned face. "Itwill have to be referred to the Committee on Applications, but Iwill see that it is put through as quickly as possible. "

Doodles decided to see Miss Lily before going home, so it was stillearly afternoon when he entered the little house on North CharlesStreet. 

"Why, you dear boy!" The little lady had him in her arms. "Howgood of you to come! I was thinking this morning, what if Ishouldn't ever hear you sing again--and now here you are!"

"I told you I'd come, " laughed Doodles. 

"Yes, " smiled Miss Lily; "but people forget. I guess you aren'tthe forgetting kind. "

"I didn't come to-day to sing, " the boy began slowly. Now that themoment was at hand he felt suddenly shy at disclosing his errand. "I happened to think yesterday of the June Holiday Home down inFair Harbor, and I wondered if you wouldn't rather go there andlive than to go--anywhere else. "

For an instant Miss Lily stared. "That beautiful place up onEdgewood Hill?--me?--go there?" Her mobile face showed a strangemingling of astonishment, fear, and joy. 

"Certainly! Shouldn't you like to?"

"'Like to'! All the rest of my life?--Oh, I can't believe it!"

"I don't know that you can get in, " Doodles hastened to explain;"but I went to Fair Harbor this morning to see Mr. Randolph--he'sthe president of the Home. He doesn't know yet for certain, but hehas sent you a blank to make out, and then it's got to go to acommittee. He said he'd do the best he could for you, --he is avery nice man!"

"And you have taken all this trouble for me?" Miss Lily's handswent up to her face. The tears trickled down and fell on her dress. 

"It wasn't any trouble, " asserted Doodles. "I thought maybe therewas no chance, and so I wouldn't tell you till I found out. " Thelad took the paper from his pocket. 

Miss Lily wiped her eyes. "I can't see to write, " she saidtremulously; "that is, not well, and the doctor said I mustn'ttry. " She looked mournfully at the boy. 

"I'll do it for you, " he proposed cheerily. "Then if there'sanything to sign you can do it with your eyes shut. I love towrite with my eyes shut and see how near I come to it!"

"I never tried, " she admitted, "but perhaps I could. "

"It says first, 'Your name in full. '" Doodles looked up inquiringly. 

"Faith Lily. " repeated its owner mechanically. Then she startedacross the room. "I'll get you a pen and ink, " she said. 

Doodles wrote with careful hand. "That's a pretty name, " hecommented. 

"I always liked it, " she smiled. "But I'm afraid my faith has beengoing back on me lately. I did have a good deal. I thought theLord wouldn't let me go to the poorhouse, then it seemed as if Hewas going to. Only a little while ago I thought He must haveforgotten me--and now this!" Her dim eyes grew big with wonder andthankfulness. "Even if I can't go, I shall be glad you tried toget me in; it will tell me I have one friend. "

"The next is, 'Time and place of birth. '"

"I was born August 3, 1847, in Cloverfield, Massachusetts. "

"'Name of father, '" read Doodles. 

"Jonathan Seymour Lily. "

There were many questions, and the boy was a slow writer. It tookno little time to place all the answers. But the end of the listwas finally reached without blot or smudge. Doodles surveyed hiswork with gratification. 

"I guess I haven't made any mistake, " he said, reading it over. "Now if you can just put your name there, it will be done. "

Her hand trembled and the letters were wavering, but when Doodlesdeclared it was "splendidly written, " she smiled her relief. 

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday went by, and Doodles heard nothingfrom Mr. Randolph. He began to be afraid that the committee haddecided against his friend, and although his mother told him thatsuch procedures always take considerable time, he grew more nervouswith every mail-coming. When Saturday morning brought him no word, he decided to go over to Miss Lily's. 

"I don't know that she could read the letter if she had one, " hesaid in dismay. "Why didn't I think of that before!"

His first glimpse of the little woman corroborated his worst fears. Her eyes were swollen with weeping, and her face was haggard anddespairing. 

"Can't you go?" he ejaculated. 

"I haven't heard a word!" she answered mournfully. "I didn't knowbut you had. "

"No, I haven't. That's why I came over. "

She shut the door and made him sit down. 

"I guess I'll have to go to the poorhouse after all, " she began ina hushed voice, as if fearful of being overheard. 

"Oh, I wouldn't give up! Mr. Randolph said it would take time. "

"But I can't wait! The woman thought I was going, and she's rentedmy room, and she won't let me stay another night! I haven't quiteenough money to pay up, and she says she shall keep my trunk andfurniture--oh, to think I have come to this!"

The little woman's distress was agonizing to Doodles. 

"Now, don't you worry!" he pleaded. "You are coming straight homewith me to stay at our house over Sunday, and next week we shallprobably hear. "

"No, no!--your mother--your mother won't want me!" she sobbed. "Ican't go to make her all that trouble!"

"'T won't be a bit of trouble!" he insisted. "She will like tohave you come! We all will! We'd better go right away, too. Isyour trunk packed?"

"Pretty much; there are a few little things to put in. " She foundherself yielding to the stronger will of the boy. Going to thecloset, she brought out some articles of clothing which she beganto fold. 

"Is all the furniture yours?" Doodles asked, looking around on themeager array. 

She shook her head. "Only the rocking-chair and the couch and thatlittle chair you're in and the oil heater and the pictures--" Sheran her troubled eyes over the things enumerated, as if fearing toforget some of her few remaining possessions. "Oh, yes! there's mybookshelf! I mustn't leave that. "

"Suppose I make a list of them, " suggested Doodles. "I think maybewe'd better have them taken over to our house--Blue can come thisafternoon and see about it. Blue's my brother, you know. "

"But Mrs. Gugerty won't let me have them!"

"She will if you pay up. "

"Yes, but I can't! I gave her the last cent I had!" Her voicequivered. 

Doodles took out his purse and counted over his change. 

"No, you're not going to pay it!" she cried. "I shan't let you!"

"I'm afraid I haven't enough, " smiled the lad ruefully--"onlysixty-seven cents. "

"I owe a dollar and a quarter, " she admitted. 

"Blue can pay it when he comes for the things, " returned the boy, dismissing with a careless "That's nothing!" the little woman'sprotest. 

Miss Lily looked around for the last time with a cheerful smile. 

"Somehow I can't feel as bad to go home with you as I know I oughtto, " she said, "only I hate to have you and your folks do so muchfor me--and I such a stranger, too!"

"No, you're a friend, " Doodles corrected. 

"Yes, I am--forever and ever!" She laughed tremulously. "I don'tsee why you're so good to me. "

"You'll like my mother!" Doodles responded with some irrelevance. "She's the best mother in the whole world!"

"I know I shall love her if she's any like her boy!" She gave hima caressing pat. 

True to the word of Doodles, Miss Lily was welcomed to the littlebungalow with such heartfelt hospitality that her sad, starvingsoul was filled with joy, and when Blue returned with her smallstock of goods and put Mrs. Gugerty's receipt into her hand, hereyes overflowed with happy tears. With cheery Mrs. Stickney andmerry Doodles and Blue for companions, she had little time to worryover the possible outcome of her application to the June HolidayHome, and Sunday was passed in an utterly different way from thatshe had imagined a week before. 

It was not until the next Wednesday that any news came from Mr. Randolph. Then the letter-carrier brought a long, thin envelopeaddressed to "Miss Faith Lily, " and the recipient turned so whitewhen Doodles handed it to her that he feared she was going to faint. 

"Shall I open it?" he asked. 

She bowed her head. Words were far away. 

He drew out the paper and gave it one hurried glance. Then heswung it over his head with a glad whoop. 

"You're going! You're going! You're going!" he shouted. 

"Doodles!" remonstrated his mother, for Miss Lily was weeping. 

In a moment, however, tears had given way to joy, and Doodles mustread to her every word of Mr. Randolph's friendly note as well asthe wonderful document that was to admit her to the palatial JuneHoliday Home. 

CHAPTER VII

ROSES--AND THORNS

Polly was in Miss Sterling's room when the box was brought up. 

"Flowers!" she squealed as soon as the door had shut upon thematron's stout figure. 

"Bosh!" retorted Miss Sterling. "More likely Cousin Sibyl has sentme some of her children's stockings to darn. She does thatoccasionally. I suppose she thinks--"

"0-o-h!" breathed Polly, for the speaker had disclosed a mass ofpink--exquisite roses with long stems and big, cool green leaves. 

"Now what do you think?" Polly exulted. 

Miss Sterling stood regarding the roses, her face all pink andwhite, the color fluttering here and there like a shy bird. 

"It's a mistake!" she said at last. "They can't be for me. "

"Of course they're for you!" Polly pointed to the address on thecover. "Isn't there any card?" searching gently among the flowers. "I guess Mr. Randolph forgot to put in his card!" Polly's eyestwinkled mischievously. 

"Polly Dudley, don't be silly'" The tone was almost impatient. 

"It would be lovely for him to send them anyway!" defended Polly. "And I almost know he did!" she insisted. 

"You don't know any such thing!" Miss Sterling was taking the rosesout. She brought them to her face and drew in their fragrance. Then she held them at arm's length, gazing at them admiringly. 

"Aren't they beautiful!" she said softly. "I wish I knew whom tothank. "

"It looks like a man's handwriting, " observed Polly. 

"It might be Mrs. Lake, " mused Miss Sterling, quite ignoringPolly's remark. "Mrs. Lake has always been nice to me. Only shewould never omit her card. No, it must be somebody else. "

Polly tried the roses on the small table, on the desk, on thedresser--where their reflection added to their magnificence. Finally they were left on the broad window-sill, while the twodiscussed possible givers. It was Miss Sterling, however, whosuggested names. Polly clung to her first thought. 

"I told him you had had an awful time with your ankle, and how MissSniffen scolded you, "--Polly lowered her voice, --"and I suppose hefelt sorry--"

"How Miss Sniffen scolded me? Not about his being there?" Thetone was dismayed. "Why, yes! What harm was there?" "Polly!Polly! You didn't say--what did you say?"

"I can't remember exactly, " was the plaintive answer. "I don't seewhy you care, anyway. I think I said it was because he stayed withus and took us to ride. "

"Well, it can't be helped, " laughed Miss Sterling, "but--how couldyou, Polly?"

"I should think you'd be glad to have him know how Miss Sniffenacts. "

"Sh! Somebody's coming!"

"I must go, " Polly whispered. 

She let in Mrs. Albright and Miss Crilly. 

"Oh, what dandy roses!" Miss Crilly dashed over to the window. "Your best feller must sure 'a' sent 'em! Ain't they sweet? Butwhy don't you have 'em over on that little table? They'd show offfine there! May I?" She carried them across the room. 

"Polly tried them in various places, " responded Miss Sterling. 

"Well, 't don't make a whole lot o' difference where you put suchroses! My, but they're immense!" She stood off, the better toadmire them. "Wouldn't I rave if they belonged to yours truly!How can you folks take them so coolly?"

Juanita Sterling laughed. "I had my time when they first came!"

"You say it all, so we don't need to, " laughed Mrs. Albright. "They are beauties, that's a fact!"

Miss Crilly sat down, her eyes still on the flowers. "I don't seea card anywhere, " she nodded. "Ain't that proof positive?" winkingtoward Mrs. Albright. 

"There was none, " smiled Miss Sterling. 

"You don't mean you don't know who sent 'em?" Miss Crilly queried. 

"Just that. Either the sender forgot to put in her card or shedidn't wish me to know. "

"I bet 't isn't a 'her'!" giggled Miss Crilly. "Don't you, Mis'Albright?"

That lady twinkled her answer. "I shouldn't wonder. "

A soft knock sent Miss Sterling to the door, and Miss Castlevainecame in. 

Miss Crilly showed off the roses with all the pride of a possessor. 

"I guess I saw them down in the lower hall, " smiled MissCastlevaine knowingly. "There was a long box on the desk. "

"You did? And ain't it funny?" Miss Crilly ran on, --"she don'tknow who sent 'em!"

"Perhaps Miss Sniffen could tell you. "

Miss Sterling looked up quickly. 

"What do you mean?" asked Miss Crilly. 

Miss Castlevaine moved her chair nearer, listened intently, andthen began in a low voice: "I was coming up with a pitcher of hotwater, and you know there's a little place where you can see downon the desk. Well, Miss S. Was there fussing over a box, and Isaid to myself, 'I guess somebody's got some flowers. ' Then I sawher lift the cover and slip out something white. I didn't see itdistinctly, for just as she took hold of it she looked up, and Idodged out of sight. When I peeked down again she was droppingsomething into a little drawer, and I came on as still as I could. I thought then that whoever had those flowers wouldn't find out whosent 'em!"

"It isn't right!" Mrs. Albright's comfortable face took on stern, troubled lines. 

"I'd go to the florist and find out, " declared Miss Crilly. 

"There's no name on the box. " Miss Sterling drew a deep breath, andindignation flushed her pale cheeks. 

"I did suppose we could have what belonged to us, even here!Things grow worse every day. Boiled tripe for dinner--ugh!" MissCastlevaine's face wrinkled with repugnance. 

"And only potatoes to go with it, " sighed Mrs. Albright. "It's toobad we can't have green vegetables and fruit--now, in the season. "

"I heard something yesterday, " resumed Miss Castlevaine, "that Iguess you won't like--I don't know what we're coming to! MissMajor got it in a roundabout way through one of the managers, andit may not be true; but they say they're going to cut out ourWednesday pudding and our Sunday pie!" Her little blue eyes glaredat her listeners. 

Juanita Sterling dropped back in her chair. "What next!" sheejaculated. 

"They'll be keeping us on mackerel and corned beef yet!" snappedMiss Castlevaine. "As if we didn't pay enough when we came here toinsure us first-class board for the rest of our lives' I gave themthree thousand dollars--I was a fool to do it!--and I have beenhere only two years! If they keep that woman much longer--!" Theflashing eyes and set lips finished the sentence. 

"Well, ain't that great!" cried Miss Crilly. "I didn't bring anysuch pile as you did, Miss Castlevaine, but that isn't to thepoint! They've got more money 'n they know what to do with! Whatthey saving their old barrelful for, anyway? Not a scrap o'dessert from one week's end to another--goodness gracious me!"

CHAPTER VIII

WAITING TO BE THANKED

Juanita Stirling sat alone with her roses, trying to think it allout. The other ladies were down in the parlor, where Mrs. Nobbswas reading aloud; but to-night Egyptian archaeology had no charmfor the possessor of the pink roses. How could she wander throughprehistoric scenes while somebody was waiting to be thanked!Somebody--but who? The roses knew! Yet they would not tell!Little quivers of light fluttered in and out of their alluringhearts, almost as if they said, "We are telling! We are telling!Only you will not understand!" The woman gazed wistfully atthem--and sighed. The secret of the roses held her through thelong, still hours of the evening. What possible reason could thesuperintendent have had for withholding the name, unless--! Sheshook her head and sternly chided her cheeks for rivaling theroses. If only Polly hadn't--but was it Polly? Had not that nameappeared before Polly spoke? She clinched her teeth in scorn forherself. "'There's no fool like an old fool, '" she mutteredcontemptuously. No doubt it was Georgiana Lake. To-morrow shewould write Mrs. Lake a note of thanks. There would be no risk inthat. Yes, she would do it! She would be a fool no longer! Andif the roses chuckled over her decision she never knew it. 

The note went by the morning's mail. Its answer came in two days. 

 _My dear Nita_ You are a witch fit for the hanging! How did you know--how could you guess!--I was going to send you some of our Pink Ramblers? Only they are not quite blossomed out enough yet. When they are you shall have more than you can hold in your two small hands! But to thank me for them ahead of time! It is just like you! You always were a witch! Why don't you come to see me? I should have been up last visiting day only that the house was full of workmen, and Isabel had engagements, and somebody must stay--I was the somebody!--A visitor! Too bad! Love-- GEORGIANA. 

Before the pink roses had lost a petal another box was brought toMiss Sterling's door. Her fingers quivered with hope as she untiedthe ribbon. The address was in the same firm, open hand. Ashimmer of gold met her first glance, but the scrap of white shehad longed for was missing. Without doubt the pilferer hadthwarted her again. She put the yellow beauties into water withhalf-hearted pleasure. Why couldn't Miss Sniffen let her have herown! She pounded the air with her little impotent fists. She didnot go down to tea. Unhappiness and worry are not appetizers. 

The next morning it was whispered from room to room that the secondcard had been filched from Miss Sterling's box of roses. MissCastlevaine loved so well the transmitting of newsy tidbits, thatthey were not apt to remain long in one quarter. 

"I'd do something about it!" she declared to Miss Major. "It hascome to a pretty pass if our belongings have to be tampered withbefore we even are allowed to see them! I think somebody ought totell the president. "

The incident, however, passed with talk, nobody being willing torisk her residence in behalf of Juanita Sterling. 

When Polly Dudley heard of it she waxed wrathful. 

"I never liked Miss Sniffen, " she declared, "and now I just hateher!"

"Polly!" remonstrated Miss Sterling. 

"I don't care, I do! I wish mother was on the Board, then I 'd tryto make her say something! What business has Miss Sniffen to openyour boxes, anyhow? I almost know they came from Mr. Randolph, andthat's why she's mad about it!"

"Polly, I hope you won't say that to anybody else. You've no morereason to think he sent them than you have to think King Georgesent them. "

Polly chuckled. 

"You haven't--intimated such a thing, have you?--to anybody else, Imean?" The question held an anxious tone. 

"Why, no, I guess not, " was the slow answer, "except mother. Ithink I said to mother that probably he was the one. "

Miss Sterling shook her head with a tiny scowl. "Your mother mustthink me an intensely silly woman, " she sighed. 

"Oh, I didn't say you thought so!" Polly hastened to explain. "Ionly said I did. "

"Please don't even suggest it again, " she laughed. "I wish themystery could be cleared up. "

The sender's name was discovered earlier than they had thoughtpossible. 

Two days afterwards, Polly rushed in, her face alight, her eyesshining. "Oh, Miss Nita!" she began, and then stopped, suddenlyrealizing that Mrs. Winslow Teed and Miss Crilly were in the room. 

"I didn't know--I thought maybe--you'd go with me to call on MissLily--Doodles said--Doodles is in a hurry for me to go, " she endedlamely. 

Juanita Sterling, amused at the sudden transition, had caught aflash of triumph in Polly's eye and wondered with a flutteringheart what she had come to announce. 

"Why can't we go, too?" cried Miss Crilly. 

"Miss Lily looks like a refined, cultured person, " remarked Mrs. Winslow Teed. 

"Oh, Doodles says she is lovely!" Polly had recovered herequilibrium. 

The latest comer at the June Holiday Home received her visitorswith shy courtesy. Miss Crilly and Polly soon relieved her of anyembarrassment she may have felt, and talk went on blithely. 

Several smiling glances thrown across the room by Polly put MissSterling's mind in confusion. They might signify much or nothing, yet she found herself missing what was being said around her inwild conjecture as to their meaning. She wanted to carry Pollyupstairs with her. Finally she rose to go, and Polly saidgood-bye, too, in accordance with Miss Sterling's hope. 

They went along the corridor together. Polly squeezing hercompanion's arm with little chuckles of delight. 

"You can't guess what I've got to tell you!" she broke out, as soonas they were at a safe distance from Miss Lily's room. 

"Sh!" cautioned the other. Talk above a whisper was forbidden inthe halls. 

"Oh, I'm always forgetting!" breathed Polly. 

Once inside the third-floor room the little woman was seized by apair of eager arms and whirled round and round. 

"He did send them! He did! He did! Now what do you think!"

Miss Sterling went suddenly limp and dropped into a chair. 

"You don't know--for certain?" she cried. "I do! Mr. Randolphsent you those roses--both boxes!"

The woman felt the flame in her face and turned quickly on pretenseof searching for something in her sewing-basket. She was so longabout it that Polly began to complain. 

"You don't care very much, seems to me! I thought you'd be just asglad as I am!"

"Why, I am glad to find out who sent them, dear, as glad as can be!But I may as well be sewing on these buttons while you are talking. Now, tell me how you found out--I'm dying to know!" she laughed. 

"Well, it's so funny!" Polly resumed. "You see, our Sunday-Schoolis going to send a boy in India to college, and last Sunday we hadto tell how we'd earned what we brought. A boy in Chris's class, Herbert Ogden, said Mr. Randolph paid him fifteen cents apiece forcarrying two boxes of roses to the June Holiday Home. So afterSunday-School Chris went along with him and asked him if heremembered who the boxes were for. He said, 'Oh, yes, because itwas such a queer name! They were both directed to Miss Ju-an-i-taSterling!' Chris said it was all he could do to keep his facestraight. And the boy went on to say he remembered the last namebecause it made him think of sterling silver! Wasn't that thegreatest?"

The exclamations and laughter satisfied even Polly. 

"You'll thank him right away, shan't you?" she queried. 

"I suppose I ought. " sighed the possessor of the roses. 

"Don't you want to?" Polly's tone showed her surprise. 

"Such notes are hard to write, " was the discreet answer. She bentcloser over her work than there was any need. Her cheeks werepinking up again. 

"I do believe you're growing near-sighted!" declared Pollyirrelevantly. 

"No, I guess not, " she replied calmly. "This button botheredme--it's all right now, " as Polly scrutinized the waist. 

"I shouldn't think you'd hate to write to Mr. Randolph. I thinkhe's lovely!"

"I presume he is, " Miss Sterling said quietly. "I'm not wellacquainted with him, you know. "

"I'll write it for you, " proposed Polly, "if you'd like me to. "

The little woman bending over the blouse caught her breath--tothink of missing the writing of that thank-you to Nelson Randolph!

"Oh, no, dear! I won't shirk my duty. It wouldn't look quite thething for you to do it. "

"Perhaps it wouldn't, " Polly agreed, "though I'd just as lief. "

CHAPTER IX

BLANCHE PUDDICOMBE

"You're a great deal better, aren't you, Miss Nita?" Polly wassaying. 

Miss Sterling gave a smiling nod across the bed. She and Pollywere putting on the covers. 

"I think you've been growing stronger since the picnic. Maybe itwas the outdoors. Father says there's nothing like it for nerves. I wish we could have another, now your ankle is all well; but it istoo late for to-day. Why can't we go to walk, you and Mrs. Adlerfeld and Mrs. Albright and I? I know a lovely road outBrookside Avenue way. "

"Well, " agreed Miss Sterling, "if it isn't too far. I feel equalto a good deal this morning. "

"Oh, that's jolly! We needn't go any farther than we choose, youknow. I'll bring a lunch, so it will seem like a littlepicnic--things taste so much better out of doors. Isn't it lovelythat you are stronger! Did you tell Mr. Randolph that you'rebetter?"

"Why, no, dear, of course not! It was just a note of thanks. "

"What if it was! You could have said that! He'll want to know!"

"I think he'll be able to survive the omission. " Miss Sterlingpatted the pillow into shape and smiled over it. 

"Oh, I saw him yesterday!" Polly broke out. "I forgot to tell you!"

The other waited, an expectant smile fluttering about her prettylips. 

"Blanche Puddicombe was riding with him. He had his roadster. Idon't see what he takes her around so much for. She isn't a bitpretty. "

"Probably she is agreeable. " Miss Sterling laid down the blanketshe had folded and crossed the room. 

"I don't see how she can be with such a mother, " Polly went on. "She fusses herself up a good deal the same way. She hasn't a miteof taste. I saw her downtown shopping the other day with a sportskirt, very wide scarlet stripes, and a dress hat trimmed with asingle pink rose--the most delicate pink--and a light blue feather!Oh, yes, and a crepe-de-chine waist of pale green!"

An amused chuckle sounded from the window, where Miss Sterling wasstraightening the curtains. 

"You ought to have seen her! Her hair is black as--my shoe, andshe wears it waved right down over her ears--you wouldn't know shehad any ears! Queer, Mr. Randolph should want her riding roundwith him so much! You'd think he would have more sense, wouldn'tyou?"

"She has money--and youth!" was the emphasized reply, in a cold, hard tone. "Money and youth make everything harmonize--even sportskirts and dress hats!"

"She doesn't begin to look as young as you do. She looks more thanthirty, and you don't!"

"Polly Dudley!"

"Father says so, anyway!"

"I thank your father for the nattering compliment; but I think hemust be needing glasses. "

"No, he doesn't need glasses!" retorted Polly. "His eyes arefirst-rate. Dear me! Is it eleven o'clock? I must go home!Let's start early--by two, can you?"

"Oh, I don't believe I'll go this afternoon!" The voice soundedweary. 

"Why, Miss Nita! you said you would!"

"I know, but I wasn't tired then. I guess I'll have to put it off aday or two. "

"You haven't done anything to tire you! You'll never get well ifyou don't go more!" cried Polly plaintively. "And we won't go astep farther than you like. We needn't ask anybody else, if you'drather not--we can go all by ourselves. " Polly waited anxiously. 

Miss Sterling shook her head with a little sigh. "You go with theothers to-day. I don't feel as if I could. "

Polly finally went off, her face downcast. Coaxings had availednothing. 

CHAPTER X

"GOOD-BYE, PUDDING"

Juanita Sterling scowled a perfunctory thank-you to Mrs. Nobbs, whohanded her a long box. She had come to hate those long boxes. 

"I wish he'd keep his old flowers in his greenhouse!" she muttereddisdainfully after the door was well shut. She gazed on the boxwith a sigh. Nevertheless, she untied it with hurrying fingers. 

Great ruby roses sent their pent-up fragrance straight to hernostrils, and she drew it in with a breath of delight. Then sheflung the box on the bed and finished putting her dresser in order, a task with which she had been occupied. 

Little jerky bits of scorn were now and then directed toward theflowers, as if they were responsible for their intrusion. Whentheir innocence suddenly suggested itself, she smiled. 

"Poor things, they can't help it! How should I feel if I werecarried where I was not wanted and then should be blamed for beingthere!"

Contritely she took the roses from their box and put them in herprettiest vase, quite as if she would make amends. She sat down bythem and looked the matter in the face. 

"I can't have these where they will remind me all day long of beinga silly old woman!" She considered the blossoms with a dismalface. "What shall I do with them? I'd put them in a bundle underthe bed, only I'd feel so sorry for them--no, I can't do that! Isuppose I could give them away--oh, there's Mrs. Crump! The verything! Maybe they'll help her to forget her pain. I'll take themin now!" She caught up the vase and bore it triumphantly along thehall. 

Mrs. Crump was on the couch. 

"All for me? Why, Miss Sterling! How good you are! You can'thave kept many for yourself. "

"I don't want any, " laughed the donor. "I'll be glad enough if youcan enjoy them. "

Miss Crilly and Miss Major came in. 

"Mis' Crump! if you're not tryin' to beat Miss Sterling! Seemslike a hospital 'stead of a Home, so many roses round!--You don'tsay she's given you all hers? My, ain't you the limit o'generosity. Miss Sterling! You look lots better. Mis' Crump!Maybe it's the reflection o' the roses! Lovely color, ain't it!He must be a goner, sure! How many times a week d' they come?'Nother card swooped, I s'pose? It beats me!"

Miss Major opened the door for Miss Castlevaine. 

"I couldn't help hearing what you said about another card--who'slost one now?"

She shook her head while Miss Crilly explained. "We shall have tolock up our jewelry pretty soon--huh! How do you feel thismorning, Mrs. Crump? Had the doctor?"

The invalid winced and caught her breath, as a sudden twinge shotthrough her arm. "I don't know as I'm any worse, " she said. "Ihaven't slept a wink since two o'clock! No, the doctor didn't stophere! I thought maybe he would, he was in Mrs. Post's room, rightnext door; but Mrs. Nobbs said yesterday it wasn't necessary--it's'only pain, ' you know!"

"Only pain!" laughed Miss Crilly. "Isn't that enough? Then, whenI'm sick it'll be with something besides pain--I'll remember that!And I'll have the doctor when I need him--don't you forget it!"

"What's the matter with Mrs. Post?" queried Miss Castlevaine. 

"Something about her knee--she told me the doctor was going tobandage it up. It was Mrs. Post, you know!" Mrs. Crump emphasizedthe sentence with lowered voice and lifted eyebrows. 

Miss Castlevaine nodded. "No favorites in the June Holiday Home!How did you like the dinner yesterday noon?" She smiled knowingly. 

"It's good-bye, pudding, forevermore!" laughed Miss Crilly. "Didn't it seem queer not to have a bit of dessert?"

"Same as other days, " returned Miss Major. "I suppose the Sundaypie will go next. "

"So I heard!" Miss Castlevaine's lips thinned themselves together. "But that isn't the worst thing! Do you know about Mrs. Dick?"

"No--what?" Miss Crilly stopped smelling of the roses. 

"Why, Tuesday she met an old schoolmate on the street who inquiredif she had been ill. Mrs. Dick said no. 'Why didn't you come tothe wedding, then?' the lady asked. 'Wedding?' exclaimed Mrs. Dick; 'what wedding?' 'Why, Anita's!' (Anita is her daughter. ) 'Ididn't know she was going to be married, and it isn't likely Ishould have gone without an invitation, ' she laughed. 'I invitedyou, ' the lady said. 'It was a very informal affair, no cards, andnot many guests; but I telephoned to the Home, for you to come overand spend the day. I wanted you to see Anita's pretty clothes andher beautiful presents. They said they'd give you the messageright off. ' 'First I've heard of it!' said Mrs. Dick, and I tellyou she was mad! Isn't that awful? If anything happens to us, Idon't know as our friends will hear of it till after thefuneral--huh!"

"Is she going to make a fuss about it?" asked Miss Major. 

"Of course not! She'd probably be turned out if she did. "

"What are we coming to!" For a minute Miss Crilly actually lookeddoleful. "I'm going to tell all my folks that if they want me toknow anything in a hurry they'd better telegraph or send me aspecial delivery letter--that'll fix 'em. My! To think of bein'invited to a weddin' and not knowin' it!"

"When I first came here, " resumed Miss Castlevaine, "my cousin wasdreadfully upset because they wouldn't call me to the telephone totalk with her. Finally she said so much they gave in, and I wentdown. I supposed it was the regular thing until she told me aboutit afterwards. She had to ask me two or three questions aboutsomething, and get my answers to know what to do. "

"There should be a telephone in every room, as there is in ahotel, " asserted Miss Major. 

"Oh, my!" ejaculated Miss Crilly. "When you get it, send me word!Probably I shan't be here by that time, but I guess I shall behoverin' somewhere round, and I'll know when your 'phone's in!"

"To have one in each room would be a great deal of expense, " saidMrs. Crump. 

"What of it!" retorted Miss Major. "Haven't they money enough?They're always building additions--now the one that's going tospoil Miss Sterling's room and Miss Twining's down below. They'd agood deal better spend it on telephones. "

"They've got a new rug down in the hall, " announced MissCastlevaine. "'Most anybody could have new rugs if they stole themoney to buy them with!"

"What do you mean?" was Miss Crilly's quick query. 

"You'd better not say anything about it; but I heard that MissTwining wrote a poem for a Sunday-School paper and got eightdollars for it--"

"My!" put in Miss Crilly. 

"And, " went on Miss Castlevaine, "she bought a new shirt waist. When she wore it Mrs. Nobbs asked her where she got it. Like asimpleton, she told the whole story, so pleased to have earned themoney, and never dreaming but that it was her own! What did theydo but make her give up the seven dollars she had left! They didlet her keep the waist--she needed it badly enough. " MissCastlevaine shook her head, while comments flew fast. 

"I'm sorry for Miss Twining, " sympathized Miss Crilly. "She's thekind that won't sputter it all out, as I should; she'll cry herselfsick over it!"

"If we cried for all the hard things we have here, " said Mrs. Crump, "we shouldn't have any eyes left!"

"I wonder if the directors know how things are going, " observedMiss Major. 

"I bet they ain't on to it!" Miss Crilly wagged her head decisively. 

"But who'd dare tell 'em?" queried Mrs. Crump. 

"Excuse me!" giggled Miss Crilly. 

CHAPTER XI

"SO MYSTERIOUS"

"Are you busy?" asked Miss Leatherland at the threshold of MissSterling's room. 

"No, indeed! I was wondering whether I'd go out on the veranda orsit here and mull. I'm glad you've come. Take this chair--it'sthe easiest. "

"Then I'll leave it for you. " She started toward another. 

"No, I don't like it!" Her hostess laughingly pushed her back. "I'm too short for that one. I'm always wishing I were as tall asyou. "

Miss Leatherland blushed at the little compliment and smiled overit. 

"I don't know but I'm meddling in what is none of my business, " shebegan shyly. "At first I thought I wouldn't say anything; then Idecided I would do as I'd wish to be done by. I certainly shouldwant to know anything of this kind--though perhaps you knowalready. "

"What is it? Nothing dreadful, I hope. "

"Oh, no! Only it shows--unless she has told you--how things aregoing downstairs. "

She hesitated, as if not knowing just how to say what she had cometo tell. 

"You were home about four o'clock yesterday, weren't you?"

"Yes. "

"I met all of you down in the hall, you remember, and I thought itwas along there. Have you heard anything about a telephone messagethat came for you while you were away?"

"No--was there one?"

Miss Leatherland bowed her head and drew her chair nearer. 

"This afternoon I went up to call on Mrs. Macgregor, and yesterday, it seems, she had business with Mr. Potter, of the Fair HarborPaper Company, and was in his office waiting for him to come in. It was about three o'clock, she said. Mr. Potter's office is nextto the president's, and the door was just ajar. Mrs. Macgregor hasvery sharp ears, and she happened to be sitting close to the door, so couldn't help hearing. She says Mr. Randolph called up theHome--she knew the number, she uses it so much--and asked for MissSterling. I suppose they told him you were out, for he said he wassorry and inquired if they knew when you were coming home. Evidently whoever was at the 'phone didn't tell, for he said if youshould come in by half-past four to ask you to call him up. Probably she offered to deliver his message, for he said no, he'dlike to talk with you, and then he rang off. Mrs. Macgregor askedif Mr. Randolph was a relative of yours, and I said I thought not. "

Miss Sterling shook her head. 

"I don't see why Miss Sniffen or Mrs. Nobbs, or whoever 't wasdidn't do as Mr. Randolph asked them to--I don't see why! It'sgetting so we can't tell anything!" Miss Leatherland lookeddistressed. 

"Things are growing queer, " was the quiet response. "I don't knowwhat Mr. Randolph could have wanted, but I surely have a right tobe informed about it. "

"If you should ask Miss Sniffen, please don't say anything aboutme, she might think I'd interfered. I only thought you ought toknow it. "

"I'm mighty glad you told me, " Miss Sterling smiled across into theperturbed face, "and I shall certainly not speak of the matter toMiss Sniffen or any of them. "

"I guess you are wise not to, " agreed Miss Leatherland. "Anybodythat would do things she has done, you don't know what she'd do!"

Polly heard of the little episode with mingled dismay and delight. 

"Oh, I wonder if he wanted you to go to ride!" she burst out. "Only you won't ever know! Dear me, I wish we had waited till thenext day for our walk! Isn't it too bad you weren't home?"

"We had a nice time!" laughed Miss Sterling. 

"Didn't we! But it's a shame for you to miss a ride with thatlovable man!"

"Polly, why will you? He didn't say anything about a ride!Probably it was simply some little business matter. "

"But what?"

"I haven't the least idea. "

"'T was a ride! I know it just as I knew he sent the roses! I wasright about the roses!"

"Rides and roses aren't the same!"

"No, rides are better--more good-timey. Dear, dear! I'd beenwishing he would ask you--and now!" Polly sighed. "Anyway, hewanted to talk with you about something!" she chuckled. "But it'sso mysterious!"

She said good-bye and then came back. 

"I happened to think, " she whispered, "why can't you come over toour house and telephone to him? He'll never know where you are. "

Miss Sterling shook her head. "It wouldn't do! They'd ask me whatI was going for--and I couldn't tell!"

"Do they always ask that?" scowled Polly. 

"Always!"

"Then let me telephone!"

"No, no! We'd better leave it to work itself out. I am notsupposed to know anything about it. " She laughed uncertainly. 

"It's a shame! Oh, everything about him always gets mixed up withtrouble! I wish it didn't!"

Juanita Sterling made the same wish as she sat alone in the hourbefore bedtime. What could Nelson Randolph have wanted of her?And why did Miss Sniffen and her subordinates strive so strenuouslyto keep her from communicating with him or knowing of any attentionthat he paid her? She wrestled with the hard question until thebell for "lights out. " Then she noiselessly undressed in the dark. 

Sleep was long in coming, yet her nerves did not assert themselvesunpleasantly, as usual. In fact, she had forgotten her nerves, inthe strange, vague gladness that was half pain which flooded herbeing. She would berate herself for being "an old fool, " thoughconscious at the same time of little, warming heart-thrills thatexulted over her reason. As Polly had said, the president of theJune Holiday Home had wished to talk with her about_something_--that of itself was as surprising as it was mysterious. 

CHAPTER XII

MRS. DICK ESCAPES

Juanita Sterling was making her bed when the soft tap came. 

"What shall I do?" Miss Crilly whispered tragically, slippinginside and shutting the door without a sound. Her eyes were bigand frightened. "I've kept out of Mis' Nobbs's reach thus far, butI s'pose I can't very long! They are lookin' everywhere for Mis'Dick--you know she wasn't down to breakfast, and I'd no idea she'dcome--all the while the rest o' you were lookin' for her. Athalf-past five this mornin' _I see her go away with the milkman!_I happened to be at my window. I couldn't sleep, 't was so hot, and I sat down there to get a breath o' air. He come along andsent in the boy with the milk, same as he gen'ally does--I see himlots of times. But wasn't I astonished when Mis' Dick comemarchin' out, all dressed up in her Sunday togs, and got in androde off with him! She had her big suitcase--it must ha' been allcut an' dried beforehand! What do you s'pose it means? I'm scartto death! I do' want to squeal on Mis' Dick--I always liked Mis'Dick! An' if they ask me, I can't lie it out! Oh, what would youdo?" Miss Crilly came near being distressed. 

"Why, " answered Miss Sterling, "I think I should keep still unlessI were asked. In that case I should tell all I knew. "

"Oh, dear, I hate to squeal!"

"Maybe you won't have to. I hope not!"

"What do you s'pose she went off with Mr. Tenney for?"

Miss Sterling shook her head. 

"He's a widower! You don't s'pose--?" Miss Crilly giggled. 

The other shrugged her shoulders. 

"Well, anyway, there'll be a row till she's found! Gracious! Iwas so upset I couldn't eat much breakfast! I told Mis' Albrightfinally--I couldn't keep it a minute longer. Then I came up here. You don't s'pose she's gone luny, do you? She was so upset aboutgoin' to that weddin'!"

"No, it isn't that!" decided Miss Sterling. "Mrs. Dick is not thekind to go crazy. "

"Somebody's comin'!" Miss Crilly darted to the closet and shutherself in. 

Mrs. Albright and Mrs. Adlerfield appeared. 

"I thought Miss Crilly was here. " Mrs. Albright looked about insurprise. 

Miss Sterling nodded significantly toward the closet. 

Mrs. Albright opened the door, and laughed, "Come into daylight, you silly! Nobody's going to eat you up!They've found out!"

"They have? How?"

"One of the maids saw Mrs. Dick go by the window, and she ran tosee where she was going; but she didn't dare tell at first. Finally, she did, and they're going to send out to Mr. Tenney's. "

"My! I'm glad I ain't in Mis' Dick's shoes!" Miss Crilly emergedfrom the folds of Miss Sterling's petticoats. She brushed back herdisordered hair and drew a long, laughing sigh. "Isn't it lovelythey've found out! I b'lieve I'd have been luny myself in a littlewhile if they hadn't!"

"Nonsense!" pooh-poohed Mrs. Albright. "You couldn't stay lunymore'n half a twinkle! You'd have to come out of it to laugh!"

"Sure, I would!" Miss Crilly agreed. "My! How do folks live thatdon't laugh!"

"You are in no danger of dying from that disease, " returned Mrs. Albright. 

"No, I guess I ain't. My mother used to say that she believed if Ihad to live with the Devil himself, I'd keep on laughing. "

The quartette settled down to calm, now that the danger was over, but the talk still ran on Mrs. Dick. 

"She's been married twice before, hasn't she?" asked Miss Crilly. 

"Before what?" chuckled Mrs. Albright. 

"O-h! Did I? That's one on me, sure! Well, maybe it is'before'--who knows! What else could she be goin' off at half-pastfive with the milkman for? Might not be a bad thing either--guesshe's all right. 'Most anything 'd be better 'n bein' under MissSniffen and her crowd!"

"Where did Mrs. Dick live before she came here? Did you know her?"Mrs. Albright inquired. 

"I knew of her. " Miss Crilly answered. "She kep' boarders overKelly Avenue way. She used to teach school years ago. Her firsthusband died and all her children, then she took boarders andmarried one of 'em. --this Mr. Dick. He didn't live long--only longenough to run through what she'd saved up. He drank. She's workedhard all her life, I guess. I like Mis' Dick! She's good company. "

"I like her very, " agreed Mrs. Adlerfeld. "She has been nice to mea many times. If she goes to marry, I think it will no harmanybody, and I wish her the best things in the world. "

The little Swedish woman voiced the larger number of Mrs. Dick'sassociates in the Home. Slighting remarks were heard from MissCastlevaine and a few others, but in almost any case they were tobe expected. 

On the second day of Mrs. Dick's absence Miss Crilly appeared inMrs. Bonnyman's room, where some half-dozen of the ladies werechatting. 

"She is married!" she announced in a stage whisper, --"married tothe milkman--oh! oh! oh!" Miss Crilly sat down in the midst ofeager questioning. 

"They say she wrote a note to Miss Sniffen yesterday, but I didn'tget my news from her--no, sir-ee! It came pretty straight, though, --I guess it's so all right. "

"What'd you say, Mis' Albright? Yes, she was married day beforeyesterday--went to the minister's! She told somebody she justcouldn't stand it here another minute. "

"I wonder if she's ever seen him much, " said Miss Major. 

"My, yes! She's known him for years--used to be her milkman whenshe kept house! He isn't any stranger! Oh, don't I wish I couldsee her!"

"Maybe she will come over and call on us, " observed Mrs. Prindle. 

"If she dares, " spoke up Mrs. Bonnyman. 

"Well, I'm glad for her!" declared Miss Crilly. "Wouldn't it feelgood to be cut loose from rules! Dear me! We're so tied up itseems, sometimes's if I must scream!"

"I don't think people outside know how things go here, " put in MissMullaly. "Why, everybody congratulated me on getting in! Ithought I was going to have the time of my life!" She laugheddeprecatingly. 

"It is the time of our lives--the worst time!" snapped Miss Major. 

"Well folks can get along some way, " said Miss Sterling; "butHeaven save the sick ones!"

CHAPTER XIII

ALONG A BROOKSIDE ROAD

"Oh, here you are!" cried Polly from the doorway, just beyond Mrs. Bonnyman. 

"Been looking for me?" Miss Sterling smiled, "Everywhere!" Polly dropped beside her friend. "No, Mrs. Bonnyman, don't get a chair for me! I like this! Besides, I'm notgoing to stay. It's too lovely outside to be cooped up in thehouse. Why can't we all go to walk?"

"Oh, that's the ticket!" Miss Crilly jumped up. "I'll have tochange my togs first--will you wait for me?"

Polly nodded and smiled, as Miss Crilly skipped off. 

"Will you all go?"

Miss Sterling rose. 

"You will, Miss Nita?" Polly clung to her hand. 

"Yes, but not with this dress on. "

"I bid many thanks to you, " said Mrs. Adlerfeld quaintly; "I shalllike to go very. " Having made sure of the others, Polly ran off tomake her invitation general, stopping at various doors on her waydownstairs. 

"Shall we go two by two, like a boarding-school?" giggled MissCrilly, as the little party left the Home grounds. 

"Let's go any old way!" Then, glancing beyond Miss Crilly, Pollygave a glad cry, --"David and Leonora!" and flew to meet the two whowere just at the hospital entrance. 

"Will you come to walk with us?" she invited, "Or I'll stay ifyou'd rather. "

They declared that they would much prefer the walk, and Polly wassoon making the introductions where they were needed. Many of theladies were well acquainted with Polly's friends. 

David at once appropriated his old-time chum, and Leonora skippedover to Miss Sterling. 

"Ther' 's so many of us we ought to march abreast, clear across thestreet, as they do in processions!" Miss Crilly was in highspirits. . 

The road Polly had chosen led through an avenue of old elms andthence out into the wide country. Past the city milepost, not fardistant from the Home, a little brook purled along, overswept bywillows. 

"Isn't this beautiful!" cried Miss Major. "And here areraspberries--oh!"

The party broke ranks and scattered among the bushes, eager for thefruit that was just in its prime. 

"Do you suppose they belong to anybody?" queried Mrs. Prindle, abit anxiously. 

"If they do they don't love 'em a whole lot, " Miss Crilly returned. "See those! They are so ripe they almost fall to pieces lookin' at'em! But they're sweet as sugar!" She plumped them into her mouth. 

Soon they strolled forward by two's and three's, but long beforethe young folks and a few others had begun to be tired, severalwere lagging behind. Miss Twining among them. 

"Are you coming back this way, Polly?" she called. 

"Why, I thought we wouldn't. What's the matter?"

"Used up, " she smiled. 

"Oh, I'm so sorry! I've gone too far, haven't I? You sit downsomewhere and rest, and I'll stay with you. The others can go on, if they like. "

"Guess I'll wait, too. " Miss Sterling dropped wearily to the grass. 

Mrs. Adlerfeld, Miss Lily, Mrs. Albright, and Miss Castlevainelined themselves beside her. 

"I don't know what possessed me to come on such a long walk!"fretted Miss Castlevaine. 

"Why, I never thought that anybody could be tired!" said Pollycontritely. "Why didn't you speak sooner?"

"Oh, we'll be all right by the time you get back!" laughed Mrs. Albright. "Now run along, every one of you! Shoo! Shoo!" Shewaved her skirts toward them. 

It took a good deal of urging, however, to induce Polly to leaveMiss Sterling. Finally she ran off with David, calling back thatshe wouldn't be gone long. 

The afternoon slipped away, and the air grew cooler. The exhaustedones gathered strength and now and then rambled about a little, wondering why the others did not return. They watched longinglythe point of road where the party had disappeared, even Miss Lilypeered vainly into the empty distance. 

Miss Castlevaine looked at her watch for the twentieth time. "Itis a quarter past five!" she frowned. "Where can they be!"

"We may as well sit down while we wait, " laughed Mrs. Albright. "Wandering round in a circle won't bring them any quicker. " Shelowered herself plumply beside Miss Sterling. 

"Now don't you go to worrying!" she said. "They haven't been eatenup by bears or carried off by hawks. Probably they are having sogood a time they have forgotten to come back. "

The sun dropped lower and lower. The wayside shadows thickened. Arobin on the top-most branch of a locust sang a solo. 

"There they are!" cried Miss Castlevaine. 

The others looked eagerly down the road. 

The thud of hoofs came out of the hush. 

"Oh, it's only a team!" was the disappointed contradiction. "I sawthe dust and thought they were coming. "

The buggy whirled up, the driver lifted his hat with a smilingbow--and was gone. 

"Mr. Randolph and Miss Puddicombe!" commented Miss Castlevaine. "Who was he bowing to? Not me!"

"I have met him, " responded Mrs. Albright. 

"Oh! Maybe it was you, then. But he was looking at Miss Sterling!"

"She knows him, too, and so does Mrs. Adlerfeld. "

"Oh!" repeated Miss Castlevaine. "I see him riding with that MissPuddicombe a good deal lately. Guess she's trying to catch him. "

"They are coming now for certain!" exclaimed Mrs. Albright. 

Away in the distance the returning party could be discerned. Soonthere was a waving of eager hands. The forward ones started on arace. 

"It's Miss Crilly and the children!" Mrs. Albright laughed. "Isn'tshe game!"

Polly and David were ahead. 

"Are you tired out waiting?" called Polly. 

"Have you been to Buckline?" twinkled Mrs. Albright. 

"Almost!" answered David. 

"We've had such a time!" laughed Polly. 

"Time!" burst in Miss Crilly. "We'd been goners, sure, if wehadn't jumped like fleas! My! You oughter seen Miss Mullaly--ifshe didn't go hand-springin' over that wall!"

"But what was it?" cried Mrs. Albright. 

"A cow!"--"An ugly old cow!"--"She went bellowin' like Sancho Panzaset loose!"

"Did she chase you? What did you do?"

"She was coming for us, and we jumped over the wall! We were onour way home, " explained Polly. 

"And David wanted to go and drive her off, so we could get by, " putin Leonora; "but I held on to him!"

"I could have done it as well as that man, " insisted David, lookingsomewhat disgusted at the lack of faith in his ability. 

"He 'most got away from us!" laughed Miss Crilly. "We all had tograb him!"

"Did the cow's owner come?" Miss Castlevaine queried. 

"We don't know who it was, " answered Polly. "We were hiding behindsome bushes the other side of the wall. "

"Such a combobbery as that cow cut up! My! I thought she'd knockthe man into slivers!" said Miss Crilly. 

"But she didn't!" observed David. 

"No, " said Polly, "he drove her off finally. "

"And we beat it!" giggled Miss Crilly. 

"We thought you would wonder what had become of us, " smiled Leonora. 

"We did, " agreed Mrs. Albright, "and somebody else will bewondering that same thing, if we don't march home about as fast aswe can!"

Polly's cool and charming sweetness was all that saved the partyfrom Miss Sniffen's very apparent displeasure, the tardy onesagreed. Supper had been served at least five minutes before theyfiled into the dining-room; but their astonishing appetites, whichgave a relish even to soggy corncake and watery tea, almostcounterbalanced any fears for their future walks with Polly. 

Juanita Sterling sat down wearily in her own room. "I wish I hadstayed at home!" she sighed. 

CHAPTER XIV

POLLY PLANS

"Father, " Polly began thoughtfully, "I've been thinking--youremember I told you about our walk the other day and how tired MissNita and some of the other ladies were before I even thought ofsuch a thing--" Polly stopped questioningly. 

"I remember, " smiled Dr. Dudley. 

"So don't you think it would be nice--until they grow stronger, youknow--for them to ride instead of walk?"

"Very nice, indeed. Do you want me to take them?"

"I wish you could, " laughed Polly, "but I know you don't have time. I happened to think, though, why couldn't we have the car somemorning, while you are busy in the hospital? Evan could drive forus. "

"A very good plan, " the Doctor nodded musingly. "You wish to gowith them, I take it. "

"Yes, I think I'd better. I know, one more could go if I didn't;but I guess they'd be more lively with me along than if they wentwith just Evan. "

"If I were going I should certainly want you, too, " twinkled thedoctor. 

"Oh, dear! We don't have as many good rides together as we usedto, do we?" Polly bent down from the arm of Dr. Dudley's chairwhere she was sitting and cuddled her cheek against his. 

"No, " he replied, "we'll have to borrow an hour some day and runaway. "

"Wouldn't that be fun! Oh, let's!"

"I think we'll do it, then I can get re-acquainted with you. "

Polly chuckled. "As if you didn't know me clear through, fromhead-top to toe-tip!"

"I feel quite like a stranger lately. I come in here and ask, 'Where's Polly?' and your mother says, 'She is over at the Home, 'or, 'She's gone to walk with Miss Sterling. ' When I see MissSterling I shall tell her what I think of it. "

"You might tell me, " suggested Polly demurely, "and then I canrepeat it to Miss Nita. "

"I prefer to say my say to her, " the Doctor replied with no hint ofa smile. "You might not say it strong enough. "

A wee chuckle escaped Polly. "What are you going to tell her?" shecoaxed. 

"That she can't have my girl so much without paying for her. "

"Oh, " laughed Polly. "Miss Nita doesn't have any money. "

"It would be of no use in this case. Do you suppose you can bepaid for in money?"

"Oh, you dearest, funniest man! I wish you could see Miss Nitamore--you wouldn't wonder I like to go there. She is so lovable. "

"I do not doubt it. How is she now--better?"

"Ever so much better! She doesn't say anything lately aboutwanting to die. I wish she had nice things to eat--I don't see howshe stands sour bread and so much corned beef and mackerel andsausages. "

Doctor Dudley shook his head musingly. "It is too bad--amagnificent building, and wretched household management. "

"I wonder why they keep Miss Sniffen, " Polly said. 

"Probably she is agreeable to the trustees, and nobody calls theirattention to anything wrong. "

"Yes, I've seen her--when some of the officers came. She is assmiley as a goose! I hate her smile; it looks as if she didn'tmean it. "

"She is evidently not the woman for the place. I am sorry. " TheDoctor glanced at his watch and rose abruptly. 

"Got to go?"

"I ought to have gone earlier. "

"Oh, dear! I wish other folks didn't need you all the time!"mourned Polly. 

He stepped back and kissed her. "That is the penalty of moremoney, " he smiled. 

"More fame, you mean!" she retorted and heard a little chuckle ashe passed out the door. 

Polly did not plan long without acting, and within an hour she wason her long walk to Colonel Gresham's, to talk over her scheme withLeonora and David. 

She found Mrs. Gresham just starting to meet a train. 

"I'm so sorry I can't stay, " she told Polly, "and Leonora and Davidare not at home! But the Colonel is out in the stable. He will bedelighted to see you. I'll call him. " She turned to a bell button. 

"Oh, no, please!" interrupted Polly. "I'd rather go there. Ihaven't seen Lone Star for an age!"

"You'll find them chatting together, as usual, " laughed the littlelady, and Polly skipped off as soon as Mrs. Gresham had driven away. 

"Good afternoon, Miss Dudley. " The Colonel extended his hand. 

"Seems to me you're pretty formal, " smiled Polly. 

Colonel Gresham laughed, a gentle, mellow laugh, quite in harmonywith the happy-lined face and the graying hair. 

"I wish I had a chair to offer you, " he said, looking about him, asif expecting one to pop into sight. "I suppose I'm indebted toDavid and Leonora for this visit. "

"No, Colonel Gresham, I came to see you especially this time. Iwas going to ask them what they thought of a little plan I have;but they are not necessary--and you are!"

"Ah! a plan? I wait on your pleasure!" The Colonel bowed withmock gravity. 

"Thank you!" chuckled Polly. "Perhaps you won't when you knowabout it. But I want to see Lone Star first--oh, he's just asbeautiful as he ever was!" She patted the neck of the handsomecreature and stroked his nose. 

The horse whinnied at the attention and eyed her with seemingdelight. 

"I believe he remembers me, and I haven't spoken to him for--oh, how long is it?"

"My memory cannot extend so far. " Colonel Gresham was evidently ina whimsical humor this afternoon. 

Lone Star was made happy with more caresses and a full measure ofoats, and then the Colonel and Polly walked slowly up to the house. 

"When Polly unfolded her plan in regard to the Home ladies ColonelGresham's face lighted with interest. 

"You can have two of my cars, " he said, "on one condition--no, two--that I may drive the big one and that you will sit on thefront seat beside me. "

"Oh, it won't be a bit hard for me to say yes to that!" Pollysmiled. "I should like it! Let me see, five and four are nine, and four makes thirteen--why, they can all go--or all that are wellenough! Won't that be lovely!"

"'Lovelicious, ' I think!" The Colonel looked demurely down at Polly. 

"How much I used to say that!" Polly laughed. "Well, I truly thinkthis will be--three cars! Won't they be surprised! But we mustsqueeze in Leonora and David somewhere! Probably the ladieswouldn't all care to go, anyway. You are so good to let them havethe cars--I never thought of two--or that you could go with us! Ican't thank you half enough!"

Before Polly went home a ride was arranged for the next morning, and her heart skipped joyfully all the long way, thinking how happyMiss Nita and the rest would be. 

Directly after luncheon she ran over to the Home. 

"You look glad about something, " Miss Sterling told her. 

"You will be when you know, " chuckled Polly. "What do youthink!--you're going to ride with Colonel Gresham to-morrowmorning!"

"With Colonel Gresham! He hasn't invited me!" Miss Sterling'sknitting dropped into her lap. 

"I have--or I'm going to! Oh, it will be lovely!" Polly's browneyes shone. "Colonel Gresham is going to let us have his twobiggest cars, and he will drive the seven-passenger one. Thenfather says we may have ours with Evan to drive, and we're going totake as many of the ladies as we can and have a beautiful ride!What do you think of that?"

"It's overwhelming! Catch me if I drop!" The gray-blue eyes weredancing. 

Polly squeezed her ecstatically. "I want you in the car with me, and now let's see how many can go and which ones to ask. "

It was a pleasant task, though really a little puzzling, for therewere sixteen ladies of the Home, and only ten or eleven were to becounted among the weaklings. Nobody must be offended and nobodymust feel hurt. So with David and Leonora, it was a hard matter, after all, to decide on the invitation list. Miss Sterling, however, was a wonderful assistant. Polly was sure she could neverhave disposed things so happily if it had not been for her wiseMiss Nita. 

CHAPTER XV

"LOTS O' JOY"

The morning was as clear and balmy as a festival day should be, andthe cars were at the door of the June Holiday Home at three minutesbefore nine o'clock. 

"Let's go early, " Juanita Sterling had said, "while the day isfresh from the hand of God. " And in accordance with her wish Pollyhad appointed the hour. 

Most of the ladies were in Sunday attire, their wardrobes holdingfew changes between "everyday" and "best. "

Juanita Sterling handled her small stock of apparel so that, plainas it was, it had an air of distinction. Little deft touches hereand there added character and daintiness to any garment that shewore. Some of the less fortunate realized this as they rode out ofthe Home gate that July morning, and one or two were actuallyenvious of the little woman who sat in Colonel Gresham's beautifulcar and responded so merrily to the Colonel's sallies. 

"I guess Miss Sterling has ways of getting her nest feathered thatsome other folks don't know anything about, " whispered MissCastlevaine to Miss Major. 

"No such thing!" was the prompt retort. "She knows how to put herfeathers on, that's all. "

"Knowing how don't change colors as I've ever heard--huh! Look atthat white dress! They don't give me white dresses!"

"Probably she had it when she came. She hasn't been here a yearyet, you know, " replied Miss Major. 

"They won't make over mine, " complained the other. 

"Oh!" broke in Mrs. Albright, "look over there! Isn't thatmagnificent?"

Fields and slopes of varying green, wooded hills, and mountains inthe blue distance--these made the picture that had called forth theexclamation. 

"Magnificent!" echoed Miss Major. 

Miss Castlevaine looked, but said nothing. The darkness of envyand discontent still dimmed her eyes. 

Juanita Sterling, in the car ahead, was yielding herself to thebountiful joy of the moment and had forgotten disagreeable things. Polly and Colonel Gresham kept up a steady run of pleasantries, much of which came easily to her quick ears, and she found herselfsmiling with them even while her eyes were feasting on theever-changing landscape. 

"Doesn't Mrs. Dick live somewhere out this way?" inquired MissMullaly. 

Miss Sterling did not know and in turn asked the Colonel. 

"Tenney, the milk dealer? His farm is over there to the left amile or two. Would you like to call on the bride?"

"Yes, I should! Wouldn't you, Polly?"

"First-rate! Let's!" was the eager answer. 

So at the next cross-road the car was turned that way. 

"I'm awfully glad you thought of it!" Polly turned to say. 

"I didn't think of going there, " Miss Mullaly admitted, "but I'dlove to. Won't she be surprised!"

Surprised, indeed, was the former Mrs. Dick. She was on her wayfrom garden to kitchen when the procession of cars came into view, and, her overflowing basket in hand, she halted on the side lawnuntil the party should pass by. A bunch of automobiles did notappear every day on the Tenney Farm road. Instead of going past, however, the big car ahead steered straight for her, and sherecognized her friends! Down went her basket, and she skipped overthe grass with the agility of a girl of fifteen. 

"How do you do--Miss Sterling and Polly--and all of you! Well, Iam astonished!--And if there aren't Miss Twining and Mrs. Bonnyman--why, are you all here?"

"Pretty nearly, " answered Polly, who had jumped from the car andwas clasping the speaker's hand. 

Mrs. Tenney was soon surrounded by her Home associates and was sooverwhelmed by the suddenness of the call that she almost forgot toinvite them into the house. 

"Oh, we can't stay!" declared Mrs. Albright. "We are just out fora ride, and those of us in the rear cars were about as surprised asyou were. We'd no idea that Colonel Gresham was headed for yourplace--we didn't know you lived here till we saw you!"

"Dear people!" broke in Miss Sterling, "where are our manners?I'll confess, I forgot! Mrs. Tenney, " with twinkling eyes sheextended her hand, "I wish you every possible joy for all the daysand years to come!"

Amid much laughter more good wishes followed, until somebodyremembered that the morning was slipping away, and they were farfrom home. 

"Well, say, why can't you all come out here sometime and spend theday? 'T won't make a mite of difference when. We always haveenough to eat, and I am generally right here. I'd love dearly tohave you. Pile 'em all in, if you can! Sit in each other'slaps--any way to get 'em here! They're going to keep up the rides, aren't they?"

An instant's silence was broken by Polly. "Yes, we are!" shepromised. "Colonel Gresham and father are going to let us have thecars until we're able to walk ten miles on a stretch!"

This sally was greeted by a shout, and the party climbed into thecars and were off, good-byes mingling with the noise of the motors. 

"Anybody getting tired?" asked Colonel Gresham, as they swept intothe village of Clare. 

None would admit fatigue, and on whirled the cars, leaving thehandful of houses behind. Presently they entered the broad streetof an old town, where houses with gambrel roofs and quaint porchesneighbored in quiet dignity with towered mansions and verandaedbungalows. Colonel Gresham drew up his car at a little shop, andhe and David disappeared through the doorway. They soon came backWith their hands full of ice-cream cones, which they distributedand returned for more. 

"Isn't this cream lovely!" beamed Leonora to the back seat of thethird car. 

"Delicious!" responded Mrs. Albright. 

"As good as I ever tasted!" declared Miss Major. 

Miss Castlevaine nibbled hers for a moment longer before she spoke. 

"My cousin goes automobiling a great deal, " she said, "and shemakes her own cream--solid cream it is, too!--and she has somethingthat she puts it in so that she can slice it off as she wants it. It keeps ice cold for an indefinite time. "

"I have heard of such contrivances, " said Mrs. Albright politely. 

"No cream could be better than this, " asserted Miss Majorconfidently. 

Miss Castlevaine drew her lips into a smirk. 

"Trust the Colonel for buying the best of everything!" went on MissMajor. "What a man he is! I wish he were one of the directors ofthe June Holiday Home. "

Miss Castlevaine's face stiffened into an expression ofsuperiority, as if she could divulge things detrimental to theColonel if she wished. But nobody appeared to regard her, and thecars jogged on, Mrs. Adlerfeld, meanwhile, wore a look of saintly rapture. 

Polly turned to say, "Isn't the air nice this morning?"

"Here it is beautiful!" smiled the little Swedish woman. "I havelots o' joy!"

Colonel Gresham threw her an admiring glance. "Glad you like it, "he said. 

"Oh, I like it very!" she responded. "I hope it didn't tired youto drive him. "

"Not a bit!" he laughed. 

"It looks more play as work, " she smiled. 

He nodded brightly back to her, and then turned to Polly. His tonewas too low to carry to the seat behind. 

"Why didn't you tell me what a charming little woman we had withus?"

"Isn't she sweet!" beamed Polly. "Didn't you ever meet her before?"

"Never! I'm going to invite her to ride with me--all alone, justto hear her talk!"

Polly chuckled. "I wish you would, " she told him. 

"She'd go, wouldn't she?"

"Of course! Why not?"

"I'll warrant that sour-looking elephant in the back car wouldn't!"laughed the Colonel. "She's that kind!"

"Oh! I guess you mean Miss Castlevaine. She's the biggest onethere is. But she is very nice--sometimes. "

"The times are few and far between, aren't they?" he twinkled. 

Polly laughed, but said apologetically, "She's been pleasant to me. "

"She ought to be; but over at the Tenneys' she looked as if she'dlike to be somewhere else. She seemed to keep on the edge ofthings. "

"She doesn't always come in with the rest--feels a little abovesome of them. She is very proud of her Russian ancestry. Hermother or grandmother was a duchess. "

"I thought she was proud of something, " observed the Colonel, "andit couldn't be her good looks. "

"I think you are pretty hard on her, " protested Polly. 

"Am I?" he smiled. "Is she a particular friend of yours? You'llhave to excuse me. "

"Oh, she isn't an especial friend, but I feel sorry for her becauseshe has to wear such old clothes--and she loves pretty things. "

"Why doesn't she get pretty things, then, while she is about it?"

"She can't!" cried Polly. "She has to take what Miss Sniffen givesher. "

"Oh, I see! Well, I reckon I'd look sour if I were dependent onthat Miss Sniffen for clothes. "

Polly chuckled. "I can't imagine it!"

"It would come pretty hard!" Colonel Gresham shook his headmusingly. "It is a shame that those women are not better treated!I'll take them to ride as often as I can--you tell them so, Polly!"

"I will!" Polly beamed her delight. "It's lovely of you! It willdo them no end of good. They stay cooped up in the house too much. You see, there's so much red tape about going out even for a littlewalk, that sometimes they'd rather stay at home. "

"I'm going to talk to Randolph about it when I get a chance. He istoo sensible a man to let this sort of thing go on. "

"Oh, but you mustn't make him think there has been the leastestmite of complaint! If anybody finds a word of fault, she'll getturned out! They're afraid of their lives!"

"This little woman back here doesn't look afraid. "

"No, she's different. " Polly cast a look at her. 

Mrs. Adlerfeld caught it and smiled back, a bright, happy smile, asif, indeed, she had "lots o' joy. "

CHAPTER XVI

THE HIKING CLUB

"OH, Miss Nita! What do you think?" Polly burst into the room fullof excitement. "Chris has gone!"

"Gone? Where?"

"To Australia!"

"Not alone?"

"Oh, no! His father is with him. We never knew he was coming--tillthere he was! For a minute Chris hardly knew him! Isn't thatqueer? But he didn't look like himself. His hair is cut close tohis head! What do you suppose he did it for? It isn't becoming!But, oh, you ought to have seen Chris! He jumped right into hisfather's arms and cried and cried and cried! Mr. Morrow cried, too, almost as hard as Chris! We had a pretty exciting time!"

"When was it?" put in Miss Sterling. 

"This noon. Mother did finally persuade him to stay to dinner--hewasn't going to! I don't see why he was in such a hurry to getaway! Oh, I shall miss that boy awfully! He is always justso--never cross or pouty, or anything. Sometimes he has beenpretty blue--I suppose thinking of his father and wondering why hedidn't come. It has been almost two years! It won't seem a bitnatural without Chris. I shall have to come over here and botheryou more than ever. " Polly sighed a bit sorrowfully and dropped ona hassock at Miss Sterling's feet. 

"You know you couldn't come too often, my dear. "

"I feel sometimes as if I were a nuisance, " laughed Polly. "Iguess Miss Sniffen thinks so. She looks at me so queer when shemeets me in the hall. "

"It is only her way. She can't have anything against you. "

Polly shook her head doubtfully; then she smiled. "I did kind ofpacify her the other night when we were late from our walk, didn'tI? I was afraid I couldn't, but I wasn't going to let her know it!"

"It was funny the way she came round, " Miss Sterling agreed. 

"That makes me think, " Polly broke out, "when are we going to haveanother walk?"

"I--don't--know, " sighed the other. "Walking is such an effort! Iget so tired I can't sleep. "

"That's too bad!" mourned Polly. "But don't you think it's becauseyou stay in the house so much? If you went oftener maybe you'd getused to it and it wouldn't tire you. "

"Perhaps. I don't know. "

"We were planning, only yesterday, Chris and I, to start a walkingclub--and now he's gone! But I suppose the rest of us can haveit, " Polly went on. "We thought we'd ask David and Leonora andPatricia, --she and her mother are just home from the shore, --andDoodles and Blue and all of you folks here. "

"All the ladies?"

Polly nodded. 

"They're not all equal to it. You forget how old some of them are. "

"Anyway, they aren't too old to be asked!" laughed Polly. 

"No, and it is a good idea. Sometimes a club will have a strongerpull on anybody than just an incidental invitation. "

"That's what we thought--dear, dear, it's too bad Chris had to go!"

"I'm sorry, but I imagine he is happy enough to be with his father. "

"Yes! He looked like another boy after his father came. Well, we'll have to do without him. "

"How can Doodles and Blue be in? They live eighteen or twentymiles away. "

"Oh, they can come down by trolley, or we can go up there, " repliedPolly easily. 

Miss Sterling laughed. "You forget that we haven't any money fortrolley fares. "

"I never thought! They'll have to come here, then. Anyway, they've got to belong! Doodles is the sweetest boy! I used towonder if he would change any when he was able to run and play--Ididn't know but he'd get to be--coarser, you know; but he is justthe same. Blue is nice, only he is more like other boys--Doodlesisn't!"

"Miss Lily has been telling me of how he Went to sing to her. Shejust idolizes him. "

"I know she does. The other day when I was up to see her shecouldn't talk of anybody else. There isn't much doubt but that shewill join the club if she can see Doodles oftener. "

"She seems to be fairly strong; her trouble is only with her eyes. "

"I guess it will do her eyes good to go outdoors more. I wanted tocall it the 'Hiking Club'; but Chris was afraid the name wouldfrighten some of them--they'd think a 'hike' meant more than just awalk. "

"Mrs. Post is quite lame yet, and Mrs. Grace is having rheumatism. They couldn't go at present. Miss Twining's heart bothers her. She said she shouldn't dare attempt so long a walk again. "

"As the one the other day? That wasn't long for a well person. "

"But most of us are not well--if we were we shouldn't be here. "

"I'll ask them all, anyway!" Polly insisted. "Can't we have ourfirst meeting here in your room, Miss Nita?"

"Certainly. When is it to be?"

"I think to-day would be a good time--about two o'clock. It isn'tvery pleasant out, raw and chilly. I'll go round and invite themnow. Will you come, too?"

"No, I'll sit here and read. You run along and get your hikers, and then come back and tell me about it. "

CHAPTER XVII

GRANDAUNT SUSIE AND MISS SNIFFEN

Polly aroused more enthusiasm among the ladies than Miss Sterlinghad thought possible. Almost everybody, even Mrs. Grace, with herrheumatic knee, was eager to join the new club. 

It was agreed that those who were able should take a tramp togethertwice a week and should walk on the veranda, ten times its length, at least once a day. 

Polly was unanimously elected president, Miss Major forcorresponding secretary, and David Collins for treasurer. 

"The club will be bankrupt from the start, " laughed Miss Crilly. "What do we need a treasurer for?"

"Oh, they always have one!" insisted Polly. "Maybe the money'llcome. "

"Sure! Somebody might donate a million dollars to us--and whatshould we do without anybody to take care of it!" Miss Crillychuckled happily. 

The work of organization being disposed of, Mrs. Bonnyman askedwhat was to be done next. 

Polly didn't know. 

"Oh, we must adjourn!" declared Miss Major. "That is the principalevent of most business meetings. "

Accordingly, with much giggling from a few of the members, the newclub voted to adjourn until the next Monday. 

"Oh, dear! it's raining hard!" cried Polly. "I thought maybe wecould go for a little walk, just to mark the day. "

"Can't we do something here--have some game or other?" suggestedMiss Crilly. 

"I say!" burst out David, "I forgot! Mother told me to be at homeby half-past three, and it's almost that now. Will you come, Leonora, or wait for the shower to be over?"

Leonora preferred a walk in the rain to one alone, so they hurriedinto their raincoats and were off. 

"Our company's dwindling, " observed Miss Crilly, as the door shutupon Mrs. Post and Mrs. Crump, "but I don't want to go homeyet--need I, Miss Sterling?" "Certainly not! I want you all tostay. Polly, you are queen of ceremonies--what shall we do next?"

"We might try some of Grandaunt Susie's exercises, " twinkled Polly. 

"Just the thing!"

"Who's Grandaunt Susie, pray?" Miss Crilly was frankly curious. 

"Mother's grandaunt, " explained Polly. "She was miserable, andthese exercises made her strong enough to do almost anything. Sheis seventy-three, --or was when she was here, a year ago, --andfather himself says she doesn't look a minute over thirty-five!"

"Oh, my! Let's try'em! I want to look 'not a minute overthirty-five'!" Miss Crilly waved her hands excitedly. 

"How do you begin--this way?" Miss Mullaly sprang to her feet, threw out her chest, and worked her arms up and down. 

"Oh, no!" cried Polly. "That is not it at all! You take themlying down!"

"Mercy!" cried Miss Lily. 

"I'd like that!" declared Mrs. Albright. 

"Good and easy!" Miss Crilly nodded. 

"Yes, they are every one to be practiced in bed, before you get upin the morning, " resumed Polly. 

"What if you don't wake early enough?" asked Mrs. Prindle with ashrug. 

"Then you're late for breakfast or lose your chance of going backto thirty-five!" laughed Miss Crilly. 

"How can you thrash your arms round in bed?" Miss Mullaly queried. 

"You don't have to. It isn't like gymnastics. "

"Well, do tell us, Polly! I'm just crazy to begin!" Miss Crillylaughingly shook Polly's shoulders. 

"There are so many of them, " Polly drew a long, laughing breath, "Ihardly know which to take first. There is one for the legs--thatwould help in walking. But you'll have to lie down first. "

Miss Crilly and Miss Major hurried to the floor, Miss Mullalyfollowing. 

"Oh, lie on the bed!" cried Miss Sterling. 

"This is all right. " asserted Miss Crilly. "Go on, Polly!"

"You want to turn just a mite on your right side. Now make yourright leg firm, and put your left toes against the top of yourright foot, --yes, that's it!--and tense the muscles of your leftleg--hard! Now relax! Tense again! Relax! You mustn't do it toolong at first, but that's the way--tense and relax, ten times onthis side and ten on the other. "

"Whew! takes some strength! Why don't you try it, girls? It'sfun! Miss Sterling will let you have her bed--we'll make it overafterwards. Try it. Mis' Albright, and you, Miss Leatherland, it'll do you good!"

"Yes, go ahead, as Miss Crilly says, " urged Miss Sterling. "I'vepracticed that, and I think it has made me stronger. "

Polly's class was increased to five, but the others could not beinduced to make any attempt. 

"There's another that's pretty good, " went on Polly. "It's forboth sides, alternate, but you can learn it on your right. Bend upyour left knee, and take your left ankle in your left hand--nowpull hard, leg and hand both! That's right. Pull and then relax. Here's another; bend your knee--the upper one, and take it in bothhands and pull hard! Relax, and then pull again. "

"I wish there was an exercise to make thin folks fatter, " observedMiss Mullaly. 

"I know some that'll make your cheeks plump and round, " said Polly. 

Little squeals of doubt greeted the announcement. 

"I don't believe they'd make my face round, " laughed MissLeatherland. 

"Yes, they would! Wouldn't they, Miss Nita?"

"I can't swear to it, as Polly does; but this I do know--it plumpsand pinks them for a little while. Polly says her aunt told herthat after enough practice the plumpness would stay. "

"Oh, what is it?" queried Miss Mullaly eagerly. 

"I'll try it on Miss Leatherland if she'll let me, " offered Polly. "It will be more of a test on her, because she is thinnest. "

"Certainly you may, but I can't quite believe it will do what yousay it will. "

"Just you wait'" chuckled Polly. "First you must smile, a big, bigsmile! Not quite hard enough!--Yes, that's better! Now, while Ipress my hands against your cheeks and massage them this way, youmust open and shut your mouth--no, wider than that!--a littlewider--just as wide as you can! Keep on smiling all the time!

"There! now I'll let you look in the glass--see how your cheekshave plumped out! Oh, but you lock pretty!"

"Doesn't she!" Miss Crilly jumped up, the better to see. "Look!everybody! My, how pretty!"

"'Pretty!'" scorned Miss Leatherland. Yet the pink rose higher. 

"Polly! is this the right way?" Miss Mullaly was doing her best, but not well enough to satisfy the instructor. 

"The middle of your hand must come up high on your cheek, "explained Polly. "Yes, that's it! And twenty-five times you mustopen and shut your mouth. "

"Polly, " broke in Miss Sterling, "when you can, I wish you'd tellMrs. Prindle how to make her hair grow. "

"Yes, " added Mrs. Prindle, "she says you know a way of massagingthe scalp, and my hair is so thin!"

"You'll have to take it down, I guess--so you can get at it allover, " said Polly. 

"Do you know it will really help it?"

"Grandaunt Susie said her hair was so thin you could see throughit, and when she was at our house it was as thick as--as thick asmine. "

"Oh, I'm going to try that--my hair's all coming out!" Miss Lilydrew her pins from the thin coil. 

Mrs. Grace and Mrs. Adlerfeld made their heads ready formanipulation. 

"You just put your hands this way, right up under yourhair, "--Polly spread out her fingers, --"and clutch at the scalphard, as if you were going to pull it off. Go all over the head, again and again for five minutes--two or three times a day. AuntSusie says it will make the hair grow like fun. "

"Oh, Miss Polly, will you be so kind as to show me just how itgoes, please?" Miss Twining was shaking down her scanty locks. 

"It's very easy, " Polly smiled. She liked the shy, gentle MissTwining. "This is all there is to it, " working her hands under thesoft blond hair. "The only trouble is, it tires the hands outpretty quick. "

"Oh, yours must be tired! I should not have asked you!"

"No, no! Mine are all right. I was thinking only of yours. Now, try it yourself. Yes, that's the way! You have it!"

"Polly!" Miss Crilly was on the floor, hugging her knee. 

"I'm here!" laughed Polly. 

"Do you know anything that will scare away a double chin?"

"Yes, I do!"

"Oh, jolly! What is it?"

"I'd like to hear about that!" spoke up Miss Castlevaine. 

Polly thought a moment. 

"You'll have to lie down--flat on your back--no, you go over on thebed, Miss Castlevaine, and I'll tell you how to do it. "

"Don't get up, Mis' Albright!" cried Miss Crilly. "I can learn howhere just as well!" She lay back, her eyes on Polly. 

"I'll put this pillow right under your shoulders--so. Now throwyour head--"

A sharp rap halted the sentence. Mrs. Albright sat up. The doorwas flung open before Polly reached it. 

"Ladies! what does this mean?" Miss Sniffen stood there, resoluteand merciless. 

Nobody answered. 

Miss Twining and Miss Lily began hurriedly to gather up theirdisheveled hair. Miss Castlevaine arose haughtily. Polly's tonguewas quickest to recover itself. 

"I was only teaching the ladies some exercises to make them strong. We are not doing any harm, Miss Sniffen. "

"I infer that it makes them stronger to pull their hair down. " Thetone was smoothly sarcastic. 

"Oh, that!" returned Polly, with a tiny smile; "I've been tellingthem how to massage the scalp, so as to make their hair grow. "

"Very necessary, indeed! And I suppose their hair grows faster ifthey stretch themselves out upon the bed and the floor! I'mashamed of you!"

"Oh, Miss Sniffen!" protested Polly, "you have to lie down to takethese exercises! The book says so!"

"Book!" snapped the angry voice; "I'll book you all for what youwon't like if I ever catch you in such unladylike postures again!You must be in your second childhood! Now march to your rooms, every one of you!" She waved her hand peremptorily toward thedoorway, and the culprits filed meekly past her--all but MissCastlevaine. She walked with stately step and head held high, asbecame the great-granddaughter of a duchess. 

"I think you would better go home now, you have worked mischiefenough for one day!" She addressed Polly in a slightly mollifiedtone. 

"Why, Miss Sniffen, I can't see what harm there is in trying to getwell and strong. I should think you'd like the ladies to bebetter. Father and mother think these exercises are fine!Mother's Grandaunt Susie told us about them. They made her as goodas new!"

"We won't discuss the matter, " replied the superintendent in a hardvoice. "You need not remain to talk it over with Miss Sterling. "

"I'm going--right now!" Polly caught up her coat. 

"Good-bye, Miss Nita!" She swept past Miss Sniffen with a curt bow. 

The door tight shut, Juanita Sterling fisted the air in thedirection of the departing superintendent. Then she drooped herhead and sobbed. 

CHAPTER XVIII

VICTOR VON DALIN

For several days the weather was showery, not very pleasant forwalking, and Polly stayed away from the June Holiday Home. 

"What will Miss Nita think!" she mourned. "Miss Sniffen hasprobably forgotten by this time that she sent me home. Wouldn't itdo for me to go over for just a little while this fore-noon, whilethe officers are all busy?"

"I think you had better wait until Saturday, " her mother decided. 

So Polly sighed and ran off to write a little note to her belovedfriend. It was warm in her own room, and she carried paper andpencil out to her favorite seat on the veranda. 

She was there when a man came up the front steps, a white-hairedman. He walked with a firm, quick step, and when he saw her hecame over to where she sat. He took off his hat with a courteousbow. 

"May I ask, " he said in a low, pleasant voice, "if you know a ladyin the June Holiday Home named Adlerfeld, Mrs. Elise Adlerfeld?"

"Oh, yes, sir! I know her very well; that is, I know Mrs. Adlerfeld. I am not sure that her name is Elise. "

"Her husband's name was Hans Adlerfeld. "

"I don't know anything about him, " Polly replied; "but there's onlyone Mrs. Adlerfeld there. She is a dear! I love her!"

The man's face flushed with pleasure. "Then you may, perhaps, helpme. I have sought her these two years, and only now have I foundher! I went to the door, and the lady told me I could not see hertill next Wednesday! I cannot stay. I must go back to New York, and I must see her before I go. I begged the door-keeper to allowme to speak with my friend for only a short moment; but she wouldnot. She said it was not visitor's day. Then I thought perhaps aneighbor might help me. So I come to you. I ask you, is there anyway I can get inside to her, or she can get out to me? I beg ofyou, my dear young lady, will you help me? I must see her to-day!I cannot stay even till to-morrow!"

"That is just like Miss Sniffen" declared Polly. "She is thesuperintendent. She will never let anybody in except on Wednesdayafternoon. It is a shame' I don't know--" She hesitated. "Perhaps mother will let me go over and tell her. Please take thischair, sir. Mother will see you about it; she will know betterthan I what to do. "

"Tell her, if you please, that it is Victor von Dalin, an oldfriend of Mrs. Adlerfeld's, in Sweden, who desires to see her. "

"Oh! are you really from Sweden?" beamed Polly. "How delighted shewill be!"

"I have not been in Sweden these two years; but I knew her wellwhen we lived there, a long time ago. "

Polly ran off, full of excitement. How pleased the dear littlewoman would be! To think Miss Sniffen should refuse him entrance!She explained the matter to her mother. 

"I will go right down, " said Mrs. Dudley. "We must find some wayto bring them together without arousing suspicion. "

It was finally decided that Polly should go over to the Home and upto Miss Sterling's room, as usual, leaving Miss Sterling to seeMrs. Adlerfeld and to give her Mrs. Dudley's invitation to spendthe rest of the day at her house. 

Happily, Miss Sniffen was not in sight as Polly made her quick wayto the third floor. 

"You dear child! Then you're not sick! I was afraid you were. "

Miss Sterling held her at arm's length, to make sure of her health. 

"Sick? Not a bit!" laughed Polly. "Mother thought I'd better notcome until Miss Sniffen had had a chance to forget she sent mehome--that's all! I wasn't coming till to-morrow, but somethinghappened--the loveliest thing!"

"What?"

"Come, sit down, and I'll tell you!"

"I can't imagine what it is!"

"No, you can't! You couldn't guess if you had a year to do it in!The nicest man has come from New York to see Mrs. Adlerfeld, andthey wouldn't let him in here! Wasn't that mean! So he came overto our house, to ask if we knew her and could help him out. Heused to know Mrs. Adlerfeld in Sweden, and he's bound to see her!Oh, he's so lovable! His hair is as white! But he doesn't lookold. Can't you come over pretty soon and see him? Though I don'tknow as you'd better. That might give it away--to have two come!Mother wants you to tell Mrs. Adlerfeld that she would like to haveher spend the day with us. Make her come just as quick as she can. You can tell her that it is Mr. Victor von Dalin that isthere--isn't that a sweet name? Oh, I do hope she will come!He'll have a fit if she doesn't! Wasn't Miss Sniffen horrible theother day? When we were having such a good time! I must go--no, Iguess I'll wait till you've been up and found out. Then I can tellhim. "

Polly waited and waited, wondering, after five minutes, why MissSterling did not come back. 

"Dear me!" she thought anxiously, "I hope Mrs. Adlerfeld hasn'tfainted or anything!"

The time dragged slowly away. Ten o'clock went by. Polly wanderedrestlessly around the room. She took up a book, but could notread. Once she started to go down the hall to find out; then sheconcluded she had better not. She looked out of the window, butcould think of nothing but the worrying fact of Miss Nita'sprolonged absence. 

At last she heard her light step in the corridor. She sprang tothe door. 

"What in the world--"

Miss Sterling motioned for silence, and they hurried to the furtherside of the room. 

"I knew you'd be frantic, " she began; "but I couldn't help it. Just before I reached Mrs. Adlerfeld's room I heard Mrs. Nobbs'svoice in there, so I stopped at Mrs. Albright's. I knew it wouldbe all right to tell her, they are so intimate. She is pleased aswe are. But it did seem as if Mrs. Nobbs never would go! Oh, thedear woman is so excited that I don't know whether she will getdressed straight or not! Mrs. Albright is helping her. His cominghas upset her completely. But it is a happy up-setting! You cansee that! I am so glad!"

"Will she come right over?"

"If they'll let her. I presume they will. "

"If they don't, I'll make a fuss!" threatened Polly. "I'll goafter Mr. Randolph. "

Miss Sterling laughed. "You won't have to do that. "

"You haven't ever found out what he wanted to talk with you aboutover the wire, have you?" Polly asked. 

"No, and I never shall. " Miss Sterling's lips took a sorrowfuldroop. 

"You will, too! I'll ask him myself some day!"

"No, no, you mustn't!"

"You'll see!" Polly laughed and said a soft "Good-bye!"

Miss Sterling motioned her back. 

"Be sure to come over to-morrow morning and tell me all about it!"she whispered. 

Polly returned earlier. She appeared at four o'clock. 

"I couldn't wait another minute!" she said. "The two dears aresitting out on the veranda, up in the corner where the vines hidethem from the street, and their heads are close together and theyare talking earnestly in that queer lingo that nobody elseunderstands! Oh, they are having the loveliest time! They were atour house to luncheon, both of them, and they're going to stay todinner! He will take the 7. 30 train for New York. We've allenjoyed it so much! Father and he just took to each other. Youought to have heard them talk! I believe he knows every book thatever was written! We had such fun! Father and mother never sawMrs. Adlerfeld very much, and they think she is just charming. They used to go to school together in Sweden. His wife died threeyears ago, and he has a son and daughter, both married. Thedaughter lives in Stockholm and the son in Newark. Mr. Von Dalinis librarian in one of the big libraries--oh, I wish you could seehim! Dear me, I must run back, for they may want something!"

Without doubt Polly was extraordinarily excited. 

CHAPTER XIX

"A MOONSHINE PARTY"

"Next Tuesday is Miss Lily's birthday!" Polly made theannouncement in lowered tones. 

"How old is she?" asked Miss Sterling. 

"I don't know. Doodles told me when he was down the last time. You know he wrote out her application, and I suppose he had to givethe date. He said wouldn't it be nice if we could celebrate it. "

"But how? Celebrations and June Holiday Home are not on speakingterms. "

"Well, Doodles proposed that we all come up to his house, and hismother would make a birthday cake. But we shouldn't let them do itall. Mother would furnish the salad and some of the other things. Then, I don't doubt Patricia would help, and Leonora and David. "

"I wish I could. " Miss Sterling shook her head sadly. 

"Now, Miss Nita, don't you feel that way! If you do, I'll give itall up!"

"But I may be sorry, mayn't I, that I can't help anything along?"

"No; because you do help along. It isn't just money and cake andsuch things. "

"I like cake!" She smiled whimsically. 

"Oh, why don't I bring you some! We had a lovely raspberry layercake when Mr. Von Dalin was here, and I never thought to bring overa mite! Mother says I am growing careless, and I'm afraid she'sright!"

"Dear child! I don't want you to bring me cake! I said that onlyin fun. "

"You shall have some, all the same! Isn't the table here anybetter?"

Miss Sterling wrinkled her face into an answer. "The last cook isthe worst we've had yet. "

"Too bad! Colonel Gresham said he was going to see Mr. Randolphabout things; but I dare say he has forgotten it. "

"I hope he won't think I've been complaining to you. " MissSterling looked alarmed. 

"No, I cautioned him. Probably he will never think of it again. "

"I rather hope he won't. My fear of the Powers is amounting almostto terror. "

"Oh, Miss Nita, don't be afraid! That will make you go back! Youmustn't have a bit of fear!"

Miss Sterling laughed softly. "Well, " she yielded--"let's talkabout the birthday celebration. "

"You haven't stopped being afraid. " Polly scanned the other withkeen eyes. "But never mind, we'll go ahead with the plans. I loveto plan! Don't you?"

"I like it too well; but I've seen so many of my projects burstinto nothing all in a minute that I've been trying lately tocontent myself with everyday happenings. "

"I'm sorry you've had so much trouble, Miss Nita, " said Pollyplaintively. 

The little woman smiled. "I ought not to have said that. I'mbetter, you know! How are we to get up to Foxford?"

"Oh, in automobiles! Didn't I tell you? Colonel Gresham will letus have two, and Mrs. Illingworth one, and father ours. I don'tknow how many will go from here, but there'll be David and Leonoraand Patricia and me, besides the Colonel and the chauffeurs. Youdon't think but that Miss Sniffen will let them all go, do you?"Polly added anxiously. 

"Perhaps. " Miss Sterling mused over it. "I can't tell; I've lostthe map of Miss Sniffen's mind. "

"Did you ever have it?" laughed Polly. 

"I think once I had a facsimile of it. "

Polly chuckled. Then she shook her head doubtfully. "I wish MissSniffen--wasn't Miss Sniffen, " she mused vaguely. Suddenly shebrightened. "Why can't we tell Mr. Randolph about it and ask himto ask Miss Sniffen?" She waited eagerly for the answer. It wasnot quick to come. 

Miss Sterling bent her head in thought, while the color flutteredon her cheeks. 

"I'm afraid it wouldn't be best, " she said finally with a deepbreath. "He might--"

"Oh, bother!" Polly broke in; "I was so sure that was a brilliantthought of mine! And now you turn it down just like any commonidea!"

"My dear child, it isn't that the idea is not brilliant, but itseems to me it would be--would be--just a little out of place!"

"It wouldn't be--a single bit!" insisted Polly. "Isn't he thepresident of the Home?"

"Yes; but he isn't in this, and wouldn't it look as if we wereignoring Miss Sniffen?"

"Maybe it would, " assented Polly submissively. "I hadn't thoughtof that. "

"You have said nothing to Miss Lily about it?"

"Oh, no!" Polly replied. "We've only talked it over at home andwith the Greshams. "

"I suppose I'll have to parley with the Powers, " smiled MissSterling ruefully. 

"I don't want to!" Polly frowned. She thought a moment, tappingher teeth with her thumb. "Oh, I know!" she burst out joyously. "You can't object to this! Colonel Gresham's the one to doit--because he's going, too. He'll drive his big car. I thoughtit wouldn't do to have father, for she'd think I got him to do it. But Colonel Gresham would win anybody if he tried. "

Miss Sterling nodded approvingly. 

"Aren't you glad I thought of it?"

"It looks the best thing. "

"It is! Guess I'll go and ask the folks now! Will you come?"

"No, thank you! Run on alone--you'll do it best without anyassistance. "

Polly laughed happily. She was too excited to insist on even MissNita's company. 

It was a good hour before she returned, having been rapturouslywelcomed upstairs and down and kept as long as possible. 

"Everybody is delighted with the idea!" Polly dropped to thehassock at Miss Sterling's knee. "They're all going--if theycan!--except Mrs. Post and Mrs. Prindle. Mrs. Post has had apull-back and she can't walk at all, and Mrs. Prindle's cold isworse. I think the rest will just fill the cars. "

She counted up, and found seats and occupants to agree. 

"I'm wondering whether to have Mrs. Adlerfeld or Miss Lily sit withColonel Gresham--which would you?" Polly was all alight with herplanning. 

"The Colonel would enjoy Mrs. Adlerfeld best. Miss Lily would betoo shy to say anything. "

"So she would! I only thought of her because she's the birthdaygirl. Oh! You can't imagine how surprised she was--I thoughtshe'd better know it right away, and not try to be secret about it. "

Miss Sterling smiled assent. 

"She looked as if she were going to cry, " Polly went on; "but thenI said something funny, and she laughed. I could see she waswonderfully pleased that Doodles should propose it. I'm glad hedid, for I guess she doesn't have very much to make her happy. 

"Oh, I forgot! What do you think Mrs. Adlerfeld calls it? Ihappened to say we thought it was so nice it came when the moon wasfull, and she said, 'Thank you, I shall be so glad and happy to go!I am very fond about moonshine nights!' Isn't that just lovely?I'm going to call it a 'moonshine' party! It is ever so muchprettier than 'moonlight. ' Won't Colonel Gresham be pleased tohave Mrs. Adlerfeld sit with him!"

CHAPTER XX

THE PARTY ITSELF

The weedy roadside was a witching tangle of shadows, and the airwas drowsy with spicy, wind-blown scents, as four motor cars swepton their merry way to Foxford. 

Juanita Sterling, in the last of the procession, watched the gaylittle imps dance across the windshield and thought glad thoughts. It was going to be a worth-while evening she felt sure, and it wasgood that her left-hand neighbors, Miss Major and Mrs. WinslowTeed, had each other to entertain, and she was free to anticipateand ponder and to feast her heart on the visions of the night. 

The sometimes insisting opinions of Miss Major and the familiar"When I was abroad" of Mrs. Winslow Teed seldom obtruded on herdreams. Once, however, she came to her surroundings with a start. 

"No, " Miss Major was asserting, "Nelson Randolph is not the man forthe place. He takes some things for granted and lets other thingsdrift. If we had a good, live president, our superintendent wouldget her walking ticket instanter. "

"A little strange he doesn't marry again. His wife has been gonefor some years, hasn't she?"

"Five last June. They say he is devoted to her memory. I don'ttake much stock in such devotedness--so far as men are concerned. When he finds some pink and white doll that is sufficientlycaptivating he will go through with another wedding ceremony. "

"That makes me think of a Danish couple I met in Florence, " beganMrs. Winslow Teed; "she couldn't have been over nineteen or twenty, and he was eighty at least. She--"

Miss Sterling was again absorbed in her own thoughts and neverheard what became of the poorly-mated travelers. 

Doodles and Blue ran down from the veranda as the cars speeded upthe slope to the little bungalow, and they were quickly in themidst of a joyous circle. 

Polly and David, alighting from the third car, ran back to helpMiss Sterling and the others. 

"Oh, Miss Nita! Wasn't the ride lovely?" Polly squeezed herfriend's arm. "Say, did you know, at the very last minute MissSniffen sent over word that Mrs. Bonnyman couldn't go? She had thetoothache, and so mother came in her place! Oh, I did wish youwere in our car! I wanted to say, 'Isn't that beautiful?' and'Just look at this!'"

"You could talk to David, " laughed Miss Sterling. 

"Oh, yes, I did some! But Mrs. Crump was jabbering to him most ofthe time. Haven't you ever been out here before? Why, I thoughtyou had!--How d' y' do, Doodles!"

The three went up the steps hand in hand. 

"Isn't that the loveliest, biggest moon you ever saw?" exclaimedPolly. 

While they lingered to look at it a car flashed up the road andturned in at the entrance. 

"Somebody going to the Flemings', " remarked Doodles carelessly. 

"No, it's coming here!" returned Polly. The lights blazed towardthem. 

They waited, and a man stepped out. 

"Mr. Randolph!" breathed Polly, as he emerged from the shadows. 

"I feel somewhat like an intruder, " said the president, as hegrasped the hand of Doodles. "When Colonel Gresham invited me Itold him my coming was impossible. Then things cleared up alittle--and here I am!"

A visible stir succeeded Nelson Randolph's entrance. Mrs. Stickneyand Colonel Gresham welcomed him most cordially, and Polly, aspresident of the Hiking Club, greeted him with a characteristiclittle speech. 

Presently the unexpected guest was moving easily among the others, passing from group to group with hearty handshakes and happy words, at last coming face to face with Juanita Sterling. 

She had watched him nearing her corner, the while politelyattending to Miss Leatherland's intermittent chit-cnat and vainlytrying to banish from her mind the recent assertions of Miss Major. With his first word, however, they fled, and she found herselftalking to the president unabashed and unafraid. 

"I am glad to have the opportunity of telling you how much Ithought of those beautiful roses, " she said; "I never saw handsomerones. "

"It is good to know you enjoyed them. I hoped to have the pleasureof taking you out to Adalina Park in the height of the roseseason. " Was there an inquiry in the eyes that bent to hers?

She felt the flush sweep up her cheeks. "I should have beendelighted to go, " she replied. Hurriedly she tried to think ofsomething to add to the brief sentence, but her mind was confused, and the seconds slipped by. 

"I was sorry it happened so, " he went on; "but we will try itagain. Adalina Park is in its full glory now, and there are prettydrives outside of the parks. " He smiled whimsically. 

Then came the question that put her in doubt whether she shouldtell him the truth or not--"When should I be most likely to findyou disengaged?"

"Almost any time, " she answered, having decided that she wouldleave him to discover why she had not responded to his invitation. "Work is never pressing at the Home. "

"Isn't it?" A puzzled look flickered in his eyes--or was it onlyher fancy?

A little flutter about the piano told that somebody was to play orsing. David took the seat and began a prelude. Then he sang in aclear, fresh voice:--

 "Red as the wine of forgotten ages, Yellow as gold of the sunbeams spun, Pink as the gowns of Aurora's pages, White as the robe of a sinless one, Sweeter than Araby's winds that blow-- Roses, roses, I love ye so!"

"Who is that boy?" Nelson Randolph asked. "Some relation ofColonel Gresham's, isn't he?"

"His grandnephew, David Collins. "

"He has a fine voice. "

"Excellent. Polly Dudley has a sweet voice, too. I hope she willsing before the evening is over. And Doodles is wonderful! Haveyou ever heard him?"

"No. He told me he was in the choir at St. Bartholomew's. "

"There he comes! Oh, Polly is to play for him!"

A very sympathetic accompanist was Polly. Juanita Sterlinglistened in surprise and wonder. How could such a child do so well!

 "Young Davie was the brawest lad In a' the Lairnie Glen, An' Jennie was the bonniest lass That e'er stole hearts o' men; But Davie was a cotter's lad, A lad o' low degree, An' Jennie, bonnie, sonsie lass, A highborn lass was she. "

Applause burst upon the hush that hung on the last note. It wasinsistent--it would not be denied. Doodles must sing again. 

"He is a marvel!" Nelson Randolph spoke it softly, as the youngsinger returned to the piano. 

He gave the second verse of the song, which before he had omitted, and then sang the dainty little love song, --

 "Dusk, and the shadows falling O'er land and sea; Somewhere a voice is calling, Calling for me!"

Yet even that did not satisfy his audience. So he returned oncemore and gave in an irresistibly rollicking way a song in Yankeedialect, the refrain to which, --

 "Oh, my boy Jonathan is jest as good as gold! An' he always fills the wood-box 'ithout bein' told!"--

tagging as it did the various topics of the old farmer's discourseupon his son, never failed to bring laughter from his hearers. 

At the end the applause was long and urgent; but Doodles had runaway, and would not come back. 

Polly slipped up to Miss Sterling. 

"Will you play for us now?--please, Miss Nita!" seeing a refusal inthe eyes that met her own. 

"I am not in practice. I should hate to break down before allthese people, " she smiled. 

"There isn't one mite of danger!" Polly asserted confidently. "Docome, Miss Nita! Mr. Randolph, I wish you'd coax her to come! Shecan play magnificently!"

"Polly!"

"She can!" Polly addressed the president. 

"I don't doubt it, " Nelson Randolph declared, "and I should bedelighted to hear her. "

"You wouldn't be delighted at all, " Miss Sterling laughed. "Youwould want to stop me long before I had finished one page. Myfingers would be lost in no time. "

He dissented with courtliness, and Polly wheedled until Doodles andBlue came to add their urging to hers; but in the end they had tolet Miss Sterling have her way, which was to remain outside of theentertaining circle. 

So Polly sang, "Such a li'l' fellow, " and "Daisytown Gossip. " ThenMrs. Winslow Teed was beguiled into singing the old song of "TheBeggar Girl, " and if her voice were a bit uncertain, on the wholeit was sweet and received well-earned applause. 

Games interspersed the music, and it was discovered that thepresident of June Holiday Home, as well as the eldest of the Homeresidents, was quite as clever in guesses as the young folks. 

Either by chance or intention, --Juanita Sterling could not decidewhich, --Nelson Randolph appeared to have established himself forthe evening at her side. Others came and went, but the presidentstayed. 

"I wonder when we shall hear Caruso, " she said. "He is on theprogramme; I think they must be waiting until the moon is high. "

"Caruso?" he repeated with a puzzled look. "Not--"

"No, not the great Caruso, " she smiled; "the little Caruso. "

"But what has the moon to do with his singing? I am in the dark. "

She laughed out. "I don't wonder! I supposed you knew aboutCaruso. He is a wonderful mocking-bird that belongs to Doodles. He can--but wait! You will hear him soon, if I'm not mistaken. "

Blue was at the window, gazing skyward. He raised the curtainhigh, and the moonlight streamed in. A large cage was placed on atable in the direct beams. Suddenly the lights were out. 

A mellow fluting broke the hush, --and Caruso was in song!

Few of the guests had ever heard his like. He was a score ofperformers in one. The notes of a dozen birds issued in quicksuccession from that one little throat, clear, sweet, delicious. Then, without warning, came the unmistakable squeal of a pig, thesquawking of hens, the yelp of a puppy, which in a moment mergedinto a little carol, and then--Caruso was singing "Annie Laurie"!

The concert reached a sudden end, and the audience came to itselfin such applause as none of the other performers had won. 

"Are there any more astonishments in store for me?" asked NelsonRandolph, as the clapping dwindled to a few tardy hands. "When theColonel invited me to come up this evening I did not anticipate aconcert of this nature. He said they were to have 'a little music, 'but you know what that generally means. "

"I know, " nodded Miss Sterling smilingly. "I wonder, after such anadmission, that you were willing to risk it. "

"Oh, I didn't come for the music!" he returned. "Nevertheless, itis worth going more than twenty miles to hear. Polly and Doodlesand David would make a good concert by themselves--and now themocldng-bird! I never heard anything equal to his performance! Heis a wonder!"

"He can whistle 'Auld Lang Syne, ' too, I think he does it quite aswell as 'Annie Laurie. '"

The applause had started again, and the lights, which had beenturned on, went out. The audience quieted at once. 

Soft and sweet came the tones of a violin. 

"Doodles, " breathed Miss Sterling. 

Nelson Randolph bent his head to hear, and nodded in answer. 

Softly the player slipped into "Old Folks at Home, " and the tunewent on slowly, lingeringly, as if waiting for something that didnot come. Again it was played, this time with the voice of Doodlesaccompanying. 

Meanwhile Polly was tiptoeing noiselessly from group to group andfrom guest to guest, with the soft-breathed word, "No applause, please!"

Over and over sounded the sweet, haunting melody, until not a fewof those unfamiliar with the methods of the patient teacher and hissingular little pupil, wondered, with Miss Crilly, "what in theworld was up. "

Then, just as almost everybody's nerves were growing tense, Carusotook up the air and carried it on bewitchingly to its close. 

"How can he do it!"--"Wasn't that perfectly beautiful!"--"Did youteach it to him, Doodles?"--"My! but he's a jimdandy, and nomistake!" These and a score of others were tossed about as thelights went up. 

"I must have a nearer view of that singer, " declared NelsonRandolph. "I'm sure he can't look like an ordinary mocker; he mustshow the marks of genius in his feathers!"

Miss Sterling laughed. "He is certainly surprising. Doodles toldme he was trying to teach him a new song, but I was not preparedfor anything like this. "

"Who could be!--Come!" he invited. "Let's go over and see him!"

Juanita Sterling unavoidably brushed Miss Crilly on the way across, and smiled pleasantly, to which that middle-aged merrymakerresponded with a whispered, "Ain't you swell, a-goin' with thepresident all the evening!"

Miss Sterling flung back a laughing shake of the head, and passedon. 

Nelson Randolph scanned the slim gray bird in silence. Then heturned to his companion. 

"It doesn't seem possible that this little fellow could do allthat!"

Doodles smiled across the cage. He was giving Caruso the tidbitwhich he had well earned. 

"How long does it take you to teach him a song?"

"I've only taught him one, Mr. Randolph. He was several monthslearning that. He knew 'Annie Laurie' when he came, and Mr. Gillespie taught him 'Auld Lang Syne. '"

"The bird had finished his little feast and stood nonchalantlypreening his feathers. 

"Caruso!"

The mocker lifted his head and gave a short whistle. Then he wenton with his interrupted toilet. 

Nelson Randolph laughed softly. 

"Caruso!" began Doodles again. "Caruso!"

The bird looked up and whistled as before. 

Doodles bent closer. "Can't you sing 'Auld Lang Syne' for Mr. Randolph? He has never heard it, you know. "

The mocker stretched a wing and let go a mellow strain. 

Softly Doodles began to sing, --

 "Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And days of auld lang syne?"

The bird had stood listening, and now caught tip the air withvigor, carrying it on with a surety that was as astonishing as itwas delightful. 

Nelson Randolph shook his head in admiration. "Marvelous!" hecried; "marvelous!" He put his hand in his pocket--"I wish youliked pennies!" he laughed. 

"His pennies are meal worms, " said Doodles with a grimace. "I'llget him one. "

"Ugh! How can he?" laughed Miss Crilly, as the bird disposed of thedainty. 

His reward seemed to incite him to further song, for straightway helaunched into a gay little medley that set his hearers laughing andadmiring at once. 

"The birthday supper is ready!" announced Blue informally from thedoor of the dining-room. 

Doodles ran quickly to Miss Lily's side and they took place at thehead of the little procession. 

Colonel Gresham and Mrs. Adlerfeld came next. 

"Oh, I'm so glad!" thought Juanita Sterling, catching a sight ofthe little Swedish woman's happy face. 

The company speedily divided itself into two's, and Miss Sterling, with a bit of a heart flutter, found herself walking beside thepresident of June Holiday Home. Just ahead were Patricia andDavid. Where was Polly? She and David were alwaystogether--everywhere. But now she and Leonora were side by side. Strange!--but wonderings were lost in the pleasant calls of theoccasion. 

In the smallish dining-room a long table gave seats to everybody, and no one was crowded. 

Nothing elaborate had been attempted, all was simple and homelike. Except for the curious decoration above the seat of honor, and thebirthday cake with its pink and white frosting, there was little todistinguish it from an every-day repast. 

Talk and appetite went merrily hand in hand, and the "birthdaygirl, " as Polly and Doodles insisted on calling her, grew actuallygay. 

"When she had cut the cake, and everybody's plate was empty, Doodles asked her to pull a pink ribbon hanging from theumbrella-like contrivance over her head. 

"With a half-frightened face and fingers that trembled, she pluckedat the dainty string. Nothing happened. 

"Pull harder!" urged Doodles. 

She made another attempt--and gave a little cry, for tumbling abouther came birthday gifts in wild array. 

Into her lap plumped an embroidered pin-cushion, on one shoulderdrooped a muslin and lace apron, over her head was draped a whitesilk waist, while all around, on floor and table, were otherarticles, besides packages of various sizes tied with pink andwhite ribbons. In the laughter and confusion, presents too bulkyor too frail to be risked in a fall were placed near her, --a longbox of pink roses, a tall vase of cut-glass, a big, big box ofcandy, a pretty bon-bon dish, a small fern, and a little begoniawith lovely pink blossoms. 

To be thus suddenly surprised, and at the same time to be made theattractive point of so many eyes, was more than Faith Lily'scomposure could bear. Her lip quivered like a little child's, herblue eyes filled with tears and over-flowed--she began softly tosob. 

Doodles looked distressed. Then he did the best thing possible. 

He took up the pincushion. "Mrs. Dudley made you this, " he said, "and this is from Leonora, "--he held the apron for her to see. "Isn't it pretty? Turn round a bit and I'll tie it on!"

The crying ceased, and the tension had passed. Miss Lily smileddown on the apron with happy eyes. 

"Here is a handkerchief that Polly embroidered for you, " Doodleswent on, "and this box of chocolates is from Mr. Randolph. ColonelGresham gave you the roses--just smell them!" He lifted the box toher face. 

"Oh!" breathed Miss Lily in delight. 

"The china dish is David's present, and these cards are from Mrs. Albright and Mrs. Bonnyman and Miss Crilly. This beautifulwaist--that's from Patricia, and the box of handkerchiefs from hermother, and the booklet from Miss Castlevaine, and the photographfrom Miss Major. Oh! the vase is from the 'Hiking Club, '--and Idon't know about the packages. "

Miss Lily beamed on her riches, upon Doodles, upon the wholetableful. 

"Why, " she exclaimed softly, "I don't see how you came to do it! Inever thought of having a single present! Oh, it's beautiful ofyou!" Her voice trembled. "I can't thank you half enough, but Ishall love you, every one, as long as I live!"

Doodles was picking up the small parcels scattered on the floor. 

"Will you have these now?" he nodded. 

"Oh, yes!" she said, eagerly as a child. 

Everybody seemed interested in the unwrapping. They were simplegifts, but Miss Lily fingered them lovingly, even to the plainestlittle card. 

The telephone called Blue into the next room. He returned almostat once. 

"Mr. Randolph, " he said, "some one wishes to talk with you. "

They were rising from the table as the president came back. 

"I am sorry to say good-bye so early, " he told them; "but a NewYork man is waiting to see me on important business and has toreturn home on the 11. 45 train. So I must get down to him as soonas possible. "

He came over to Juanita Sterling with a little rueful smile. 

"I hoped to have the pleasure of taking you home, but--" He shookhis head. "We'll make up for it in a day or two, " he finishedblithely. 

Her eyes met his. Something she saw there sent a warm flush to hercheeks, and she looked away. 

"You will hear from me soon. " He held out his hand. "Thank youfor giving me so much enjoyment this evening--good-night. "

That was all. Simple courtesy, Juanita Sterling told herself twohours later; but now--her heart was filled with a quivering joythat was almost pain. 

On the homeward ride she found herself seated next to Miss Major, with Miss Castlevaine just beyond. 

"We seem to be shifted round, " Miss Castlevaine observed. "I cameup in the second car, Dr. Dudley's; but Mrs. Winslow Teed has myseat--I was in front with the chauffeur. So I took the firstvacant place I saw. "

"She rode up with us. "

"Then it is all right. I see David Collins has got PatriciaIllingworth in tow--he came with Polly. I wonder if they've had aquarrel. "

"I never knew them to quarrel, " said Juanita Sterling. 

"Oh, don't they? Well, it looks like it now. He took Patricia outto supper, too. "

"So he did, " responded Miss Major. "I didn't think of it in thatlight. We've had a nice evening, anyway. It seems good to get outof the rut. "

"Yes, " answered Miss Castlevaine grudgingly; "but they'll have tokeep this up, now they've begun, or there'll be more fusses than afew!"

"What do you mean?"

"Why, everybody'll have to have a birthday party, or the rest'll bejealous. "

"Oh, yes, I see! But they couldn't do it for all. "

"Then there'll be trouble! And I don't know as I should blame themany. Why should one of the family have all the good times andloads of presents, and nobody else have anything--huh!"

"It hasn't established a precedent by any means, " asserted MissMajor. 

"Indeed, it has! And they ought to have thought of that beforethey began. "

"I doubt if any such thing ever occurred to Polly and Doodles, "interposed Miss Sterling. "They were thinking only of giving MissLily a pleasant birthday. I am glad she had so many presents. "

"Well, Mr. Randolph meant she should have enough candy for once, didn't he? A five-pound box certainly! If she eats it allherself, it'll make her sick! I don't suppose she ever had so muchat one time before, and she won't use any judgment about it. Itwould have been in a good deal better taste to have given her asimple pound box. "

"Oh, no!" laughed Miss Major. "I'd rather have a five-pound box anytime! And so would you!"

"I suppose he's used to that size, " retorted Miss Castlevaine. "Heprobably gives 'em to his girl by the cartload--huh!"

"Who is she?" queried Miss Major. 

"Why, that Puddicombe girl! He is engaged to BlanchePuddicombe--didn't you know it?"

"No, I hadn't heard. "

"Well, he is! They say the wedding isn't coming off till nextspring. I guess he's bound to have all he can get out of hisfreedom till then--he won't have much after he's tied to thatsilly-pate!"

"She looks it all right! Her mother isn't any too smart. "

"No, and the Puddicombe side is worse. We used to think that SiPuddicombe knew less than nothing! And Le Grand Puddicombe--"

Juanita Sterling edged a little closer into the seat corner. Shehad no interest in Le Grand Puddicombe. She stared into the night. A raw wind struck her face. Thick clouds had suddenly shut out themoon, and a chill over-spread the earth. All was dark, dark, except for the flashing lines ahead. The steady pur-r-r-r-r-ing ofthe car was in the air. Miss Castlevaine's monotonous voice ran onand on; but, the little woman at the end of the seat realizednothing except the insistent words knelling through herbrain, --"Engaged to Blanche Puddicombe! Engaged to BlanchePuddicombe!"

It was not until she was in her room, with the door safely locked, that she commanded herself sufficiently to answer the clangingvoice. 

"I don't believe it! I don't believe it!" she burst out. "It's alie!--a miserable, sneaking lie!"

"Engaged to Blanche Puddicombe! Engaged to Blanche Puddicombe!" wasthe mocking retort. 

She dropped on her knees by the bedside and covered her face withher hands. 

"Oh, God, " she whispered, "forgive me for being a fool!"

CHAPTER XXI

TWO OF THEM

Polly came early the next morning to talk over things. 

"You got all tired out, didn't you?" she exclaimed, meeting thewearied eyes. 

"Oh, no!" denied Miss Sterling. "I didn't sleep quite as well asusual, but I'm all right. "

"I'm glad it is only that. You look almost sick, " Polly scannedthe pale face a little doubtfully. "I'm worried about David--heacted so queer last night. "

"What's the trouble? They were talking of it coming home. "

"About David?--or me?"

"Miss Castlevaine spoke of David's being with Patricia, and waswondering if you had quarreled--that's all. "

"No, there hasn't been a word!" cried Polly disgustedly. "But Isuppose he is jealous of Doodles--such a silly! He's a lovely boy, if he weren't always getting jealous of everybody. He wants me tostay right with him every minute and not speak to anybody else!"

"That is foolish. "

"I know it, but that's David Collins!"

"I wonder--" she stopped. 

"What?" asked Polly. 

"I was only thinking about Colonel Gresham. Perhaps it was jealousythat caused the estrangement between him and Mrs. Jocelyn. "

"Maybe--I never heard what it was. "

"Possibly it is in the blood, and David can't help it. "

"He needn't be a goose just because his grand uncle was! It isn'tas if we were grown up!"

Miss Sterling gave a little laugh. 

"I don't care, it isn't!" insisted Polly. "If I were eighteen andengaged to him, of course, I shouldn't expect to go around withother boys--'t wouldn't be right: but now--!" Polly's face finishedit. 

Juanita Sterling looked gravely at nothing. 

"And such a boy as Doodles!" Polly went on. "To start with, he isyounger than I am, and that ought to be enough to give David somesense! Mother says she didn't see me do anything out of theway--did you. Miss Sterling?"

"Why--why, --what was it you asked, Polly? I was thinking so hard, I lost that last!"

Polly looked keenly at her friend's flushed face. 

"I believe you do think I did something! What is it? Tell meright out! I shan't mind!"

"No, no, Polly! Forgive me, it wasn't anything about you andDavid--I happened to let another thought in just for a minute--thatwas all. No, I don't think you did anything that a sensible boywould mind in the least. Even if you were grown up and engaged toDavid, you did nothing that should have caused him any annoyance. "

"Oh! that's more than mother gave me credit for!--Do you reallyknow what you're saying anyway?" laughed Polly. 

"Perfectly, Miss Dudley! And I declare to you this moment that youare a model of propriety!"

"O-o-h! Don't I look awfully puffed up? Now you'll think mesilly! But I've talked long enough about David and me. I'm dyingto tell you how glad, glad, glad I was last evening every time Ilooked your way! I almost forgot the birthday girl for thinking ofyou! Wasn't Mr. Randolph lovely? And didn't you have a dandytime? Why, he kept as close to you as if you 'd been engaged tohim! He--"

"Oh, Polly, don't talk that silly stuff! I won't hear it!" MissSterling got up hurriedly and went to her work-table, apparentlyhunting for something in her spool basket. 

"Why, Miss Nita!" Polly's tone was grieved. 

"Well, forgive me, " came from over the array of threads and silks, "but I do hate to hear you say such things!"

"I was only telling the truth, " said Polly plaintively. "I thoughtyou were having a lovely time--you looked as if you were! Doodlesspoke of it. "

"Yes, I dare say I looked and acted like an old fool!"

"Miss Nita! You couldn't! You looked too sweet for anything, and Iguess he thought so--"

"Polly! what did I tell you?" She came back with a half-mendedstocking. 

"Aren't you ever going to let me speak of Mr. Randolph again? Heacted as if he were dead in love with y--"

A hand was clapped over her mouth. 

"I won't hear it! I won't! I won't!" Miss Sterling laughed alittle uncertainly. 

Polly drew a long breath of disappointment. "I never knew you toact like this before, " she mused. 

"How sweetly Doodles sang!" said Miss Sterling. 

"Yes, " agreed Polly dispiritedly. 

"And you are a charming accompanist. "

"Oh! now, who's silly?"

"Nobody. " Miss Sterling drew her hand from her stocking. 

"It doesn't seem to me that I play well at all--I long to do somuch better. "

"It is a rare gift to be a good accompanist, and you surely possessit. "

"Thank you--you're not saying that to counterbalance what you saidabout--?"

"No, I'm not! When I say a thing I mean it. "

"Perhaps some other folks do. Oh, Miss Nita! I couldn't helphearing what Mr. Randolph said when he bade you good-bye--I was sonear!"

"What if you did! There was nothing secret about it. " The voicewas hard and unnatural. Miss Sterling felt the flame in her cheeks. 

"Well, I was almost sure that it meant he was going to take you toride, weren't you?"

"Of course he won't ask me!" She crossed over to the work-tablefor another stocking. 

"I think he will, " said Polly decidedly. "You'll go if he does, shan't you?"

"No, not an inch!"

"Oh, why? I'd go in a minute if he'd ask _me_!"

"Isn't there something we can talk about besides that detestableman! How did Colonel Gresham enjoy Mrs. Adlerfeld?"

"I don't know. I haven't seen him. I guess I'd better go. Mothermay want me. " Polly walked slowly toward the door. 

"I hope I shall be in a more agreeable mood when you come nexttime, " smiled Miss Sterling. 

"I hope so, " replied Polly soberly. 

The door had shut, the light footfalls were growing faint, whenJuanita Sterling began to sob. Her lips twitched as she tried tosuppress the tears. It was no use, they would have their way, andshe finally hid her face in her hands and let them go. 

"Why, Miss Nita! Dear Miss Nita!" Polly had her arms around herfriend's neck, crooning love words. 

"I--I--didn't hear you knock!" apologized Miss Sterling. 

"Never mind, you darling! I only gave one little tap--and thenI--came in. You don't care, do you? If you do, I'll go rightaway. But I'm sorry you feel so bad! You're not sick, are you?"

"N-no, --oh, no!"

"Well, don't tell me, unless you'd rather. Sometimes I feel betterto tell mother when things trouble me. "

Getting no answer, she went on. 

"Should you like to have mother come over?"

"Mercy--no! Don't tell anybody, Polly, --will you?--what a fool Iam!"

"Of course, I won't tell--ever! But you're not a fool! Nobody canhelp crying when things go wrong. Miss Sniffen hasn't been sayinganything, has she?"

"Oh, no! I haven't seen her lately. "

Polly waited patiently. 

"I came back for my handkerchief, " she explained. "I thought Imust have dropped it--oh, there it is!"

"Was I dreadfully cross to you? I didn't mean to be, dear child!"

"You weren't a bit!" insisted Polly. "I ought to know better thanto torment you about--that man. But I like him so well, I can'tunderstand why you don't. I wish you did!"

The sobs started again, and Miss Sterling got up quickly. 

"I don't see what makes me act--like this!" she exclaimed fiercely. 

Polly was not obtuse. She began to think hard. Still, Miss Nitahad said--Miss Nita would not lie! It was beyond her understanding. 

Miss Sterling wiped her eyes. 

"You know we're to go on a hike to-morrow, " said Polly tentatively. 

"Ye-s, " feebly. Then, "I'm not going. "

"Oh! why?"

"Don't want to! Should if it wasn't for that!"

"Good reason, " commented Polly, and she waited for a retort, butnone came. "I'm afraid David will fuss, " she said finally. 

"I don't blame him one mite!" Miss Sterling broke out. 

"Wh-why, you said--I hadn't done a thing!" Polly was plainlyastonished. 

"You haven't! But I don't blame David all the same. " MissSterling smiled a queer little equivocal smile. 

"Well, you two are the hardest mortals to understand!" sighedPolly. "I give it up!" She skipped toward the door. "Be ready attwo, to-morrow. Miss Nita!" she called back. "If you're good, I'lllet you walk with David. "

CHAPTER XXII

DANCING HIKERS

Juanita Sterling was in the little procession that started from theJune Holiday Home at two o'clock. So was David Collins. They werenearly the whole line apart, and Polly skipped up and down betweenthem. 

"I'm so glad you were able to come!" she told Miss Sterling, squeezing her arm. "I haven't had a chance to speak to David yet;but I must. " She sighed. "Oh, dear, I hate fusses! He's withLeonora. Say, did you see Doodles? He had to go to the musicstore and have something done to his violin--he said it wouldn'ttake more than three minutes. He's going to catch up with usfarther along; he can take a short cut across from Columbia Street. Think of him and Blue coming clear down from Foxford just to go towalk with us!"

"It looks as if they wanted to come. "

Polly laughed. 

"I suppose I mustn't speak to either of them, or David will befurious! I guess I'll go on and do as I like! There's Miss Crillybeckoning--I promised her I'd walk a little way with her. Good-byefor now!"

Miss Sterling saw Doodles come up a cross street, violin in hand, and run ahead to join Polly. She chuckled softly. 

"Where are we bound for to-day?" queried Miss Mullaly in her ear. 

"I don't know. Polly hasn't told me the route. "

A motor-car whizzed by. 

"Wasn't that Mr. Randolph?"

"I think so, " answered Miss Sterling. Her tone was indifferent. 

"I've seen that lady with him two or three times. Do you know whoit is?"

"Miss Puddicombe, I believe, daughter of one of the Board. "

"Oh!"

The eyes of the other involuntarily followed the car. 

"She dresses in all colors of the rainbow, " laughed Miss Mullaly. "It's queer, how little taste some people--But maybe she is afriend of yours!"

"No, I never spoke to her. I have heard of her astonishingcombinations, though. "

Polly came running back. 

"Isn't it lovely that Doodles has his violin! He says when we gettired and come to a nice place to rest, he will play to us. Aren'tyou tired? I want somebody to be, so we can have the music. Hehas learned some new pieces. "

"I think there is a pretty grove not far ahead. Don't you rememberit?--There's a great rock at one side, and a little clump of youngbirches near by. "

"Oh, yes, next to a sheep pasture! That will be just the place!I'll tell Doodles!"

But before the wood was reached, the party came upon a car by theside of the road. Juanita Sterling had recognized it and longed torun away. 

"Why, it's Mr. Randolph!" discovered Miss Mullaly. 

"Yes, he has tire trouble, I see. "

The president of the Home was already talking with those ahead. 

Polly came back. 

"Mr. Randolph and Miss Puddicombe, " she whispered. "He isintroducing her to the ladies. "

Miss Sterling nodded and shrank away. 

"I don't want to meet her, " she objected. "I wonder if they'dnotice if we should cut across this lot. "

"Oh, don't! I'm afraid they would. "

The other looked longingly toward the way of escape while shewalked on with Polly. 

Juanita Sterling and Blanche Puddicombe stood face to face, asmiling "How do you do, Miss Puddicombe!" on one side, a gushing"I'm charmed to meet you!" on the other, with a gingerly hand-shakebetween. 

Nelson Randolph was too busy with his tire for much talking, and, as early as decency would allow, Miss Sterling by degrees slippedinto the background, "Let's go on, " she whispered, taking Miss Leatherland's arm. 

The others straggled after, by twos and threes. 

"Why didn't you stay longer?" questioned Polly, overtaking herfriend. 

"There was nothing to stay for, " she laughed. 

"Miss Puddicombe said she would like to get acquainted with you. "Polly's tone had the inflection of disappointment. 

"Very kind of her, " was the quiet comment. 

Polly glanced whimsically at Miss Sterling's face. "I guess thatis the grove you were speaking of, " was what she said. 

Many of the ladies were glad to stop, and scattered stones andmossy logs made pleasant resting places. 

Doodles played delightfully and finally slipped into a waltz. 

"Oh, my feet just won't stay still!" cried Miss Crilly. "Come on, Polly!" And the two went dancing through the wood. 

"It's better over there in the pasture, " said Polly, as they cameto a sudden halt against a big pine. 

"Let's try it!" Miss Crilly pulled her forward, and over they ran, hand in hand. 

"Doodles! Doodles!" they called. 

The boy and the violin were quickly there, and Patricia and theyoung folks ran after. 

"Oh, this is lovely! Better come and try it!"--"The very dandiestplace!" cried the dancers as they stopped for breath. 

Miss Major, Miss Mullaly, and others came laughing into the open. 

Doodles played with zest, everybody was in merry mood, and thedance went gayly on. 

Polly suddenly ran into the grove for her beloved Miss Nita. 

"You must! You must!" she declared, as Miss Sterling doubtfullyshook her head. "You don't know how much nicer it is to danceoutdoors! Come!"

She hesitated, but the music was inspiring, and impulsively tossingall else aside she skipped on with Polly. 

Along the road jogged a buggy, and the driver stared at the unusualsight. Then he stopped his horse. 

"What's up?" he called out. "Is it a boardin'-school or a lunaticasylum?"

Polly and Miss Sterling came whirling toward him. "Neither, sir!"answered Polly promptly. "We are dancing hikers!"

"Wh-at?" the man gasped. 

But the laughing couple waltzed on. 

Blue had gallantly claimed Juanita Sterling for her second dance, and as they waltzed down to the street they saw the motorists whomthey had left beside the road driving toward them. The carstopped, and Mr. Randolph and Miss Puddicombe stepped out. 

"It was too tempting!" he exclaimed. "We couldn't go by. Is it afree-for-everybody dance?"

"Of course it is!" answered Blue. "We are very glad to have youstop and try it with us. "

The Home President turned to his companion. "Will you come?" hesaid. 

She looked down with a scowl. "Why, Nelson, I can't dance on suchrough ground!"

"Oh, come on!" he urged. "What the others can do, we can!"

"It isn't bad--really!" smiled Miss Sterling. "The sheep havenibbled it pretty smooth. "

The couples whirled off, but soon afterwards Nelson Randolph wasseen standing alone over by the wood. 

"Guess she's the kind that goes with waxed floors and a wholeorchestra, " laughed Blue. 

When the fiddling came to a pause Juanita Sterling found herselfnot far from the man whom she was endeavoring to shun. 

"Let's go down to those birches!" she proposed carelessly. But shewas too late, for Nelson Randolph was already coming her way. 

"Too tired for another turn?" he asked. 

"Oh, no, I'm not tired!"--yet her face did not reflect his smile. She wished he would go away and leave her alone. Why must shecontinually be meeting him! Still she could not easily refuse whenhe urged his request, and she yielded a somewhat grave consent. 

Miss Crilly and David Collins gayly led the quadrille thatfollowed, and even Miss Castlevaine's habitual sneer was lost inthe enjoyment of the moment. But Juanita Sterling, lover of alloutdoors, devotee of music and the dance, with the best partner onthe ground, went through the steps, her graceful feet and heraching heart pitifully at variance. 

They walked together over to the edge of the wood. 

"I have business in Riverview to-morrow morning--would you like togo? The ride over the mountain is very pretty now, and my errandwon't take more than five minutes. "

She could feel the warm blood creep up her face. Her answerhesitated. "I am sorry, " came at last, "but I'm afraid Icannot--to-morrow. "

He gave a little rueful laugh. "I always choose the wrong time, "he said. 

"I am very sorry, " she repeated truthfully. 

"Nelson!" called Miss Puddicombe, as they drew near. "It ishorribly impolite; but I think I'll have to hurry you a little. Iwant to see Grace about those tickets for the Charity Fair, and itis getting late. "

"I am at your disposal, " he replied gallantly. And shortly theywere gone. 

Polly walked home with Miss Sterling. David was devoting himselfto Patricia. Polly's gay mood had passed and left her quiet andpensive. Only commonplaces were spoken--Miss Castlevaine was justahead, and her ears were sharp. Miss Sterling knew that as soon asthe seclusion of the third-floor corner room was reached Polly'sheart would overflow in confidences. 

"Will you come in?" For Polly had stopped at the entrance. 

"Yes. " A step forward. "N-no, I guess I won't--yes, I will, too!"

Miss Castlevaine looked round with a short laugh. "What's thematter, Polly? Lost your beau?"

"No, he's lost me!" was the quick retort. 

"Oh, is that it?"

"Yes, Miss Castlevaine, that is precisely it!" A warning flush wason Polly's cheeks. "Thank you, Miss Nita, I'll go up for a littlewhile, " she said. 

With a shrug and a little "Huh!" the descendant of the duchesspassed on. 

The door clicked shut, and Polly dropped into a rocker, tossingaside her hat and coat. 

"What shall I do with David?" she sighed. "He barely nodded to meto-day!"

"I presume I should cruelly let him alone. "

"Then 'twould be good-bye, David! He'd never, never, never takethe first step! And I like David!" Polly caught her breath. 

"Poor little girl! I'm sorry!" Miss Sterling knelt beside her andthrew an arm about her. 

Polly began to sob. "I thought--he'd be decent this afternoon! Ihaven't--done a single thing!"

"No, you haven't!" agreed Miss Sterling. "And for that reason whenhe has thought it over long enough I believe he will see howfoolish he has been. "

"But he won't give in!" declared Polly, wiping her eyes. "Well, Ican't go to him and say, 'Please forgive me!' when I haven't doneanything! I guess I'll let him gloom it out! There, that'ssettled! Now let's talk about you!" She stroked Miss Sterling'shair, and smiled. 

"You just ought to have seen you two dancing together!" she brokeout in a lively tone. 

"Pity there couldn't have been a long mirror set up somewhere!"replied Miss Sterling. 

"Well, you did look lovely!" Polly went on, ignoring the retort. 

"Do you mean each of us separately or only when we were incompany?" asked the other gravely. 

"Oh, now, don't you make fun of me! I know what I'm talking about!Doodles said you were the best dancers he ever saw!"

"And he has seen so many!" murmured Miss Sterling. 

Polly tossed her head in disapproval, but continued, "I was so inhopes he would have time to ask you to go to ride--and then she hadto hurry him up! It sounded exactly as if she were jealous!"

"He invited me, " said Miss Sterling quietly. 

"Oh, he did?" The voice was joyful. "When are you going?"

"Never!"

Polly stared at her friend in dismay. "Miss--Nita! You don'tmean--?"

"Yes, I declined the privilege!"

The brown eyes blazed. "I think you're--"

"Polly, wait! I do not wish to ride with Mr. Randolph--he isengaged to Miss Puddicombe!"

Polly's eyes grew big. "I don't believe it!--How do you know?"

"I was told so. "

"Do you really think it is true?" demanded Polly. 

"There is nothing else to think. "

"She calls him Nelson, " mused Polly--"I thought she was prettybold! But he is too smart to be such a fool!"

"Love sometimes makes fools of the best of us. "

Polly watched the red flame up in the thoughtful face beside her, and in that moment Polly grew wise. 

"He doesn't love that Puddicombe ninny and he never will! Youshould have heard her talk when he was dancing with you. I wasover there. Such airs! You'd think she held a mortgage on theworld!"

A soft tap on the door was followed by the entrance of MissCastlevaine. 

"Have you heard?" she whispered tragically. 

"No. " Miss Sterling grew grave. 

Polly bent forward in her eagerness. 

"You see, I went down to get a pitcher of hot water, and I heardMiss Sniffen's voice in the dining-room and so went in that way. Mrs. Nobbs was up on the step-ladder in front of the placard, so Ididn't see it at first, but when I did it muddled me so I juststood there and stared. Miss Sniffen turned round and said, 'Whatdo you want?' sharp as could be, just as if I had no businessthere. She felt guilty all right! You could see that! Well, ifyou'll believe me, I couldn't think what I had gone for! And shesaid it again! Then I happened to see my pitcher, and that broughtme to my senses, and I told her, 'Some hot water. ' 'Why don't yougo get it, then?' she yelled out, as if I were deaf! And Iwent--huh!"

"But what was it they were doing?" urged Polly. 

"Didn't I tell you? They were putting up a notice in big letters, 'No talking, please. '"

CHAPTER XXIII

"HILLTOP DAYS"

When Polly chanced to find her Miss Nita out she usually droppedinto some other room for a little chat. On one such afternoon MissTwining welcomed her most gladly. 

"I get lonesome sitting here by myself day after day, " the littlewoman confessed. "Sometimes I am actually envious of Miss Sterlingwhen I happen to see you go in there. "

"Then I'll come oftener, " Polly declared. "I'd love to! I'malways afraid the ladies will get sick of the sight of me, I'mround here so much. "

"Mercy! I don't believe anybody ever thought of such a thing. I'dbe so happy to have you come to see me every day, I'd feel likestanding on my head!"

Polly laughed. "I shall surely come! I should like to learn howto stand on my head--I never could seem to get the trick of it. "

"I didn't say I'd do it!" twinkled Miss Twining; "but I declare, Ibelieve I would try, if that would get you in here!"

"Never you fear!" cried Polly. "You'll see me so much, now I knowyou want me, you won't get time for anything!"

"I'll risk it. " Miss Twining nodded with emphasis. 

"I've wondered sometimes, " Polly went on, "what I would do if I hadto stay alone as much as some folks do--the ladies here, forinstance. Of course you can visit each other. "

"Yes, except in the hours when it is forbidden. "

"Strange, they won't let you go to see each other in the evening. "

"I think it is because the ladies used to stay upstairs visitinginstead of going down to hear Mrs. Nobbs read. Not all of them areeducated up to science and history and such things. "

"I should think they would have some good books in the library, story books. Such a dry-looking lot I never saw!"

Miss Twining smiled. "They say that one night when Mrs. Nobbs wasreading 'History of the Middle Ages, ' she went into the parlor tofind only two listeners, and right after that the rule was madeforbidding them to go to each other's rooms. "

Polly shook her head laughingly. "That was pretty hard on Mrs. Nobbs, wasn't it? Is she a good reader?"

Miss Twining gave a little shrug. "I don't go down usually, " sheanswered. 

"Too bad! I don't wonder you are lonely. But you can read, can'tyou?"

"Not much by this light. It is too high. "

Polly regarded it with dissatisfaction. 

"Yes, it is. I wish you had one on the table. They ought to giveyou good lights. "

Miss Twining pinched up her pretty lips with a thumb andforefinger, but said nothing. 

"I was so indignant to think they took that money from you that youearned for writing a poem, I haven't got over it yet!"

"It did seem too bad, " Miss Twining sighed. 

"It was the meanest thing!" frowned Polly. 

"For a long time I had not been in the spirit of writing, but thatday I just had to write those verses, and when the paper acceptedthem it seemed to give me strength and courage and pleasure all atonce. I was so happy that morning, thinking I could earn enough tobuy me little things I want and perhaps some new books besides. "

"I've felt like crying about it ever since, " said Polly sadly. "You have written a good deal, haven't you?"

"Oh, yes! When I was at home with father and mother I wrote nearlyevery day. I had a book published, " she added a little shyly. 

"You did! That must be lovely--to publish a book!" Polly beamedbrightly on the little woman in the rocker. 

"Yes, it was pleasant--part of it! It didn't sell so well as Ihoped it would. The publishers said I couldn't expect it, as Ihadn't much reputation, and it takes reputation to make poetrysell. They said it was good verse, and the editors had been sohospitable to me I counted on the public--" She shook her head witha sad little smile. "I even counted on my friends--that was thehardest part of the whole business!"

"Surely your friends would buy it!" cried Polly. 

"I don't know whether they did or not--I didn't mean that. I mean, giving away my books--that was the heart-breaking part!"

"I don't understand. Miss Twining. "

"Before it was published--years before, " went on the little womanreminiscently, "I used to think that if I ever did have books togive to my friends, how beautiful it would be! I thought it allout from beginning to end--the end as I saw it! I wroteinscriptions by the dozen long before the book was even planned. It looked to me the most exquisite pleasure to give to my friendsthe work of my own brain, and I pictured their joy of receiving!"She gave a short laugh. 

"But, Miss Twining, you don't mean--you can't mean--that theydidn't like it!"

"Oh, a few did! But I never heard from many that had readit--that's the trouble! Almost everybody thanked me before readingthe book at all. When they wrote again they probably didn't thinkof it. One man even forgot that I had given him a copy! The funnypart was that at the time he had praised the verses. Thenafterwards he told me that he had never seen my book, but should solike to read it. I was dumfounded! I believe I laughed. In amoment the truth dawned upon him, and he fairly fell over himselfwith apologies! I made light of his blunder, but of course ithurt. "

"How could he! He must have been a queer man!"

"Oh, no! he was very nice, only he didn't care enough about me orthe verses to remember. I have never seen him since. But whatgrieved me most of all, " Miss Twining went on, "was to send booksto friends--or those I called so--and never receive even athank-you in return. "

"Oh, nobody could--!"

"Yes, more than once that happened--more than twice!"

"It doesn't seem possible!" Polly's face expressed her sympathy. 

"I don't think I required too much, " Miss Twining went on. "Ididn't want people to pour out a punch bowl of flattery. But justa word of appreciation--of my thought of them, even if they didn'tcare for my verses. Oh, it is heart-breaking business, this givingaway books!"

"I should have thought it was about the most delightful thing, "mused Polly soberly. 

"It may be with some writers. Perhaps my experience isexceptional--I hope so. It took away nearly all the pleasure ofhaving a book. Of course a few friends said just the right thingin the right way and said it so simply that I believe they meantwhat they said. I never felt that my work was anything wonderful. I did my best always, and I was happy when any one saw in itsomething to like and took the trouble to tell me so--that was all. "

"I should think that was little enough for any author to expect, "said Polly. "I always supposed authors had a jolly good time, witheverybody praising their work. I never saw anything of yours--Iguess I should like it. I love poetry!"

"You do?" Miss Twining started to get up, then sat down again. "Iwonder if you would care for my verses?" she hesitated. "You couldhave a copy as well as not. " Her soft eyes rested on Polly's face. 

"Oh, I should love them--I know I should!" Polly declared. 

Miss Twining went over to her closet and stooped to a trunk at theend. 

"There!" she said, putting in Polly's hand a small, cloth-boundvolume neatly lettered, "Hilltop Days. "

The girl opened it at random. Her eye caught a title, and she readthe poem through. 

"That is beautiful!" she cried impulsively. 

"Which one is it?" asked the childlike author. 

"'A Winter Brook. '"

"Oh, yes! I like that myself. "

"What lovely meter you write!" praised Polly. "The lines just singthemselves along. "

"Do they? The publishers told me the meter was good. I guess myear wouldn't let me have it any other way. "

"Do you play or sing?" queried Polly. 

"I used to--before we lost our money. Since then I haven't had anypiano. "

"That must have been hard to give up!" Tears sprang to Polly's eyes. 

"Yes, it was hard, but giving up a piano isn't the worst thing inthe world. "

"No, " was the absent response. Polly was turning the leaves of thebook, and she stopped as a line caught her fancy. Her smile camequickly as she read. 

"Miss Twining!" she exclaimed, "I am so astonished to think you canwrite such lovely, lovely poems! Why, the June Holiday Home oughtto be proud of you!"

"Oh, Polly!" The little woman blushed happily. 

"Well, only real poets can write like this! If people knew aboutthem I'm sure the book would sell. The poems that Mr. Parcell endsoff his sermons with aren't half as good as these!"

Miss Twining smiled. "I wonder what made you think of him. Do youknow--I never told this to a soul before--I have wished and wishedthat he would come across one of mine some day and like it so wellthat he would put it into a sermon! Oh, how I have wished that! Ihave even prayed about it! Seems to me it would be the best ofanything I could hope to have on earth, to sit there in church andhear him repeat something of mine!--There! I'm foolish to tell youthat! You'll think me a vain old woman!"

"No, I shall not!" cried Polly. "I should like it 'most as well asyou would! It would be a beautiful happening. And probably hewould if he knew them. Did you ever give him a book?"

"Oh, no, indeed! I shouldn't dare!"

"Why not? He is very nice to talk with. "

"Yes, I know. He calls on me every year or two. I like him. "

"I do, and I want him to read your poems. Do you mind if I takethis home to show to father and mother? They love poetry. --Andthen I'll mid a way for Mr. Parcell to see it!"

"Why, my dear, it is yours!"

"Oh, did you mean that?" Polly drew a long breath of delight. "Ishall love it forever--and you, too!" Impulsively she put her armsround Miss Twining's neck and kissed her on both cheeks. 

"If I thought Mr. Parcell wouldn't think it queer, "--hesitated MissTwining, --"I have several copies, and I'd like to give him one; butI don't know--"

"Of course he wouldn't think it queer!" asserted Polly. "He'd bedelighted! He couldn't help it--such poetry as this is! I'llleave it at his house if you care to have me. "

"Oh, would you? That is dear of you! I Was wondering how I'd getit to him. I'll do it right up now. "

Miss Twining came back with the book, a little troubled scowl onher forehead. 

"Oughtn't I to write an inscription in it? I don't know what tosay. "

"It would be nice, " Polly nodded. "Of course you'll say it allright. "

In a moment the poet was at her table, the book open before her. She dipped her pen in the ink, then halted it, undecided. 

"I wonder if this would be enough, --'To Rev. Norman S. Parcell, from his parishioner, Alice Ely Twining'?"

"That sounds all right to me, " answered Polly deliberately. 

"I can't say 'loving parishioner'--to a man, " laughed Miss Twininga bit nervously. 

"It isn't necessary, " chuckled Polly. 

"If he came to see me oftener I'd love him more, " said the littlewoman wistfully. 

"He'll come often enough now--you just wait! He hasn't anybody inhis church that can write such poetry as this. " She patted thelittle book caressingly. 

"I hope he'll like it, --but I don't know, " the author doubted. 

"He will, " smiled Polly. 

In a moment the package was ready. 

"It is so good of you to do it!" Miss Twining looked very happy. 

"I love to do such errands as this, " laughed Polly. "I'll be into-morrow to tell you about it. "

CHAPTER XXIV

"HOPE DEFERRED"

"I didn't see the minister, " Polly reported to Miss Twining. "Heand his wife were both away. So I left the book with the maid andsaid that you sent it to Mr. Parcell--that was right, wasn't it?"

"Certainly, and I thank you ever so much. I do hope he won't thinkme presumptuous, " she added. 

"Why, how could he--such a beautiful book as yours?"

"I don't know. He might. I lay awake last night thinking aboutit. "

"You shouldn't have stayed awake a minute, " laughed Polly. "Iwouldn't wonder if you'd hear from him this afternoon. Then you'llstop worrying. "

Miss Twining laughed a little, too. "I'm glad I sent it anyway, "she said. "It has given me something to think of and something tohope for. The days are pretty monotonous here--oh, it is so niceto have you come running in! You don't know how much good you dome!"

"Do I? I guess it's because I'm such a chatterbox! There! Ihaven't told you what father and mother said about your book!Father took it and read and read and read. Finally he looked upand asked, 'Did you say a lady at the Home wrote these?' Then hebrought his head down, as he does when he is pleased, andexclaimed, 'They ought to be proud of her!'--just what I said, youknow!"

"I am so glad he likes them!" Miss Twining's delicate face grewpink with pleasure. 

"Oh, he does! He kept reading--it seemed as if he couldn't lay itdown--till somebody called him. And when he got up he said, 'Thisis poetry--I should like to see the woman who can write like that. She must be worth knowing. '"

"Oh, Polly!" Miss Twining's eyes overflowed with happy tears. "That is the best compliment I ever had in my life--and from such aman as your father!"

"Mother fairly raves over the poems, " went on Polly. "She says sheis coming over here next visiting day to get acquainted with you. "

"I hope she will come, " smiled the little woman. "I have alwayswished I could know her, she looks so sweet as she sits therebeside you in church. "

"She is sweet!" nodded Polly. "Nobody knows how sweet till they'velived with her. "

Every day now Miss Twining had a visit from Polly, and every dayshe had to tell her that she had not heard from Mr. Parcell. 

"He is only waiting till he has read the book through, " Pollyassured the disappointed author. "Or maybe he is coming to tellyou how much he thinks of it--you'd like that better, shouldn'tyou?"

"I don't mind which way, if only he doesn't scorn it and sayssomething, " was the half-smiling reply. 

But as the days and weeks passed, and brought no word from therecipient of "Hilltop Days, " Polly hardly knew how to comfort thesorrowful giver. She began to wish that she had not urged MissTwining to send the book to Mr. Parcell. She even suggested makingsome errand to the house and asking, quite casually, of course, howthey liked Miss Twining's book, but the little woman so promptlydeclared Polly should do nothing of the sort that the plan wasgiven up at once. 

At the cordial invitation of Dr. Dudley and his wife, Miss Sterlingand Miss Twining spent a delightful afternoon and evening at theDoctor's home. 

"I feel as if I had been in heaven!" Miss Twining told Polly thenext day. "It carried me back to my girlhood, when I was so happywith my mother and father and my sisters and brother. My sisterswere always stronger than I, and Walter was a regular athlete; butthey went early, and I lived on. " She sighed smilingly intoPolly's sympathetic face. "It is queer the way things go. Theywere so needed! So was I, " she added, "as long as mother andfather lived; but now I don't amount to anything!"

"Oh, you do!" cried Polly. "You write beautiful poetry, and youdon't know how much good your poems are doing people. "

"I can't write any more--yes, I can!" she amended. "Miss Sniffendidn't tell me not to write. I needn't let them pay me anymoney--I might order it sent to the missionaries! Why, "--as thethought flashed upon her, --"I could have them send the moneyanywhere, couldn't I? To anybody I knew of that needed it! Oh, Iwill! I'll begin this very day! Polly Dudley, you've made lifeworth living for me!"

"I haven't done anything!" laughed Polly. "That is your thought, and it is a lovely, unselfish one!"

"It would never have come to me but for what you said! How can Iever thank you!"

"Nothing to thank me for!" insisted Polly. "But if you will haveit so, I'll say you may thank me by letting me read your poems. "

"Oh, I'd love to! And then you can tell me whether they are rightor not!"

"As if I'd know!" chuckled Polly. "But I'll run away now and letyou go to writing--I do know enough for that!" She took MissTwining's face between her soft palms and gave her four kisses, oncheeks and temples. "Those are for good luck, like a four-leafclover, " she said gayly. "Good-bye, dear!"

CHAPTER XXV

ALICE TWINING, MARTYR

Early the next morning Polly ran over to the Home. She was eagerto hear how Miss Twining's new plan had worked. As she neared herfriend's door, however, a murmur of voices came from within, andshe kept on to the third floor, making her way straight to thecorner room. 

Juanita Sterling met her with a troubled little smile. 

"What is it?" she asked quickly, looking beyond to Mrs. Albrightand Miss Crilly. Their excited faces emphasized the other'sdoubtful greeting. 

"Nothing, " spoke up Mrs. Albright, --"only Miss Twining has had atime with Miss Sniffen. "

"What about?"

"Money, " answered Miss Sterling wearily. "It is lucky for the restof us that we don't have any. "

"That same money?" persisted Polly. 

"No, dear. " Mrs. Albright drew up a chair beside her--"Come sitdown, and I'll tell you about it. I've been telling them, and wehave got a little wrought up over it, that's all. "

"I should think anybody'd get wrought up!" put in Miss Crilly. "Iguess it will be the death of poor Miss Twining!"

"No, no, it won't! See how you're scaring Polly!"

The girl glanced beseechingly from one to another. 

"What is it? You're keeping something back!"

Mrs. Albright patted the chair invitingly. "Come here! I'm goingto tell you every word I know. "

"She was so happy yesterday!" mourned Polly. 

"She will be again, dear. "

"Looks like it!" sniffed Miss Crilly. "I believe in saying thetruth right out!"

"Katharine Crilly, you just mind your own business!" laughed Mrs. Albright. 

"To begin at the beginning, "--she turned toward Polly, --"I wasknocking at Miss Twining's door yesterday afternoon when she cameup the stairs. So I went in with her and stayed a little while. She was in fine spirits. She had been to see an old friend ofhers, a member of the Board, and this lady had given her the sameamount of money that Miss Sniffen had--"

"Stolen!" burst out Miss Crilly. 

"I'm telling this story!" announced Mrs. Albright placidly. "ButMiss Twining said, " she resumed, "that she had promised not todivulge the name of the lady to any one. So I don't know who itis. On her way home she had bought a book that she had wanted fora long time. I told her she'd have to look out or she would getcaught reading it; but she said they always knocked before comingin, and she should have time to put it on the under shelf of hertable--where the cover partly hides it. I said, 'Well, you lookout now!' and she laughed and promised she would. 

"In the evening, as I was sitting alone, I heard talking, and Iwent to my door to listen. I thought I knew the voice, and when Iopened the door a crack I was sure whose room it came from. 'Oh, I'm afraid she's caught her again!' I said to myself, and I waitedtill I heard somebody go softly away and down the stairs. Then Istole over to Miss Twining. 

"It was just as I had feared! She was reading all so nice, whenwithout a mite of warning in sailed Miss Sniffen! Of course sheasked her where she got the book, and she said it was given to her. But she wouldn't tell the woman's name. Miss Sniffen couldn't getit out of her! She talked and threatened; but Miss Twiningwouldn't give in. Finally she vowed she'd have it out of her ifshe had to flog it out! I could see that Miss Twining was allwrought up and as nervous as could be--as who wouldn't have been!"

"Oh!" gasped Polly. "It's just awful! Did she whip her?"

Mrs. Albright shook her head and went on. 

"Miss Twining said that Amelia Sniffen used to go round in societywith her youngest brother, Walter, and that she was dead in lovewith him. Walter fairly hated her, and never paid her the leastattention when he could get out of it; but she would put herself inhis way, as some girls will, until he was married and evenafterwards. And when Alice Twining came here and found that MissSniffen had been appointed superintendent she was almost a mind toback out; but she hadn't any other place to go, so she stayed, andshe said Miss Sniffen had seemed to take delight in being mean toher ever since. Well, it's a tight box that Amelia Sniffen has gotherself into this time!" Mrs. Albright sighed. 

"Please go on!" whispered Polly. 

"Yes, dear. I got Miss Twining to bed, and she quieted down alittle. Finally I left her and crept back to my room. I don'tknow what time it was, --but after eleven, --I woke dreaming that Iheard my name called. I jumped up and ran and opened the door. Everything was still. But I waited, and pretty soon I heard a voicein the room opposite. I rushed across the hall--the door waslocked! 'Miss Twining! Miss Twining!' I called, two or threetimes. At first nobody answered; then Miss Sniffen came over tothe door and said, 'Shut up and go to bed!' I asked her to let mein, but she wouldn't. I said things that I shouldn't have dared tosay if I'd been cooler; but I'm glad I did! After a while I wentback to my room, and I took out my key and hid it. I was afraidshe'd lock me in. She did mean to, but for once she got fooled. Ilay still as a mouse, hearing her fumble round my door. Finallyshe went downstairs. When I was sure she'd gone for good I took mykey and stole across the hall. Sure enough, it unlocked the door, just as I hoped it would. Oh, that poor child was so glad to seeme! Miss Sniffen had come up prepared to give her a whipping! Shehad brought a little riding-whip with her! But the very sight ofit so upset Miss Twining, in her nervous state, that she had a badturn with her heart, --you know her heart always bothers her, --andonce she gave a little cry. Of course, Miss Sniffen didn't wantany rumpus, and she just clapped her hand hard over Miss Twining'smouth. She says she doesn't know whether it took her breath awaysuddenly, or what; but she fainted! When she came to, Miss Sniffenwas rubbing her--I guess she was pretty well frightened! Therewasn't anything more said about whipping! After she made up hermind that Miss Twining wasn't likely to die right off, she and theriding-whip left. "

"Oh, dear, what will become of us!" cried Miss Crilly. "We are notsafe a minute!"

"You shall be!" Polly burst out excitedly. "I'm going to tell Mr. Randolph everything about it!"

"Polly! Polly!" Miss Sterling laid a quieting hand on her shoulder. 

The girl threw it off. Then she caught it to her lips and kissedit passionately. "I can't bear it! I can't bear it!" she cried. "To think of you all in such danger! You don't know what she'lldo!"

"I don't think we need have any fear until she gets over her scareabout this, " said Mrs. Albright reassuringly. "She seems to mepretty well cowed down. Her eyes looked actually frightened when Icaught her off guard. You see, she's in a fix! She knows MissTwining needs a doctor; but, of course, he would ask first thingwhat brought this on, and she couldn't make the patient lie it out. "

"I guess lying wouldn't trouble her any, " put in Miss Crilly. 

"Dear Miss Twining!" murmured Polly plaintively. 

"She is a sweet little woman, " Miss Crilly sighed. 

"How is she this morning?" asked Polly. 

"I hardly know what to tell you, " hesitated Mrs. Albright. "Ithink if Miss Sniffen would keep away she'd be better. Still, whenshe got up and tried to dress, she fainted again. Now Miss Sniffenhas told her to stay abed, and she has put a notice on her doorthat she is too ill to receive visitors. "

"Then can't you go in?" queried Polly anxiously. 

"I do, " chuckled Mrs. Albright. "They'd have to do more contrivingthan they've done yet to shut me out!"

"Oh, I'm so glad!" cried Polly. "But she ought to have a doctor!I suppose if she did it would be that Dr. Gunnip--He's no good!Father says he's little more than a quack and he isn't safe. Iwish father could see her; but he can't unless he is called. It istoo bad! I believe I'll go straight to Mr. Randolph!"

"I don't dare have you, " returned Mrs. Albright. "He would, ofcourse, favor the Home, and if Miss Sniffen should hear of it--"

"Before I say anything I shall make him promise not to tell. "

"I'm awfully afraid to let you do it--oh, Polly, don't!" MissCrilly was close to tears. 

"Had you rather die?" she demanded. "You may be sick yourself andwant a doctor! How are you going to get him?"

"If I'm sick I bet I'll make such a fuss they'll send for adoctor--and a good one too!" cried Miss Crilly hysterically. 

Polly had risen, and Miss Sterling drew her within the circle ofher arm. "When the time comes we'll decide what is best to do, "said she. 

"I should think the time had come now!" the girl fumed. "Poor MissTwining! It's just an outrage!"

"Oh, I forgot!" Mrs. Albright bent toward Polly, with loweredvoice. "She gave me something for you, dear. "

"Me?" Polly calmed at once. 

"Yes. When I was with her in the night I think she feared that herheart might give out, and she said, 'If anything should happen, Iwish you would give Polly those papers in my portfolio--or you maygive her the whole portfolio. She will understand. '"

"Oh, I know! Yesterday morning she was planning to write somepoems, and those must be the 'papers. ' But perhaps she won't wantme to have them now. "

"She spoke of it again to-day, " nodded Mrs. Albright. "She saidshe should somehow feel easier for you to keep them. "

"I hope Miss Sniffen won't rummage round and get hold of themfirst, " returned Polly anxiously. 

"I guess she won't find 'em in a hurry!" chuckled Mrs. Albright. "They're in my room!"

CHAPTER XXVI

MR. PARCELL'S LESSON

Polly carried the portfolio home with her, and later, alone in herroom, read the poems it contained. Tears blurred her eyes as sheread and read again the verses dated the day before. Such alilting, joyous song it was! And now--!

"Oh, but she will get well and write again!" Polly said softly. Then she sighed, thinking of the bright plans that had so suddenlyceased. 

Her thoughts went farther back, to the days of watching and waitingfor the message that had never come, to the sleepless nights ofgrieving--

"Oh!" she burst out impetuously, "he's got to know it! Somebodymust tell him how he has made her suffer! Miss Nita would do itbeautifully; but I don't suppose I could hire her to! Maybe fatherwill. "

When this suggestion was made to him, however, Dr. Dudley shook hishead promptly, and his impulsive daughter began at once to formother plans. "Mother wouldn't, " she told herself. "No use askingher. Dear! dear! if there were only somebody besides me! PerhapsI can coax Miss Nita--"

A telephone call broke in upon her musings, and the disturbingthoughts were exchanged for a ride and a luncheon with PatriciaIllingworth. On her way home in the afternoon, the matter came upagain. 

"I may as well go now and have it over with, " she decided suddenly, and she turned into a street which led to the home of the ReverendNorman Parcell. 

Yes, he was in and alone, the maid said, and Polly was showndirectly to the study. 

"How do you do, Miss Polly!" The minister grasped her handcordially. "This is a pleasant surprise. " He drew forward an easychair and saw her comfortably seated. 

"Have you heard that Miss Twining is ill?" Polly began. 

"Miss Twining?" he repeated interrogatively. "M-m--no, I had notheard. Is she an especial friend of yours, some one I ought toknow?" He smiled apologetically. "I find it difficult always toplace people on the instant. "

His apology might not have been attended by a smile if Polly'sindignant thought had been vocal. When she spoke, her voice wastense. 

"Yes, Mr. Parcell, she is a very dear friend. " Her lip quivered, and she shook herself mentally; she was not going to break down atthis juncture. She went quickly on, ahead of the phrase of sympathyon its way to the minister's lips. "She lives at the June HolidayHome. "

"Oh, yes! I remember! Her illness is not serious, I hope. "

"I am afraid so, " returned Polly, passing quickly toward what shehad come to talk about. "I don't suppose you know what a beautifulwoman she is. " She looked straight into his eyes, and waited. 

"No, " he answered slowly, a suggestion of doubt in his tone, "Ipresume not. I have seen her only occasionally. "

"She told me that you called upon her every year or two. " Pollyhesitated. "You can judge something by her poems. You receivedthe book of poems she sent you?"

"Oh, yes!" he brightened. "I have the book. "

"How do you like it, Mr. Parcell? Don't you think the poemswonderful?" Polly was sitting very straight in the cushionedchair, her brown eyes fixed keenly on the minister's face. 

"Why, "--he moved a little uneasily--"I really--don't know--" Hethrew back his head with a little smile. "To be frank, Miss Polly, I haven't read them. "

Something flashed into the young face opposite that startled theman. 

"Do you mean, Mr. Parcell, " Polly said slowly, "that you have notread the book at all?" Her emphasis made her thought clear, andhis cheeks reddened. 

"I shall have to own up to my neglect, " he replied. "You know I ama very busy man, Miss Polly. "

"You needn't bother with the 'Miss, '" she answered; "nobody does. Then, that is why you haven't said 'thank you'--you don't feel'thank you'!"

"Oh, my dear Polly! I am very grateful to Miss Twining, I assureyou, and I realize that I should have sent her a note of thanks;but--in fact, I don't recollect just how it was--I presume I waswaiting until I had read the book, and--I may as well confessit!--I was somewhat afraid to read it. "

"Afraid?" Polly looked puzzled. 

"Such things are apt to be dreary reading, " he smiled. "I amrather a crank as regards poetry. "

The flash came again into Polly's face. "Oh!" she cried, fine scornin her voice, "you thought the poems weren't good!"

He found himself nodding mechanically. 

"Where is the book?" she demanded, glancing about the room. 

"I--really don't know where I did leave it--" He scanned his caseswith a troubled frown. 

Tears sprang to the girl's eyes. She seemed to see Alice Twining'sgentle, appealing face, as it had looked when she said, "I hope hedoesn't think I am presumptuous in sending it. " She dashed awaythe drops, and went on glancing along the rows of books. Theminister had risen, but Polly darted ahead of him and pounced upona small volume. 

"Here it is!" She touched it caressingly, as if to make up forrecent neglect. 

"Your eyes are quicker than mine, " said Mr. Parcell, taking it fromher hand. 

"Read it!" she said, and went back to her chair, The minister obeyed meekly. Polly's eyes did not leave him. 

He had opened the book at random, and with deepened color and adisturbed countenance had done as he was bidden. Surprise, pleasure, astonishment, delight, --all these the watcher saw in theface above the pages. 

Five minutes went by, ten, twenty; still the Reverend NormanParcell read on! Polly, mouse-quiet, divided her softening gazebetween the clergyman and the clock. The pointers had crept almostto four when the telephone called. The reader answered. Then hewalked slowly back from the instrument and picked up the book. 

"Miss Twining must be a remarkable woman, " he began, "to write suchpoetry as this--for it is poetry!"

"She is remarkable, " replied Polly quietly. "She is finer eventhan her poems. "

The minister nodded acquiescently. "This 'Peter the Great, '" hewent on, running over the leaves, "is a marvelous thing!"

"Isn't it! If you could have told her that"--Polly's tone wasgentle--"it would have spared her a lot of suffering. "

"Has she so poor an opinion of her work?

"Oh, not that exactly; but"--she smiled sadly--"you have never said'thank you', you know!"

The lines on his face deepened. "I have been unpardonably rude, and have done Miss Twining an injustice besides--I am sorry, verysorry!"

"She had had pretty hard experiences in giving away her books, butI persuaded her to send one to you, for I knew you liked poetry andI thought you would appreciate it. I was sorry afterwards that Idid. It only brought her more disappointment. She cried and criedbecause she did not hear from you. I'm afraid I ought not to tellyou this--she wouldn't let me if she knew. But I thought if youcould just write her a little note--she isn't allowed to seeanybody--it might do her good and help her to get well. "

"I certainly will, my dear! I shall be glad to do so!"

"You see, " Polly went on, "she fears that perhaps you scorn herbook and consider her presuming to send it to you--and that is whathurts. She has lain awake nights and grieved so over it, I couldhave cried for her!" Polly was near crying now. 

"The worst of such mistakes, " the man said sorrowfully, "is that wecannot go back and blot out the tears and the suffering and makethings as they might have been. If we only could!"

"A note from you will make her very happy, " Polly smiled. 

"She shall have it at once, " the minister promised; adding, "I amglad she is in so beautiful a Home. "

Polly shook her head promptly. "No, Mr. Parcell, it is not abeautiful Home, it is a prison--a horrible prison!"

"Why, my dear! I do not understand--"

"I don't want you to understand!" Polly cried hurriedly. "I oughtnot to have said that! Only it came out! You will know, Mr. Parcell, before long--people shall know! I won't have--oh, Imustn't say any more! Don't tell a word of this, Mr. Parcell. Promise me you won't!"

"My dear child, "--the man gazed at her as if he doubted hersanity, --"tell me what the trouble is! Perhaps I shall be able tohelp matters. "

"Oh, no, you can't! It must work out! I am going to see Mr. Randolph as soon as--I can. But please promise me not to say aword about it to anybody!"

"I shall certainly repeat nothing that you have told me. Indeed, there is little I could say; I do not understand it at all. Isupposed the June Holiday Home was a model in every respect. "

Polly shook her head sadly. 

"I am there every day, Mr. Parcell, and I know! The ladies arelovely--most of them. They can't say a word, or they'd be turnedout, and I've kept still too long! But I mustn't tell you anymore. " Polly drew a long breath. "I must go now, Mr. Parcell. Iam so glad you like Miss Twining's poems! And you'll forgive me, won't you, for all I have said?"

"There is nothing to forgive, my dear. "

"I don't know, maybe I've said too much; but I knew you must havelots of presents, and I kept thinking of those people that perhapsyou wouldn't thank, and I felt somebody must tell you, and therewasn't anybody else to do it. Then, as I said, I hoped you wouldlike Miss Twining's poems well enough to tell her so. And I justhad to come!"

"Polly, I am glad you came!" An unmistakable break in theminister's voice turned Polly's eyes away. "I have beeninexcusably thoughtless, not only this time but many a time before. I am grateful that I still have the opportunity to give my thanksto Miss Twining. "

"And you can say 'thank you' to the next one!" cried Polly eagerly. 

"Yes, I shall always remember--you may be sure of that. I shallnot forget my lesson!"

They had reached the door, and Polly shook hands with him and saidgood-bye. 

She went straight to Miss Sterling. 

"Well, it's done!" she said soberly, taking her favorite seat. 

"What is done?"

"My talk with Mr. Parcell"

"Did _you_ go?"

"Yes, I had to. Father wouldn't. "

"What did you say? How did he take it? Tell me!"

"Oh, he took it all right! I guess he didn't really like it atfirst. I was pretty hard on him, I suppose. But he needed it! Ididn't go there to give him sugar-plums!"

"Polly!"

"Well, I didn't! It had got to be said, and I thought I might aswell say it plain at the start!"

"Oh, Polly! Polly!" Miss Sterling chuckled softly. 

"Why, Miss Nita, you're laughing!" Polly's tone was reproachful. "There isn't anything to laugh at. I almost cried, and so did he!"

"Dear, forgive me! But I couldn't help seeing the funny side. "

"There isn't any funny side!"

"Go on! I won't offend again. "

"There is not much to tell. Oh, I do wish Miss Twining could haveheard him praise her poems--after he had read them! Do you know, Miss Nita, he hadn't even looked in the book! He thought it wastrash--not worth his while! Think of it--those lovely poems! ButI found the book for him--He didn't even remember where he'd putit!--and I told him to read it, and he did!"

"Polly! you mean you asked him!"

"I guess I told him all right--I was mad just about then. And heread steady, by the clock, 'most twenty-five minutes! I don't knowas he'd have stopped by now if the telephone hadn't rung. "

"And he liked them?"

"Oh, he thinks they're beautiful! He was awfully sorry he hadn'tthanked her--I know he was! But he is going to write her a note, and I told him he could say 'thank you' to the next one, and hesaid he should. "

Juanita Sterling disgraced herself the second time. She droppedback in her chair with a stifled laugh. 

"Miss Nita!" began Polly plaintively. 

"I know, dear! But to think of your saying such things to thatdignified man!" She chuckled again. 

"Don't, Miss Nita! It hurts. His dignity is all on the outside, Iguess. Anyway, it went off before I left. "

"Oh, Polly!"

"I don't see a thing to laugh at. It was as solemn as--as a sermon. "

"I rather think it was a sermon--to him!"

"Perhaps. Anyway, I'm glad I went. "

"I wonder that your father and mother allowed you to go. "

Polly smiled, a tiny, flushed smile. "They don't know it. "

"Why, Polly Dudley!"

"Well, it had to be done, and there was nobody but me to do it. Ididn't dare say anything beforehand, for fear they wouldn't let me. Now I'm going home, to tell them all about it. "

Miss Sterling smiled. "You'll do, Polly! When I have a harderrand on hand, I'll commit it to you. "

CHAPTER XXVII

"I LOVE YOU, DAVID!"

Polly happened to answer the doorbell when David rang. 

"Hallo, David!" she said brightly. 

His face was troubled. 

"Is your father at home?"

"Why, yes, --that is, he is in the hospital somewhere. Who is sick?"

"Aunt Juliet, and she won't have anybody but Dr. Dudley. We'vebeen trying to get him by telephone, and finally they thought I'dbetter come up. Otto brought me, and he'll take the Doctor back. "

"Oh, the hospital telephones are out of commission, so they'reusing ours about all the time. Sit down, and I'll find him. "

From ward to ward went Polly, following the Doctor. She caught himat last on the upper floor, and he drove off with Colonel Gresham'sman. 

"Stay a while, can't you, David?" invited Polly. "You'll have towalk home anyway, and there's no need of your hurrying. "

"They may want me, " he hesitated, fingering his cap. 

"No, they won't! There are plenty to take care of Mrs. Gresham. Ihaven't seen you in an age. "

David's face reddened. "I've--been pretty busy, " he faltered inexcuse. 

Polly ignored his embarrassment. "I am sorry for Mrs. Gresham. She's not very sick, is she?"

"I'm afraid she is. She was in terrible pain when I left home. "

"I guess father'll fix her up all right, " said Polly comfortably. 

David smiled. Polly's faith in her father was a standing jokeamong her friends. 

"Oh, you may laugh!" she cried. "It doesn't disturb me a mite. Hepulled you out of a tight place once. "

"Yes, he did, " agreed the boy. "I presume I have about as muchfaith in him as you have. "

They talked for a while in commonplaces. David seemed interestedin nothing. He grew restless and once or twice said somethingabout going home. Still he stayed. Finally he got up. Thensuddenly he sat down and with a visible effort said huskily, "Isuppose you think I'm a brute!"

"Oh, no, David!" returned Polly quietly; "but I think you're alittle bit foolish. "

His cheeks flushed angrily. "Oh, foolish, is it! Pray, what haveI done?"

"M--m, not so very much, except to ignore me, when we've alwaysbeen such good friends. "

"It's your own fault!" David's temper was getting the mastery. "Going round with another boy and not paying me any attention atall!"

"Don't let's quarrel, David! I suppose you mean Doodles, and itdoes seem so silly for you to be jealous of that little boy!"

"You played all his accompaniments, and you didn't play for me, "said David in an aggrieved tone. 

"He asked me, and you didn't. You know he hasn't had a piano verylong and can't play as you can. But I would have gladly played foryou if I had known you wanted me. "

The boy said nothing, and Polly resumed. 

"You act as if I belonged to you and mustn't look at another boy. "

"You do belong to me!" he declared. 

"Since when?" laughed Polly. 

"Since the first day I saw you, " replied David doggedly. 

"Oh!" she smiled. "I never knew it! But I don't make a fussbecause you call on Patricia or go round with Leonora. "

"Of course you don't! You wouldn't mind if I went with fortygirls! You don't care a rap for me. " His face was gloomy. 

"Oh, David! what do you want me to do?--hang round you all the timeand say, 'David, I love you! David, it's true! David, I'll love youall my life through'?"

"Go on!" he said fiercely, "make all the fun you like! It is funto you, but with me it's life or death!"

"David!"

"You know I never cared for any other girl! You know you are myworld! And yet you deliberately make fun of me!"

Polly's dimples vanished. "No, David, I am not making fun of you, but only of your foolishness--"

"Oh, yes, I suppose it's foolish for me to love you as I do whenyou don't care a straw--"

"Wait! wait!" she interrupted. "I don't mean that at all, and youknow it! But for a great, tall fellow like you to be sounreasonably jealous of a little ten-year-old does seem absurd. Ilove Doodles, of course; everybody does. But, David, you ought toknow that's all there is to it. "

"He says he's going to marry you!"

Polly laughed outright. "I never heard anything about it before, so I guess I wouldn't let it worry me, David. " She chuckled. "Whatever made him say that! He's a funny little chap!"

"Will you marry me?" David asked abruptly. 

Polly's dimples came and went. "Do you mean right off?" shequeried soberly. "I rather want to go to school a little longer. "

"There you are again!" he grumbled. "You can't take anything inearnest! I may as well go home!"

"But, David, the idea of asking me such a question! And I onlythirteen! Can't you see how silly it is?"

"No, I can't! It's the only way to make sure of you! Some otherfellow will get ahead of me!"

"No other fellow has yet, David. " Polly's voice was sweet andserious. 

"Do you mean that, " he asked, "honestly?"

"Of course. You know I have always liked you better than any otherboy!"

"You like me, but you love Doodles, " he mused. 

Polly laughed softly. "Oh, dear!" she sighed, "will nothingsatisfy you? Well, then, "--she was blushing almost to tears, --"Ilove you, David! I--I think it's mean for you to make me sayit!--I--love you better than any other boy I ever saw!" She flungthe last words at him with a show of vexation that David could notwithstand. 

He grinned. 

"And now--you laugh at me!" She sprang up and started past him;but he caught her in his arms. 

"Polly! Polly! Dear Polly!" he said tenderly. "Forgive me! I ama pig! But to tell me I was mean and that you loved me--all in thesame breath! Now say I'm contemptible--or anything! I'll agree toit!"

"Well, you ought to--you are!" she half sobbed, half laughed. Herface was hidden on his shoulder. 

Suddenly she threw up her head and started back. "Let me go!" shewhispered. "It is ridiculous to stand here like this. " She pulledaway from him and retreated to her chair. 

"I don't see why we can't be engaged, " said David. "Promise thatyou'll marry me, Polly!"

"Oh!" she cried, "I thirteen, and you just fifteen! What a pair ofninnies we should be! David, if you want to keep me, you must letme go free! I shall be sixteen when I'm through high school, andthere'll be four years of college. Then--perhaps--! Time enoughfor that sort of thing after we're twenty!"

David looked at her with smiling eyes, yet he said, "I'm afraid Ishan't feel very sure of you. "

"You're a funny David!" laughed Polly. "I say, let's forget allthis, and just be a boy and girl having a good time!"

"Forget that we love each other, Polly?"

"No, no! but take that for granted, and let it drop!"

"I guess you'll have to teach me how, " David laughed. 

"All right! Come sing me that song I saw you buying at the musicstore the other day!"

When David left the house, he stopped on the threshold to finishwhat he was saying. Then, suddenly, he caught Polly's hands, pressed a kiss squarely on her lips, and sped away. 

"David Collins!" she cried. 

But David was already down the steps. He looked back with aradiant bow. 

CHAPTER XXVIII

A VISIT WITH MRS. TENNEY

The letter-carrier came early, and Polly ran over to the Home inhopes to be first at the pile of mail on the hall table. Shewanted to carry Mr. Parcell's note upstairs herself. 

There it was, right on top, "Miss Alice Ely Twining"! Polly caughtup the envelope with a glad breath. Then she went hastily throughthe rest and found a letter for Miss Sterling and one for MissCrilly. 

Mrs. Albright was in the corner room. 

"I will deliver these now, " she said, "before it is time for MissSniffen. "

"I'm afraid she'll catch you in there some day, " Polly told herwith a troubled little nod. "What if she should!"

Mrs. Albright laughed softly. "When I hear anybody coming I slipinto the closet--I have done that several times already! I do hopethis letter will do Miss Twining good. It looks like a man'shandwriting. "

Juanita Sterling looked doubtfully at the address on her ownenvelope, then she ran a paper-cutter under the flap. 

"An invitation from Mrs. Dick for us all to spend to-day with her!"she announced disinterestedly. 

"Oh, let's go!" cried Polly. 

"Shall we walk or fly?" The tone was not encouraging. 

"Ride, " answered Polly promptly. 

"Perhaps you can't get the cars. "

"Perhaps I can!" was the retort. "You don't want to go--that'swhat!"

"I am not hankering for it, " smiled Miss Sterling dubiously. 

"It will do you good, " Polly decided. "The more you get out ofthis atmosphere, the better. I'll run home and do sometelephoning! Will you ask the others, Miss Nita? Or wait! Wedon't know yet how many can go. "

Polly was off in a whirl, and for the next half-hour bells rang, wires snapped and buzzed, feet flew, and tongues were busy. ThenPolly returned to say that they could have three cars which wouldseat fourteen besides the drivers. 

Miss Crilly was there and heard the news with delight. 

"I'll run round and ask 'em! Shall I?"

"Yes, please, " answered Polly. "Take as many of the ladies aswould like to go. We children can stay at home if there isn't room. 

"Count me out, for one, " said Miss Sterling quickly. 

"No, count her in!" ordered Polly. 

Miss Crilly laughed. "Sure!" she agreed. "I'll find out who wantsto go. You wait, Polly. 'T won't take long. "

She was as quick as her promise, but her face was doleful. 

"Every blessed one is crazy to go, except Mrs. Crump and Mrs. Postand Miss Leatherland. What can we do!"

Polly counted up. "That makes twelve of you, so Patricia andLeonora can go. David and I will stay home. "

"You'll do no such thing!" Miss Sterling's tone was firm. "I'llsend Polly in my stead. "

"Polly won't go!" she laughed. "You're the one that received theinvitation, and the idea of your staying behind! David is comingup, anyway, and we're to play duets if we can't go; so we'll be allright. "

Miss Sterling gave Polly a quick glance of surprise, and Pollythrew back a smile, just as Mrs. Albright appeared. 

"What time are we going?" she asked. "I have my dress to mend. "

"Our car won't be at liberty this forenoon, " answered Polly. "Father needs it. But we can start right after luncheon. Will oneo'clock do?"

The hour was agreed upon, and Mrs. Albright turned to the door. Then she came back. 

"I almost forgot my message for you, Polly! The prospect of a ridemakes me good for nothing. That note for Miss Twining was from herminister, Mr. Parcell. It seems, awhile ago, she sent him a bookof her own poems, and this was to acknowledge it and beg pardon forhis tardiness. It is a beautiful note! She let me read it. Hepraises her poetry sky-high--he doesn't say too much, you know, butjust enough. And you ought to see her--she is so pleased! Shewanted me to tell you that she had it. When she first read it shecried, and I didn't know but it would upset her; but I guess ithasn't. He says he is coming to call on her as soon as she is ableto receive visitors. She can't imagine who told him she was sick;but it isn't strange he heard of it--such news flies. "

Polly's face was red with guilty blushes; but Mrs. Albright took noheed. She and Miss Crilly hurried away. 

"I hope she won't ever find out my part in it, " sighed Polly. "ButI can't help being glad I went, even if father did scold!"

"I was afraid he would. "

"Yes, " nodded Polly, with a little regretful scowl. 

"But tell me about David!" broke out Miss Sterling eagerly. "Is itmade up?"

Polly laughed happily. "No more quarrels forever! Mrs. Greshamwas sick, and David came up for father; so I asked him to stay--andwe had it out! What do you think that boy wanted? To beengaged--now!"

"Mercy! And you only thirteen!"

"I talked him out of it in a hurry, and I guess he sees it as I do. He's the dearest boy--and the foolishest!"

"Yes, David is a dear boy, the most agreeable of his age I everknew! He is so thoughtful and winsome. "

"That would please David mightily. I shall have to tell him. Hehasn't much self-esteem--it will do him good. I wonder why helikes me better than other girls, " mused Polly. "There'sPatricia--ever so much prettier than I am, and Leonora--right inthe house--sweet as can be and delighted with his least attention. But no, he likes me best--I--don't--see--why!" She slowly noddedout the words. 

Juanita Sterling laughed softly. "Love goes where it is sent, youknow. As for me, I don't wonder at all!"

"Oh, well, you are partial!" said Polly with a little blush. "ButI can't understand it with him. "

"For the same reason that you prefer him to the other boys. I'mglad you have made up. "

"I am! I hate fusses! Dear me! I must go back and telephone. "

She ran over again shortly before the appointed time. 

"David and I are going, after all!" she cried. "At the last minuteMrs. Illingworth had to change her plans for the afternoon, so wecan have her other car. Isn't that fine! Will you sit with us? Itold David what you said, and he is ready to eat you up!"

The former Mrs. Dick welcomed her friends with cordial hands andtongue. 

"I had almost despaired of you, " she told Miss Sterling and Polly, as she walked with them into the house. "And I'm glad so manycould come. I didn't know how it would be. Awfully sad about MissTwining, isn't it? I always liked Miss Twining. "

"Isn't she lovable?" put in Polly. 

"Yes, very. --Take seats, all of you. We were just speaking of MissTwining--I'm so sorry for her! But if she is losing her mind, perhaps it will be providential for her to go soon. "

"'Losing her mind'!" exclaimed Miss Crilly. "Who made up thatwhopper?"

"Why, isn't she? One of the Board told me--Mrs. Brintnall. I mether in town the other day. I think it came straight from MissSniffen. She said she was a great care, now that she has heartdisease, and that she is liable to drop away any time. Mrs. Brintnall spoke of her mind's failing as if everybody knew it--thata good many days she would seem as bright as ever, and then againshe didn't know much of anything and would be so obstinate and uglythat she'd have to be punished just like a child! Isn't thatawful! But you think it isn't true!"

"Think! I know it isn't true! not a single word of it!" Polly wastoo excited to heed Miss Sterling's warning pinch. 

"I never saw anything out of the way in her, " attested MissMullaly. "She has always appeared to me like a very culturedwoman. "

"She is a perfect lady, " asserted Mrs. Winslow Teed. 

"Yes, she is!" agreed Miss Castlevaine. "I guess Miss Sniffen'sthe one that's losing her mind--huh!"

"Is she as bad as ever?" queried Mrs. Tenney anxiously. 

"Worse!" declared Miss Major. 

"We don't have pie or pudding now--ever!" put in Miss Crillyeagerly. "And we can't talk at table, only just to ask for things!"

"Oh, my!" cried Mrs. Tenney. "What does possess her!"

"Seven devils, I guess!" laughed Miss Crilly. 

"Better put it seven hundred and seven!" flashed Polly. 

They laughed, and the talk went on. Miss Sterling watched thehostess. She seemed years older than bright, cheery Mrs. Dick ofthe Home. Sometimes she let the talk pass her by, or she onlyflung in a bitter little speech. In the course of the afternoon, when the guests had wandered away from the dreary "front room" tothe barn, the hennery, the garden, the orchard, Mrs. Tenneycontrived to gather together her special cronies, Mrs. Albright, Miss Crilly, Miss Sterling, and Polly. 

"Come inside! I want to talk with you, " she told them. 

"Say, " she began, in lowered voice, "do you s'pose there's anychance in Miss Sniffen's taking me back?"

Astonishment was plain on the faces before her. 

"Oh, I s'pose you think that's queer!" She laughed nervously. "ButI just can't live here any longer! I was the biggest fool to marrythat man! I thought I was going to have a good home and plenty toeat and to wear. We do have enough to eat--and good enough, but, my! he hasn't bought me anything except one gingham apron since Icame, and he growled over that! He's the limit for stinginess!When I was at the Home I used to say I'd rather live in an oldkitchen if 't was mine, and now I've got the old kitchen I'dexchange back again in a jiffy! Do you s'pose she'd take me!"

"Do you mean to--" hesitated Mrs. Albright. 

"Yes, I mean to run away from the old man! I know you're shocked;but you haven't lived with Serono Tenney! He'll freeze me out nextwinter, sure as fate! I'll have to shut up the house, except thekitchen, and stay there, where I can't see even a team pass, withhardly a neighbor in sight. It drives me wild! To think I wassuch a fool! If he were a poor man, I could stand it; but he's gotmoney enough. "

"Why don't you make it fly, then?" broke in Miss Crilly. "Bet youI would!"

"No, you wouldn't! He had to go with me to pick out the apron, andhe fretted like sixty because I would buy one made of decent cloth!I was all in just over that!"

"We s'posed he was a nice, pleasant man--it's too bad!" MissCrilly was the only one who found words for reply. 

"I don't have anything to read, " went on the disappointed woman. "He doesn't want to know anything. He does take a daily newspaper, but that's all. There was a Bible in the house when I came, andtwo or three schoolbooks--pretty place to live in!"

"Get a divorce!" advised Miss Crilly. 

"I could easy! He'd never fight it--hasn't got life enough. Butwhere could I go?"

"I'm afraid you couldn't do anything with Miss Sniffen, " said Mrs. Albright sadly. 

"What do you say, Polly?" smiled Mrs. Tenney. "You look as if youhad your advice all ready. "

"No, " answered Polly sorrowfully. "Only you've promised, and itdoesn't seem as if you ought to break your promise--just becauseyou don't like it here as well as you thought you would. It isn'tthat I'm not sorry, Mrs. Dick--I mean, Mrs. Tenney--" Polly hurriedto explain. "I'm so sorry I could cry! But it doesn't seemright--to me--perhaps it would be, perhaps I don't know. " Pollylifted appealing eyes to the woman's flushed face. 

"I guess you see things clearer than I do, child! We'll put it tovote. Mrs. Albright, what do you think?"

"I hardly know, and, anyway, I can't decide it for you. I supposeI should incline to Polly's opinion. "

"Miss Sterling? You hold the controlling vote, so be careful!"Mrs. Tenney laughed uncertainly. 

"It is a hard question, Mrs. Dick. I can hardly imagine a worsehell than having to live with such a man as you picture him, andyet--"

"I know! It's three against two! Good-bye, June Holiday Home, with your steam heat and Miss Sniffen! We must adjourn--there'sMrs. Grace and Mrs. Winslow Teed!"

For the ride home Polly sat between Miss Crilly and David in Dr. Dudley's car. 

"Isn't that a great bluff of Miss Sniffen's?" Miss Crilly's tonewas too confidential even for Polly's quick ears. The repeatedquestion carried as far as David--Polly knew from his sudden changeof expression. But Miss Crilly talked on. "Seemed as if I musttell! I never was so stirred up in my life! It's the last thing Ishould thought of!"

Polly gave her a cautionary smile. 

"O-o-h!" Miss Crilly cast a frightened glance in David's direction. 

"A motor-car isn't the best place for talking secrets, " he laughed. "But I won't peep!"

"I haven't let any cat out!" retorted Miss Crilly. 

She and David tossed merry sallies back and forth; but Polly wasuncomfortable. David would think she did not trust him. Shewished Miss Crilly had not referred to the matter. 

"Come on down to dinner!" invited David, after they had saidgood-bye to Miss Sterling and Miss Crilly. 

"Oh, I'd love to!" beamed Polly. "I'll run in and ask mother. "

He hailed his uncle's chauffeur, and bade him wait. 

In a moment she was back and they stepped into Colonel Gresham'scar. 

"I am going to share my secret with you, " David smiled, glancingdoubtfully at the man ahead. 

"Otto, " he said tentatively, without raising his voice above thetone he had used for Polly. The man did not stir. "Otto, " alittle louder. No answer. 

He nodded complacently. "I wanted to make sure of him, " he smiled. "Now I'll go on. "

"The other isn't my secret, David, or I'd tell you!" Polly hastenedto explain. 

"That's all right!" laughed David. "Perhaps this chimes in withyours, and perhaps it doesn't. Last night I went up to BillyMarble's, and when I was along by Ford Street I noticed a man and awoman a little distance ahead. I was walking pretty fast, and as Icame up behind them and was wondering which way I'd go by, --youknow the sidewalk is narrow there, --a light struck across thewoman's face, and I saw it was Mrs. Nobbs. I didn't know the man. Has she relatives here?"

"A brother, I think, a bachelor brother. "

"Tall, is he?"

"Yes. "

"This man was. Probably it was he. I had on my sneaks--that's whythey didn't hear me. I was pretty near, when I caught somethingthat excited my curiosity. I heard the words distinctly, --'Iwouldn't be in her shoes for all the money she has made out of JuneHoliday Home!'--'And that's no small sum, I'll warrant!' the manreplied. --'Small!' she exclaimed; 'she's robbing them every day ofher life! But she's in a terrible fix now, and I guess she knowsit! I can't be thankful enough that for once she didn't make acat's-paw of me! I said, 'When there's any flogging to be done, you will do it!' She was mad, and I half expected her to dischargeme on the spot, but I know too much for her to dare to go too far. I've done piles of dirty work for Amelia Sniffen!'--'Better cut itout, ' said the man. --'Can't, as long as I stay, ' she replied. 'That's what I'm there for! But I've got so nervous since thishappened, I don't know what to do! I start every time I see one ofthe Board come into the house. What if they should find out! Youdon't suppose they could hold me for--anything, do you? I'd give afarm to know how much Mrs. Albright has heard, but I'm afraid toquiz her. She's the one that rooms across the hall and tried toget in when they were having the time--she's got more grit than theothers. I don't think Miss Twining would dare tell, and I don'tsee how she could--she is locked in all the time, ostensibly tokeep her from visitors! I thought if Mrs. Albright did find outshe'd go right to the Board; but there hasn't been a word yet. That woman needs a doctor if ever anybody did. Lucky for us thatshe didn't die when--'And that's all I heard. They stopped beforethey came to the Home entrance, and I was afraid of being caught, so I cut across the avenue into the shadows. I was amazed!" Hedrew a long breath. "But I fancy it isn't much news to you. "

"Some of it is, " Polly replied. "I never thought of Miss Sniffen'sbeing dishonest with money. I don't see how she can--"

"Easy enough in a place like that. But this other is pretty badbusiness. If Miss Twining should happen to die without any doctor, and the authorities should find out that Miss Sniffen beat--"

"No, she didn't!" interrupted Polly. "I suppose she meant to, butMiss Twining fainted and that put a stop to it. I'd tell youeverything, David, only Miss Nita and Mrs. Albright and Miss Crillyand I agreed not to say a word to anybody. "

"Never mind! I can guess enough. Something should be done aboutit, Polly. If Miss Twining needs a doctor, she ought to have oneimmediately. "

"I know it!" Her voice was troubled. "I wanted to tell Mr. Randolph; but they won't let me, for fear he'll take the Home'spart, or something, and get them into trouble. I don't know whatto do!"

The car stopped at the Gresham door, and Polly forgot disagreeablethings in the pleasure of Mrs. Collins's cordial welcome. 

CHAPTER XXIX

DISAPPOINTMENT

Miss Twining was worse. Dr. Gunnip had been called late in theafternoon. It was now nearly six o'clock, and the third-floorcorner room was discussing the situation. 

"I guess you'd better see Mr. Randolph to-morrow, " Mrs. Albrightwas saying. 

"Why not make it this evening?" returned Polly. "She may not livetill morning!" Tears were in her voice. 

"No, the Doctor didn't think she'd give out right away; he said shemight last a good while. "

"Little he knows about it!" scorned Polly. 

"Well, he said it right up and down!" put in Miss Crilly. 

"It is too bad!" Polly drew a long, sighing breath. "I don'tbelieve she'd have had any heart trouble at all, if Miss Sniffenhadn't made this fuss!"

"The excitement has no doubt aggravated it, " commented Mrs. Albright. 

"Is that all Dr. Gunnip said, that she had heart disease?" queriedPolly. 

"He didn't stay long enough to say anything!" sputtered MissCrilly. "He walked in and walked out--I wish I'd timed him!"

"You'd have had to look in a hurry, " remarked Mrs. Albright quietly. 

"Guess he's like a doctor my mother used to tell about, " observedMiss Crilly. "You had to catch hold of his coat-tails if youwanted to ask him a question. And he never would haveconsultation, no matter how sick anybody was. He said, one couldplay on a fiddle better than two. "

A quick little smile ran round the group; but nobody laughed. Thepresent question was too serious. 

"Miss Twining didn't tell me much, " resumed Mrs. Albright. "TheDoctor had just gone, and I was in a fidget for fear Miss Sniffenwould come back. But I could see that he had upset her completely. I don't think, from what she did say, that he gave her anyparticulars. He said she had got to be extremely careful. Shefeels as if it was about over with her. "

"I wish father could see her, " fretted Polly. "He wouldn'tfrighten her so, even if he did have to tell her that her heart wasin bad shape! I hate Dr. Gunnip worse than ever! Did he leave herany medicine?"

"Oh, yes! I saw two little piles of tablets on the table. "

"Likely as not they'll make her worse!" Polly got up. "I'm goingto see Mr. Randolph to-night!" she announced determinedly. 

"No, no!" objected Mrs. Albright. "Wait until morning! It wouldonly excite her more to have another doctor now. She'd think shewas in a worse condition than she is. "

"I'd wait if I were you, " agreed Miss Sterling. "I think it willbe better all round. "

"Well, " yielded Polly reluctantly, and sat down again. 

"What you going to tell him, anyway?" questioned Miss Crilly a bitanxiously. 

"Why--everything!" Polly's hands flew apart with expressivegesture. 

"I'm afraid he won't want to interfere. "

"He isn't a fool!" retorted Polly. "And when I've told him all I'mgoing to tell him, if he doesn't interfere--if he isn't aching tointerfere--he will be one!"

Miss Crilly giggled. "You're the greatest!" she said admiringly. 

The next morning Polly awoke with the vague consciousness thatsomething of importance was at hand. Then she remembered. To-dayshe was to see Mr. Randolph!

During breakfast the matter was discussed. 

"You seem suddenly to have become a woman of affairs, " playfullyremarked Dr. Dudley. 

"There isn't anybody else to do things, " said Polly plaintively. "Miss Crilly wouldn't amount to anything if she went. She'd getscared first thing and make a regular fizzle of it. Mrs. Albrighthas pluck enough in some ways; but she couldn't be hired to see Mr. Randolph. Of course, Miss Nita'd do it all right; but she justwon't! And somebody must!"

"It is full time, " the Doctor agreed; "but it looks a big load foryour shoulders. "

"Oh, I don't mind this!" Polly said brightly. "It was hard, goingto Mr. Parcell's; but this is--different, you know. "

"Decidedly different. "

Polly glanced up from under her eyelashes. She knew what hethought of her visit to the minister's, and now she sighed a littlein remembrance of his fatherly comments. 

"Of course, Mr. Randolph will be surprised--shocked, I guess; buthe isn't to blame, and he's a lovely man to talk to. I think I'mgoing to enjoy it. "

Mrs. Dudley caught the twinkle in her husband's eyes, and laughed. 

"What have I said out of the way now?" Polly laid down her fork. 

"Nothing, " her father answered gravely. 

"I don't see why mother was laughing, then. " She glanced from oneto the other. 

They sipped their coffee in silence, but the girl detected alingering bit of a smile on her mother's lips. 

As soon as she had put her room in trim for the day, Polly ran overto the Home for a final talk with Miss Sterling before making herappointment with Mr. Randolph. 

She found both Mrs. Albright and Miss Crilly in the corner room. Alittle excitement was in the air. 

"Have you heard?" asked Miss Crilly. 

Polly's eyes went frightened. 

"No--what?" she said weakly. 

"Don't be scared, child! It is nothing!" Mrs. Albright put an armaround her. "It is only that Mr. Randolph is sick. "

"O-o-h!" mourned Polly. 

"It's in the morning paper, " added Miss Crilly. "It says, 'seriously ill. '"

"Yet he may not be, " interposed Miss Sterling. "The papers seldomget it right. "

"It is too bad!" Polly sat down. "Our paper was late, " sheexplained, "and father didn't have time to read it, --he was calledoff from breakfast, --and I was thinking so much about going that Iforgot the paper. Is that all it says?"

"Yes. It doesn't tell what the matter is. "

"Now we shall have to wait!" said Polly dismally. "How is MissTwining?"

"A little brighter, I think, " answered Mrs. Albright. 

"Dear me! I hope Mr. Randolph won't die!" Miss Crilly's face wasdespairing. "There isn't another one we'd dare tell!"

"No, " agreed Polly, "he's the only man we can trust. We can't do asingle thing till he gets well. "

CHAPTER XXX

DOODLES SINGS

Doodles had heard of Nelson Randolph's illness, yet he wasunprepared for the additional tidings that came to him when he wason a downtown errand. 

"Oh, he suffers something terrible!" exclaimed the boy who broughtthe news. "Carl Harris told me about it. He's down there in thepaper office, and they say if he don't get better pretty soon he'sgot to die! The Doctor can't stop the pain. "

Doodles walked away thinking hard. "Guess I'll go, " he toldhimself. "He liked my singing the other night up here, and perhapsit would make him forget. Anyhow, I can go!"

An hour later Doodles stood at the door of the Randolph home. 

"He's sick. He can't see anybody, " said the maid who answered hisring. 

"Is he able to talk?" queried the lad. 

The girl nodded. 

"Then will you please ask him if he would like to have DoodlesStickney sing to him. "

"'T won't do no good, " she replied indifferently. "The nurse won'tlet anybody see him. "

A man came slowly up the steps, and the boy turned to recognize awell-known physician. 

"Oh, Dr. Temple!" he began eagerly, "do you think Mr. Randolphwould like to have me sing for him?"

The physician looked the lad over gravely. He was so long aboutit, Doodles wondered if his boots were dusty and the Doctor weredisapproving them. Then came the answer. 

"Probably not. "

"But he did like to hear me sing the other night when he was at ourhouse. He said so. And when I heard how he is suffering, Ithought perhaps I could make him forget it. " His appealing browneyes looked straight into those keen blue ones that the physician'sadmirers thought saw everything. 

Dr. Temple considered a moment. "Come in!" he said. 

Doodles followed where he led, which was into the first room beyondthe entrance. 

"Sing!" was the order. 

Doodles, not in the least abashed, stood where he was, in themiddle of the reception room, and began. 

Soft, soft as the crooning of a mother bird, came the first notes. 

"Peace. . . Peace. . . Peace I leave with you. " Gently the music rose, the lad's voice beautifully modulated to suit the time and place. "My peace. . . My peace I give unto you:. . . Not as the worldgiveth. . . Not as the world giveth. . . Give I unto you. Let not yourheart be troubled. . . Let not your heart be troubled. . . Let not yourheart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. "

The physician sat still for a moment, as if reluctant to break thespell. Then he got up quickly. "Come!" he bade. 

Doodles followed, up the velvet-covered stairs, with never thesound of a footstep, and to the end of a wide corridor. 

"Wait here, please!" Dr. Temple motioned him to a chair by thewindow, and after knocking at a door disappeared behind it. 

Presently he returned. "You may sing what you sang downstairs. "He went back, leaving the door ajar. 

Again Doodles sang. At the end he waited, wondering if he were tokeep on. 

A white-clad young woman came out of the room, smiling to him underher pretty white cap. 

"Mr. Randolph would like to have you sing some more, " she said. 

"The Lord is my Shepherd, " "Come unto Me, " "I will lift up mineeyes, " "The Lord bless thee and keep thee, "--these and othersDoodles sang, while not a sound came from the room beyond. 

Then the young woman appeared again. 

"Mr. Randolph says he wishes you would sing 'Old Folks at Home, '"she told him. 

At the close of the song the nurse came to the door and beckonedhim in. 

The president of the Paper Company put out a feeble hand. 

"Thank you, Doodles!" he smiled. "I suppose you came all the wayfrom Foxford just to sing for me!"

"Oh, that isn't anything!" said the boy lightly. "I am glad to doit, Mr. Randolph. I do hope you will get better!"

"I am better now! You have done me good, Doodles!"

"I'm so glad! May I come again?" eagerly. 

"I should be mighty glad if you could! I will send my car for youany day. "

"Thank you!" The lad's face was radiant. "To-morrow?" He glancedat Dr. Temple. 

The Doctor gave him a smiling nod. 

"This same time?"

"Better than the afternoon, " assented the physician. 

Doodles was downstairs when the nurse came out to speak to him. 

"Mr. Randolph says to wait and he will have his man take you home. "

So Doodles rode to Foxford in Mr. Randolph's sumptuous roadster, tothe astonishment of Blue whom he met not far from home. 

CHAPTER XXXI

SHUT OUT

Miss Sterling was not in her room. Polly had knocked and knocked. Finally she turned away and went slowly downstairs. 

"Is Miss Nita out?" she asked of Miss Sniffen in the lower hall. 

"I don't know, " was the answer. She did not offer to look at theday-book on the desk. 

Miss Lily came by, on her way upstairs, and said good-morning asshe passed. 

Polly had reached the door, when a little cry arrested her. Sheturned to see Miss Lily half kneeling on the stairs, clutching therail. 

"Oh! are you hurt?" Polly ran up to her. 

"Not much, I guess, " was the tremulous answer. "I can't see, andthe stairs are so wide! I fall every day or so!"

Polly helped her up. "I'd go close to the balustrade, if I wereyou. "

"Oh, no! I mustn't!" Miss Lily whispered, glancing down into thehall. 

"She's gone, " said Polly softly. "Come right up here! Afraid ofscratching? 'T won't do any harm--with your soft slippers. "

"She won't let me!" breathed the frightened woman. 

"Oh, I guess she won't mind!" returned Polly easily. "That's whatrails are made for--to cling to. "

"What's the matter now!" broke in a cutting voice. 

"Why, Miss Lily fell, and I'm trying to make her come up close tothe rail, so she can get a good, firm hold; but she's afraid ofscratching the stairs. "

"Of course it will scratch--to go tramping over that polished wood!She's to step on the carpet, as I told her! You're alwaysinterfering, Polly Dudley!"

"Miss Sniffen, I didn't mean to interfere; but Miss Lily can't seeas well as you can, and--"

"She can see well enough! Her eyesight is good. There is no needof her falling. "

"But she can't get hold of the rail away off in the middle!"

"Certainly she can reach it! Don't stand there talking nonsense!"

Miss Lily turned and hastened up the long flight. Polly watchedher for a moment and then walked slowly down the stairs. 

The superintendent waited at the foot, her face flushed and stern. 

"You have made trouble enough round here, " she said bitingly. "NowI think we'll stop it!"

"Why, Miss Sniffen, what have I done?"

"You're putting foolish notions into the heads of these oldwomen--petting and pampering them in the way you do! To organize awalking-club for them, when they've got one foot in the grave--it'sabsurd!"

"Oh, they're not old--all of them!" broke in Polly. "Miss Nitaisn't old!--or Miss Crilly!--or--"

"You need not enumerate! I know how old they are, and I know howold they say they are! To think of your coaxing them into suchdisgraceful escapades as you have! Those gray-haired women dancingout in a pasture lot! Oh, you needn't look so surprised! I knowwhat you're up to, if I do stay home here! You were saucy on thatoccasion, and bold, too! Calling to passing automobilists to comeand dance with you! It was scandalous!"

"Why, Miss Sniffen, "--Polly's tone was gently explanatory, --"youcan't have heard it straight! We didn't do a single thing out ofthe way! And I didn't call anybody! Mr. Randolph and MissPuddicombe drove along, and Mr. Randolph said it looked tootempting, and wanted to know if they couldn't come and dance. Thatwas all!"

The superintendent primmed her lips. "We won't discuss it anyfurther. All I wish to say is that hereafter you may confine yourcalls to Wednesday afternoon, when we receive visitors. "

Polly stood for an instant, dumb with surprise and dismay; then shetook a step forward. 

"Good-bye, Miss Sniffen!" she said in a low, tense voice, andpassed swiftly out into the sunshine. 

She walked along, regardless of anything besides her own tumultuousthoughts, until, as she was turning in at her home entrance, sheheard the old familiar call, "Pollee, Pollee, Pollee-e-e!"

David was only a few yards ahead, and she waited. 

"What is it?" he asked as he came up. 

The ghost of a smile flickered on Polly's face. 

"I've just been shut out of the Home!" she said with almost a sob. 

An angry light leaped in the boy's eyes; but he spoke no word, onlyclinched his teeth. 

They went up the walk together, Polly talking fast. Mrs. Dudleymet them in the hall, and the story was begun again. 

"That woman!" cried the boy; "I'd like to go over and knock herdown!"

"David!" chuckled Polly, with an admiring glance at his broadshoulders and athletic frame. 

"It is terrible to think of those dear people being in her power!"

"Something must be done. " Mrs. Dudley looked troubled. 

"If only Mr. Randolph hadn't been sick!" said Polly plaintively. "But Doodles says he is better!" Her face brightened. "Oh, David!did you know Doodles has been singing to him?"

"No. I suppose that cured him. " There was a little warning tonein the rich voice. 

"It has helped, " Polly replied gently. "It makes him forget thepain. Mr. Randolph sends after him every day and has his man takehim home again--isn't that nice?"

"M--hm, " nodded David. 

"Doodles was here this noon, " Polly went on. "Something was thematter with the car, and so he ran over while Murray was fixing it. The Doctor says Mr. Randolph may go to ride to-morrow if it ispleasant. "

"When shall you see him?" asked David. 

"Soon as ever I can--to think of Miss Nita's being shut up there, and my not being able to get to her!"

"It wouldn't do any good to telephone, " mused David, "or to write anote. "

"I'm afraid!" Polly shook her head. "If she'd grab those cards fromMr. Randolph's boxes of roses, she'd take a letter. What do yousuppose she did it for?"

"Didn't want her to know who sent them. "

"But why?"

"Oh, probably she's in love with him, " replied David carelessly. 

"Miss Sniffen?" Polly's voice was flooded with astonishment. 

"Anything very surprising about that?" laughed David. 

"Why, the idea! He couldn't!"

"No, he couldn't, but she could. "

"I have thought of that, " assented Mrs. Dudley. "I cannot accountfor her actions in any other way. "

"It's so funny!" giggled Polly. "And she probably knows he isengaged to Blanche Puddicombe!"

"That is what stumps me!" exclaimed David. "Such a girl!"

"They say she has a fortune in her own name, " put in Mrs. Dudley. 

"Fortune!" scorned the boy. "I wouldn't marry her if she would giveme a hundred million!"

Mrs. Dudley laughed. 

"She'd be better than Miss Sniffen, " said Polly. 

"But to think of coming home to such a wife as she'll make!" criedDavid. 

"And sitting down to dinner with her!" went on Polly. 

David shook his head. "A man might stand it for one day, but for alifetime--good-bye!"

"It doesn't seem as if he would marry just for money, " sighed Polly. 

"That's what most men think of first. Isn't it, Mrs. Dudley?"

"Some of them, " she agreed. "I can't believe they are in themajority. "

"She'll make the very crotchetiest wife!" asserted Polly. "He'llhave to keep her in a glass case! See how she went on up in thepasture! The sun was too hot and the wind was too cool, her stoneseat was too hard, and the ground was too rough to dance on!Everything was too something! She wasn't contented till she gother 'Nelson' out of reach of Miss Nita. I guess men have to runmore risk than girls do. "

"Uncle David wouldn't agree with you, " smiled David. "Aunt Juliettells a story about him--long before he was married. A girl--Ithink it was a trained nurse, anyhow somebody he knew prettywell--asked him what he thought of her marrying. He waited amoment, and then said, in his deliberate way, 'Well, I don't knowmore than three or four decent men anyway, and you wouldn't belikely forget any of them!' She had to tell of that, and AuntJuliet heard it. Uncle David looks solemn at first, when shebegins it--then he chuckles. "

"That sounds just like Colonel Gresham, " laughed Mrs. Dudley. 

"He's such a nice man!" praised Polly with emphasis. "And so isMr. Randolph, just as lovable!--I wouldn't mind marrying himmyself. "

"You wouldn't!" flashed David. 

"No, " maintained Polly; "but I shan't have a chance, " she chuckled. 

Her mother heard the Doctor calling and went to him. 

"You ought to go in there and hear those children 'talking aboutmarriage, " she whispered; "it is better than a circus!"

The Doctor looked through to where they sat, and smiled. 

Meantime the talk in the living-room had taken a personal turn. 

"I suppose you'd marry any of the fellows. " David was grumbling. 

"I should prefer to choose, " laughed Polly. "Oh, David! it isfunny to hear you go off!"

She dimpled over it. 

"'Funny'!" he scorned. "That Wilmerding dude will be walking downto school with you, same as last year! Carrying your books, too!"David frowned. "And you'll let him!"

"He might as well be of use. It's lots easier than to carry themmyself. "

"Wish your father'd send you down in the car. "

"He thinks it better for me to walk, " she smiled. 

"You'll talk and laugh, " David fretted on, "till he'll think you'redead in love with him! You jolly with all the boys more than youdo with me!"

Polly's face sobered. "David, " she said, "in some things you arewonderfully wise; but you don't seem to know very much about girls. I am not always the happiest when I'm laughing. You talk as ifyou'd like to keep me in prison, same as Miss Sniffen keeps thosepoor dears over there. I know better, but it sounds that way. "

"Forgive me! I'm getting piggish again!"

"No, but I wish you weren't quite so suspicious. I'll have to makea bargain with you, --how will this do? If anybody steals my heartaway, I'll notify you at once. "

David stood up straight. "I must go, " he said. "It is later thanI thought. No, Polly, you needn't promise me anything! I cantrust you. Only--" He smiled, looking down at her. "Good-bye!"

CHAPTER XXXII

THE TALE IS TOLD

Nelson Randolph gained steadily, --so Polly heard throughDoodles, --and she planned to see him soon. Then, one morning, theboy appeared with a sorrowful face. Even before he spoke Pollyguessed that something was wrong. 

"I can't go to see Mr. Randolph any more, " announced the little ladmournfully. 

"Why not? What's the matter?"

"That Miss Puddicombe!" The boy's face told more than his words. "She said Mr. Randolph was worse, and for me not to come again tillhe got well. "

"0-o-h!" cried Polly. "What has she got to do about it! She'dbetter wait till she's married before she begins to dictate!"

Doodles shook his head sorrowfully. "I don't see how my singingcould hurt him. She talked as if it was all my fault!"

"Nonsense!" scorned Polly. "More likely it is she herself! Don'tworry, Doodles! He will get well pretty soon, and then things willbe all right again; but--oh, dear, I wish he would hurry up!"

The next evening David brought the dismaying word that thepresident of the Paper Company had gone to Atlantic City forseveral weeks. 

Polly was distressed over the situation until her mother suggestedthe happy thought that no doubt he would recover more rapidly thanat home. Then Polly smiled again and was ready to enjoy David'snew flute solo. 

In her weeks of waiting Polly came to a new appreciation of David. Her closest girl friends were out of town, her mother unusuallybusy with some church work, her intercourse with Juanita Sterlinglimited to a few perfunctory calls; and except for David's cheeryvisits she would have been lonely indeed. Not a day but the boyappeared, often with flute or banjo, and he made himself sodelightfully entertaining that Polly would forget the June HolidayHome and its troubles. 

Lurking in the background, however, ready to leap forward as soonas she should be alone, was the torturing fact that Miss Sniffenstill kept cruel wardship over her prisoners, and she counted overand over, joyfully marking them off one by one on her calendar, thedays before Mr. Randolph would be at home again. 

Still, it was not a very long waiting time, after all, and onebright morning Polly entered the private office of the president ofthe Paper Company. 

Now that she was actually there, face to face with the "lovableman" in whom she found so much to admire, she hardly knew how tobegin. But, suddenly realizing that the president's time wasprecious, she dashed into the matter at once. 

"It is about the Home, Mr. Randolph, that I have been wanting tosee you for so long. I was coming right after Miss Twining gotsick, and then you were ill yourself. Before you were well enoughto see visitors you went away, and there hasn't been a singlechance until now. Oh, Mr. Randolph, do you know how affairs aregoing on over there? Haven't you ever guessed?"

"Why--what do you mean, Polly? Nothing wrong, is there?"

"Everything!" Polly's hands dropped with emphasis into her lap. "None of the ladies have dared say a word, because if they find anyfault they are liable to be turned out. So they have borne it allas well as they could. I wanted to come to you a good while ago, but they wouldn't hear to it. Finally things got to such a passthat we four, Miss Nita, Mrs. Albright, Miss Crilly, and I, saidthat something must be done. We thought you were the best one totell, for you have always been such a friend--we could trust you'"

"You can, Polly!" He smiled across to her. "You need not beafraid of my divulging the source of my information. "

"Oh, I don't care if folks do know my part in it, but the otherswould rather you wouldn't give their names--unless it is necessary. Miss Sniffen turned me out weeks ago!"

"Turned you out? For what?"

"Oh, because I told Miss Lily to cling to the balustrade so shewouldn't fall! That is, it started there. She said I'd got theladies into all sorts of scrapes. She scolded me for lots ofthings--one was that dance in the pasture. She said it wasscandalous. I don't care so much what she does to me, only my notseeing Miss Nita. But the ladies are actually afraid of theirlives! When Miss Twining was abused so, those that knew wonderedwhose turn would come next. Why, Mr. Randolph, Miss Sniffen almostkilled Miss Twining!--Oh, of course, she didn't mean to!" For theman had started up with an exclamation of horror. "I think she wasthoroughly frightened when Miss Twining fainted. "

"But what did she do?"

"Why, she went up to Miss Twining's room, late one night, andcarried a riding-whip, --she had threatened that afternoon to 'flog'her--and it upset Miss Twining and brought on a fainting turn. NowMiss Sniffen keeps her locked in all the time! I don't know whatshe would do if it weren't for Mrs. Albright! She rooms rightacross the hall, and her key fits the lock; so she goes in everylittle while. There's a card on her door, saying she's too ill tosee visitors. "

"That is the feeble-minded one, isn't it?"

"No!" flashed Polly. "She's not feeble-minded any more than youare! That's just a bluff! Miss Sniffen got scared and made up allthat rubbish! Miss Twining is beautiful. I love her--oh, I loveher dearly! She writes the nicest poetry! Father says it is realpoetry, too. "

"Why did Miss Sniffen wish to whip her?"

"Just because she wouldn't tell who gave her some money. Shecouldn't--she had promised not to! And it was her own money! ButI must begin at the beginning, or you can't understand. "

Polly drew a long breath, and recounted the details of the sadstory. 

"The next morning I happened to go over to see Miss Nita, " sheconcluded, "and Mrs. Albright told me this. Miss Crilly was there, too. Miss Crilly rooms right next to Miss Twining and heard a gooddeal; but she didn't dare to stir. "

Nelson Randolph gazed at Polly with troubled eyes, and rested hisarm upon his desk. 

"David Collins overheard something one night, " she went on. "Hewas going up Edgewood Avenue when he came upon Mrs. Nobbs and aman, --probably her brother, --and what Mrs. Nobbs was saying madehim keep along behind them, instead of passing as he was intendingto do. "

As the talk was repeated, the listener's face grew stern, and whenPolly came to the end of her story he fingered the little silverelephant upon his desk before he spoke. 

"You say that the board is not what it should be?"

"It is poor, dreadfully poor, Mr. Randolph. Lately they've hadstale meat and sour bread--and hardly any fruit or green vegetablesall summer long!"

"Yet her accounts stand for expensive roasts, lamb chops, earlyfruits when they are highest in price--the best of everything!"

"They never get on the table, " asserted Polly. "Miss Nita and theothers have spoken again and again of their wretched living. Andthe cooking is awful!"

"I am told that she pays her cook fifty dollars a month. "

"I don't know what she pays, " Polly replied, "but they seldom havegood cooking. She is changing help all the time. "

"We have trusted her implicitly, " the president mused. "Her fatherwas a man of undoubted honor. "

"I don't see that it would be much worse to steal from the Homethan to take Miss Twining's money or Miss Nita's cards or--"

"Cards? From Miss Sterling?" broke in Nelson Randolph quickly. 

"Didn't you put your cards in those boxes of roses you sent her?"asked Polly. 

"Certainly. "

"She never saw any! Miss Castlevaine was going upstairs andhappened to see that first box of roses on the hall desk. MissSniffen was fingering a card. When Miss Nita received the boxthere was no card there. That was why she was so long in saying'thank you, '--she didn't know where they came from. We finallyfound out through the boy who brought them. "

Nelson Randolph frowned. "A pretty state of affairs!" he muttered. 

"And she never got one of your telephone messages!" Polly went on. 

"What!" the man exclaimed. 

"She didn't!" Polly reiterated. 

"But Miss Sterling gave me no hint of such a thing!"

"No. " Polly returned sadly. "I guess she didn't dare. "

"Surely she was not afraid of me!"

"I don't know, " replied Polly dissatisfiedly and with emphasis. "It really seems sometimes as if she were. "

"There must have been some tremendous lying, " he mused. "They gaveme messages purporting to come from Miss Sterling. Why should shebe singled out in this way?" He looked across at Polly, as if heexpected her to answer the question. 

The red in her cheeks grew redder. She remembered the reason Davidhad given. 

"I think it is no uncommon thing for the ladies not to get theirtelephone messages, " she replied evasively. "That was one reasonwhy Mrs. Dick ran away with the milkman. She was so upset at notreceiving an invitation to a wedding that had been sent her bytelephone. "

"It is high time that something was done!" The president lifted hislittle elephant and brought it down hard. "We have beeninexcusably blind!"

"I wish Miss Twining could have some good doctor, " ventured Polly. 

"She shall!" he promised. "Be patient for a few days, and I willhurry up things as fast as practicable. You say she is a littlebetter?"

"Mrs. Albright thinks so. She is over her scare a little. Dr. Gunnip frightened her half to death! He won't let her try to getup. Don't you hate Dr. Gunnip?"

Mr. Randolph smiled. "I don't know him personally, " he replied. "I never thought I should want him for a physician. " He shook hishead musingly. 

"I will lay the matter before the trustees and managers at once, "he said, as Polly rose to go. "I need not ask you, " he went on, "to be whist about this, since I have proof that you can keep asecret under trying conditions. I thank you more than you willever know. "

CHAPTER XXXIII

THE PRINCESS AND THE DRAGON

Juanita Sterling moved restlessly about her room, doing this andthat which had no need of being done. It was a mild day for lateSeptember, and she thought of a walk. No, it was nearly time forthe afternoon mail, she would wait. If she could only get a notefrom Polly--or from David! One of Polly's notes had never reachedthe third-floor comer room! Since that, notes had been conceded tobe dangerous. How she missed Polly's visits! She wondered now ifPolly's interview with Mr. Randolph were really over. That reportcould not be entrusted to paper. She wished that her windows wereon the front. She might go into Mrs. Albright's room--no, she hadbetter remain at home, somebody might come. She took a book andsat down in the easiest chair; but her thoughts were not on theprinted page. She slammed it back in its place with a mutter ofscorn--scorn for herself. 

"Shall I ever stop thinking--of him!"

Meantime, downstairs, the front doorbell had rung. Miss Sniffenanswered it. She usually answered the bell nowadays. 

Nelson Randolph stood waiting. 

"Good afternoon!" he smiled. "I want to run up to those cornerrooms and see how the light is, now that the windows are shut up. I think we may have to put in other windows on the side. "

"Oh, no, Mr. Randolph, the light is very good, indeed! I don'tthink more windows will be necessary. "

"Well, maybe not, then; but I'll just take a look at it, seeing I'mhere. "

She moved back slowly. "I think Miss Sterling is out; but you cansee the first-floor room. "

They went in together, but as the man turned to speak he found thathe was alone. With a smile he cast a leisurely eye around, andthen strode along the hall to the upper staircase. 

The superintendent was coming down. 

"No use your going up, " she said in an unnecessarily low tone. "One of the ladies says she is out, so we shan't be able to get in. "

"Oh, that won't matter!" he replied carelessly. "I'm a good dealof burglar; I always carry a skeleton key in my pocket--it willunlock almost anything. You ought to have one. "

"We have never needed it, " she responded coldly, quickly precedinghim. 

She tapped softly on the door. 

"Oh, you're in, after all!" she exclaimed in a voice of sweetsurprise. "They said you had gone out. "

"I have been here since dinner. --How do you do, Mr. Randolph! Areyou quite well again?"

"Shouldn't know I had ever been sick--except for the doctor'sbill!" he replied. "Now, how about this light, Miss Sterling? Doyou find the addition in the way?"

"Why, of course, it isn't quite so pleasant, " she admitted; "but Idon't mind it very much. "

"I think it would make things a little better to put a window in, say about here. "

"Oh, that would be lovely!" she cried. 

"I will suggest it, at any rate. I never like to spoil one roomfor the sake of another. " He ran his eyes over the wall. "Wemight make it one broad window, here and in the room below, tomatch the one on the first floor--it wouldn't be a bad plan. We'llsee. " He turned to go, then halted and looked at his watch. 

"I'm afraid you stay in too much. Miss Sterling, " he saidcarelessly. "Suppose you put on your things and come for a ride. It is very mild out. "

"Oh, thank you!" The red rushed to her cheeks. "I'll be ready in aminute. "

Left alone, Juanita Sterling hastily brought out hat and coat. Herheart was pounding with excitement and--yes, joy! She chidedherself in no uncertain words. 

"Little fool!" she muttered. "He wishes to ask questions about theHome, questions that I am better able to answer than Polly--that isall! He is engaged to Blanche Puddicombe--remember that, and don'tbe a--dear, dear, where are those gray gloves! Oh!" as the neededarticles were brought to sight. 

She ran downstairs and directly out of the big door, meeting no one. 

As the car rolled up the avenue she felt a delicious sense offreedom. She remarked upon the changing foliage and the unusualwarmth of the day, the man at her side making only brief assents. 

"That Dragon, " he finally broke out, "didn't mean to let thePrincess be seen to-day!"

Miss Sterling met his whimsical look with puzzled eyes. Then, asthe meaning dawned, "Oh!" she cried, a little blushing laughkeeping the word company. 

"Do you always lock your door when you go away?"

"Never, " she answered, --"then or at any time; we are not allowed tolock our rooms. "

"She told me you were out, and that your door would be locked; butI said I had a skeleton key in my pocket, and went on. "

"You quite outwitted her, " she laughed. "I don't understand whyshe should lie about it. "

"I have been there several times and inquired for you, " he resumed;"and was always told that you were not in. "

A flush of surprise pinked her face. "I never heard anything ofit, " she said regretfully. 

"So Polly Dudley told me. I saw her this morning. "

"Oh, did you!" she cried eagerly. 

"She was in my office for an hour or two. We have been blind asmoles, the whole gang of us!" he added in a disgusted tone. "Wehave trusted that woman with everything--to your sorrow and ours!I hope the officers will see it as I do, but--I don't know. MissSterling, "--he turned to her with a brighter tone in hisvoice, --"do you remember when I used to come to your house toconsult your father--and you would entertain me while I was waitingfor him?"

"Oh, yes!" she answered, "I remember perfectly; but I didn'tsuppose you recollected--it is so long ago. "

"I don't forget easily. You were a school-girl then, weren't you?"

"I was just through the high school. "

"It was the winter before I was married, " he said reminiscently. "It seems a lifetime since then. Yet it is only some twenty ormore years ago. Your father was a very wise man, and I was prettygreen in those days. I remember I wanted to sue somebody that hadcheated me in a small way, and your father advised me stronglyagainst it. I chafed a good deal at his decision; but I havethought of it a good many times since, how much better thingsturned out for me than if I had had my own way. Too bad he had togo so young! We need such men. I wish we had a few like him onthe Home Board. " He turned toward his companion with a ruefulsmile. "I am rather glad that happened down at the Home to-day. It has given me a little personal experience with the Dragon thatmay be convenient to have. " He smiled again at her, that kindly, whimsical little smile that so well became him. 

She smiled, too, and then, when he had turned back, she frowned. She wished he wouldn't smile that way--to her. He should keep suchsmiles for his fiancee. 

"By the way, " she began, "how is Miss Puddicombe? I haven't seenher lately. "

"She is very well, much better than she was during the summer. Sheis in New York at present, visiting her aunt for a fortnight. "

Ah, that was why he was able to take her to ride! She wondered ifshe ought to offer her congratulations, but finally decided to keepsilent. S he was not supposed to know of his engagement. 

The road wound up through a maze of yellow. Tall trees on eitherside sifted their gold down upon the travelers. Juanita Sterlingcaught a leaf in her hand and held it. 

"How beautiful it is!" she said, and drew a deep breath. 

The man turned to look at her trophy. "Oh, no! I mean the way, "she explained. "It is strange, but it makes me think of heaven. "

"The streets of gold?" he smiled. 

"M--no, " she replied doubtfully. "I can't quite tell myself; but Ithink it is the peace and the glory of it--the spirit of the place. "

His eyes were on her face, and the car bumped over a stone. 

"There! That's because I was looking at you!" he laughed. "Amotorman shouldn't gaze at a princess. "

She gave a little gurgling laugh; then she grew grave again. 

"What do you say, " he asked abruptly, "to keeping on over themountain to Bryston and have dinner?"

Her heart gave a joyful leap, yet she answered quietly, "I amafraid--I'd better not. "

"Oh, yes, " he urged, "let's keep on! I am selfish, I know; but I'drather eat dinner with you than to eat it at home alone, and I'msure that Squirrel Inn will give you a more appetizing meal thanthe Dragon will furnish. "

"I dare say, " she responded. "What a bewitching name for an inn!Is it as captivating as it sounds?"

"More, " he smiled. "It is the inn that has made Belgian harefamous. "

She laughed softly, and he speeded the car. 

"I took Mrs. Puddicombe up there one day, and she has raved aboutit ever since. The house itself is very old, with little windowsand a gambrel roof, and a well-sweep in the rear. They say, halfof the garret is given over to the squirrels. "

"What a delightful place! I shall love it, I know!" Inwardly, however, she amended, "Maybe I shan't!" thinking of Mrs. Puddicombe. 

But once seated at the quaint little table, in the old high-backedchair, eating what tasted better than the best chicken that everwent into an oven, Juanita Sterling forgot Mrs. Puddicombe and herdaughter Blanche, and smiled upon everything. 

"I am having more dinners to-day than my share, " she observed overthe pumpkin pie and cheese. "We have ours at twelve, you know. "

"What did you have?"

"Codfish balls and pickles and stale bread and butter. "

"No dessert?"

"No, " she laughed; "that was cut out months ago. "

He shook his head gravely. "I didn't suppose it was as bad as that. "

"This makes up, " she said gayly. 

It was a leisurely meal; and when it had come to an end the memoryof it was not the least of its delights. 

The air had cooled decidedly, and meeting the stiff breeze JuanitaSterling shivered. She turned up her coat collar about her neck. 

"Are you cold?" he questioned. 

"Not much. I shall get used to it in a minute. It was pretty warmin there. "

He stopped the car and jumped out. "There are some light-weightrobes somewhere, " he said. 

"Don't bother!" she protested. "I rarely take cold. "

But he continued his search. 

"There!" he said, putting it around her shoulders, "isn't thatbetter?"

"Delightful! Thank you!" It was cozily warm and comfortable. 

She drew a deep, happy breath. The car skimmed along as if onwings. She could meet the wind with pleasure now. The starstwinkled down their glad greeting. Probably she would never seethe like of this again. But to-night it was hers! It should notbe spoiled by Blanche Puddicombe! She let her enjoyment have itsway and talked and laughed freely. 

"How can you keep so cheerful in the Dragon's prison?" NelsonRandolph asked at length. "I should think all of you would havebeen dead from gloom before this time. "

"Polly Dudley has done a great deal toward keeping us up, and wehave several very bright ladies there. Mrs. Albright and MissCrilly would make a dungeon sunshiny. "

"Happy companionship is everything, " he assented. "That is what Iam denied. My home is about the most desolate place on earth!"

"It looks delightful from the outside. "

"Oh, the house is well enough! But what is the good of a housewith nobody to speak to! I stay at the club evening after evening, because I dread to go back to that lonely place I call home. " Hespoke drearily. After a moment he went on. "I started out thisafternoon with a good deal of hope; but you have thrown most of itto the winds!"

"I? Why, Mr. Randolph!" She gazed at him in surprise. 

"Impolite, " he nodded, with an apologetic smile. "But, MissSterling, you know that I love you! You must have known it allsummer! And you try to be friendly--that's all! You didn't wantto go to Bryston, and I was selfish enough to keep on! I supposeit is too much to expect, that you will care for an old fellow likeme; but--oh, Miss Sterling! can't you?"

For a moment memory was swept away in the flood of astonishment andjoy that overwhelmed her. Then, like a menace, the haughty girl ofthe sheep pasture loomed before her. 

"Oh! no! no!" she gasped. "Why do you say such things tome?--_you_--engaged to Blanche Puddicombe!"

"O-h!"--It held a note of exultation. "Has that absurd storyreached you? Miss Sterling, there is not an atom of truth in it!"The words tumbled from his lips. "Mrs. Puddicombe's grandmotherand my grandfather were sister and brother. The families havealways been friendly. Last summer Blanche was in such wretchedhealth that her mother wanted me to take her to ride as often as Icould. So whenever I went off on business I would carry Blanchealong. That is all there is to it!"

They were moving slowly now. A great car came honking up behind, roared past, and became a red star in the distance. Anotherflashed out ahead, glared down upon them, and whizzed by. NelsonRandolph spoke again. 

"Have you no hope for me?"

"Oh, yes!" It barely rose through the purring of the car. 

His right hand left the wheel and closed over the two littlegray-gloved ones folded so quietly. 

"You shall never regret it!" he promised. "I will try to make youforget this year of misery. "

The talk ran on. As they passed through th6 outskirts of FairHarbor, he said:--

"I expect to go to New York to-morrow morning on the 6. 30 train. If I can get through my business in time I shall come back in theevening; but I am afraid it will be too late for a ride. That willhave to wait until Thursday. I don't know how I am going tocommunicate with you. I cannot bear to leave you without any meansof letting me know if you are in trouble. "

"I don't think there will be any trouble, " she said contentedly. 

"There might be. How would it do for me to tell the Dragon thatyou belong to me and that you are to be free to go and come as youplease or to use the telephone whenever you like?"

"Oh, don't!" A note of fear was in her voice. 

"You had better lock your door at night, then. There is a key?"

"Yes, but it is subject to rules. "

"Ignore rules and lock the door! Dragons are not to be trusted. And remember, if there should be any trouble whatever, call me atonce, --in some way, --and I will drop everything and come. "

"Thank you! You are so good!"

He laughed softly. "Good to myself!"

They sped along Edgewood Avenue, and the car stopped in the shadowof a great maple. Miss Sterling threw off her borrowed wrap. 

He stepped to the ground and put out his arms. What could she dobut walk into them!

"I will go in with you, " he said, as he set her gently down. 

Her face was still aflame with his kisses when they entered the bigdoor together. 

Miss Sniffen met them in the hall. 

"You are late, " she said with a half smile. "Have you had anaccident?"

"Oh, no!" Nelson Randolph answered. "We went up to Bryston todinner, that is all. Miss Sterling thought she had better returnhome early, but I coaxed her to keep on and find out how Belgianhare tasted. " He laughed lightly and said good-night. 

Miss Sterling's foot was on the stair when the superintendentarrested her. 

"You are too late for chapel, " she said severely. 

"I was afraid I would be, " was the reply. 

"This must not occur again. Do you know that Mr. Randolph is tomarry Miss Puddicombe?"

"I heard so, " she smiled. 

"The wedding-day is set!"

"So I was told. "

"Did he tell you?"

"Oh, no! I heard it a good while ago. "

Miss Sniffen looked a little disappointed and turned down the hall. 

Juanita Sterling closed the door of her room, struck a light, andthrew her hat and coat across a chair. 

On a small table a twin frame held photographs of a man and a woman. 

She took it in both hands. 

"Father, mother, --dears! do you know that your 'little girl' ishappy?--happier than she has been since you went away?"

The last words broke in a sob; but the eyes that looked up intohers were smiling. 

CHAPTER XXXIV

A MIDNIGHT ANNOUNCEMENT

JUANITA STERLING was forced to hear much bantering in regard to herprolonged ride with the Home president; but she received it withthe utmost good humor. Not even to Mrs. Albright did she hint ofthe happiness that had come to her. It would be known soon enough;to-day the joy was hers and hers alone. 

"What would Blanche Puddicombe have said to see you go gallivant'n'off to Bryston with her lover!" cried Miss Crilly. "I wish shecould have, I just wish she could have! 'T would have been apicnic, sure! Are you goin' again, Miss Sterling?"

Juanita Sterling laughed, her cheeks coloring prettily. "He didn'task me to go to-day. "

"Too bad!" cried the tease. "But she blushes, so I guess she'll gowhen he does ask her. "

"Perhaps she's trying to cut out Miss Puddicombe, " suggested MissMajor. 

"She hasn't told us a thing he said to her, " winked Miss Mullaly. "They had time for lots of love scenes all those long miles'"

"An auto isn't the best place in the world for love-makin', "giggled Miss Crilly. 

"Now you stop bothering her!" cried Mrs. Albright. "We'd every oneof us give our eye-teeth for such a ride with the president, andyou know it!"

"My! I guess we would!" Miss Crilly performed a pirouette. "I'drun my feet off to get into the car!"

"Well, what did you talk about?" queried Miss Mullaly coaxingly. 

"Yes, we want to hear, " urged Miss Crilly; "so when we go with himwe shall know what to say. "

"No danger of your not knowing what to say!" laughed Miss Major. 

"Some of the time we talked about Belgian hare, " answered MissSterling demurely. 

"Belgian hare!" grinned Miss Crilly. "I bet you didn't talk fiveor six hours about Belgian hare!"

Juanita Sterling chuckled gayly. "He asked what I had for dinneryesterday, and I told him'"

"Honest?" gasped Miss Mullaly. 

"Yes, " nodded the other. 

"What did he say?"

"I don't remember just what; but he was surprised. "

"I guess he was! I hope it will set him to thinking. "

"Well, if I stay here fooling away all the forenoon, I shan't get acredit mark for having my bed made early!" And Miss Crilly trippedoff. 

The rest soon scattered, and Miss Sterling was left alone to dreamover her joy and to wonder what her friends would say when thetruth came out. 

In the afternoon she called at Dr. Dudley's, and was disappointednot to find Polly. The day was cold, with a raw wind, very unlikethe day before; so after a short walk she returned home. 

Mrs. Albright met her in the upper hall. 

"Miss Crilly is sick, " she said anxiously. "She is in terriblepain, and nothing relieves her. She wants Dr. Dudley; but MissSniffen says it is not necessary. I don't know what to do!"

"Sh!" Miss Sterling held her answer to listen. "I thought I hearda footstep, " she whispered. "Is Miss Sniffen downstairs?"

"She went down. I don't care if she does hear me! I'm gettingdesperate. "

"She ought to have a doctor, " Miss Sterling said, with wrinkledforehead. "I wonder if I can be of any use--I'll come right up. "

The combined resources of the two were of no avail. Miss Crillygrew worse, "I shall die--I know I shall!--just as poor Miss Twining is goingto!" wailed the sufferer. 

"No, you won't!" returned Mrs. Albright. "You haven't any hearttrouble. "

"I've got something!" insisted Miss Crilly, writhing with pain. 

Miss Sniffen appeared at the door with a bowl of steaming water anda bundle of cloths. "I'm going to put these on, " she announcedbriskly. 

"I tried hot water first thing, " said Mrs. Albright. "It didn't doany good. "

The superintendent gave no response. She was busy administeringthe remedy. 

"Don't make such a fuss!" she reprimanded. "Pain never killedanybody yet. "

"You'd better go back to your room, Miss Sterling, " she turned tosay. "No need of your staying here. "

There did not seem to be, and the request was obeyed without reply. 

Later Mrs. Albright came upstairs to say that Miss Crilly was alittle easier. "I think she's going to get on now, " she concluded. 

"I hope so, " was the reply; "but call me if she should grow worse. "

"Yes, I will, --though you couldn't do any good, " she amended. 

"I could get a doctor for her. "

"I don't see how!" Mrs. Albright gazed questioningly into thesteady gray eyes. This was a new Miss Sterling. "You can't doanything with Miss Sniffen. "

"There are other people in the world besides Miss Sniffen. If sheneeds a doctor she shall have one. So let me know if the paincomes on again. "

Miss Sterling had been abed an hour or more when she was awakenedby a gentle rap. 

Mrs. Albright softly opened the door. 

"She's worse than ever; but Miss Sniffen won't hear to calling thedoctor. She says if she isn't any better in the morning she willsend for him; but Miss Crilly insists that she can't live tillmorning in such agony. Miss Sniffen thinks she is scared to death, and of course fear doesn't help matters. But she does need adoctor--I know that!"

Miss Sterling began to dress. "Where is Miss Sniffen now?"

"She went downstairs. "

"I will keep watch till she gets still, then I'll go down. "

"What can you do?"

"I'm going for Dr. Dudley. "

"Suppose she sees you?"

"I know how to run!"

"She might catch you!"

"She shan't!"

"I'm afraid to let you try it. " She lingered irresolute. 

"You needn't. I'll let myself! Go back to Miss Crilly, and tellher to keep up courage a little longer and I'll have Dr. Dudleyhere as soon as I can. "

She put on her softest slippers and crept carefully down thestairs. All was dark. Not a sound came to her keen ears. Shecrossed the hall and reached the heavy front door. Cautiously shepassed her hand from lock to lock--something squeaked! Shefrowned, and hastily slid the last bolt--A light flared behind her!

"What are you doing?--Miss Sterling!" Miss Sniffen came quicklytowards her. 

"I am going for the doctor!" She was out the door. 

Miss Sniffen was almost as quick. "Come back!" she cried. "Comeback this minute!"

Juanita Sterling was on the long flight of granite steps, so wasMiss Sniffen. The lithe little figure ran swiftly along the walkto the street; the pursuer was close behind. The feet ahead seemedheavy and slow; the steps that followed came nearer, nearer! MissSterling could almost feel the big hand upon her shoulder! Herheart beat suffocatingly, her ears thundered defeat, she must dropor die! Then she thought of Nelson Randolph and grew strong! Shebounded forward--she was nearly there! No, she was only passingthe corner! On, on, on! She reached the gate, bumped against it, sped along the walk, stumbled up the steps, and pushed the bellbutton--not until then did she venture a backward glance. 

A tall figure was walking slowly, very slowly up the street!

"Out--of--breath!" she said softly, with a chuckle that was half asob. 

A light flashed inside, and Mrs. Dudley opened the door. 

"Why, Miss Sterling!"

"Is--Doctor--home?" she puffed. 

"No, he isn't. He's out of town. Come in! Somebody sick?"

Mrs. Dudley put her into an easy-chair, felt her pulse, smiled inhappy assurance, and waited for the story. 

Before it was finished, Polly peeped in. 

"I thought it was your voice! What _is_ the matter, Miss Nita?"She drew up a chair and sat down, folding her crimson robe abouther. 

Part of the tale was hurriedly retold. 

"Doctor may come on the 11. 55 train; if not, he can't get herebefore one o'clock. "

"And Dr. Vera is watching with Dorothy!" cried Polly. 

"So I told her, " said Mrs. Dudley. "Dorothy is a very sick child;he cannot leave her. I would go over if I thought I could do anygood. "

"I'm afraid Miss Sniffen wouldn't let us in. " returned MissSterling. "I think I'd better call up Mr. Randolph. He said to doit if--there was any trouble. " Her face rivaled in color Polly'srobe. 

The young girl's eyes widened. 

"When did he--" she began; but her mother interrupted. 

"Yes, by all means, telephone!"

Miss Sterling darted into the next room, while Polly sprang to turnon the light. 

"Hallo! Is it Mr. Randolph?" came to Polly's ears. "JuanitaSterling is talking. I am at Dr. Dudley's. Miss Crilly is verysick, and I came over for the Doctor; but he is out of town. Canyou come up? Yes. Yes. Good-bye!--He says he will be here inless than ten minutes. " She returned to the chair she had left, andPolly cuddled down beside her, while Mrs. Dudley went to put herdress in better order. 

"I'll stay till he comes, " said Polly comfortably. "Then I can runand leave you to let him in--you won't mind, will you? Do tell memore about that race, Miss Nita. Oh, don't I wish I had seen it!"

She laughed over the superintendent's probable discomfiture, andlamented Miss Crilly's illness. 

"It is too bad father isn't at home, " she said musingly; "but, oh. Miss Nita! what made you think of calling up Mr. Randolph? Whendid he tell you any such thing?"

"I went to ride with him yesterday, " was the quiet answer. 

"You did! Wasn't that lovely! Where did you go?"

"Over to Bryston. We took dinner at Squirrel Inn. "

"Oh, my!" chuckled Polly. "What will Blanche Puddicombe say?"

"I don't care what she says. Polly, he is not engaged lo her. "

"He isn't? Oh, I am so glad, I don't know what to do! I didn'twant him to be engaged one bit!"

"I didn't say he wasn't engaged, " returned the other demurely. "Ionly said he was not engaged to Miss Puddicombe. "

Polly's face fell. "Oh, dear!" she cried in a vexed tone, "I neverthought of his being engaged to anybody else! Who is it?--I don'tknow that I care, but I may as well know!" Polly looked cross. 

Miss Sterling laughed softly. "What a little fire-box you are!"she said. 

"Oh, yes, laugh!" pouted Polly. "Of course, you don't care, because you don't like him as I do; but I think it is mean for himto be engaged--just when I was so glad he wasn't! You haven't toldme who it is yet--anybody I know?"

"Yes. "

"Somebody here in town, then?"

"Yes, right here. "

"I don't see who it can be. I never saw him riding with anybodybut Blanche Puddicombe. Why don't you tell me?" cried Pollyimpatiently. 

"I said she was right here. " The little woman in gray sat verystill. Her eyes were following the pattern of the rug. Her cheeksgrew red and redder. 

"Why, I don't see--" began Polly. Then she started forward. "Oh, Miss Nita! you don't mean--"

Juanita Sterling met the bright eyes, and nodded smilingly. 

"Oh, Miss Nita! Miss Nita!"--Polly squeezed her friend's arm inecstasy--"I can't believe it! It's too lovely for anything! Iwant to hop right over the moon! How did he say it, Miss Nita? Dotell me how he said it! I've always wanted to know how they saidit, and mother won't tell me, and father won't, and unless you do Inever shall know!"

"You--with a lover like David!" laughed the other. 

"Oh, well, David's only a boy! Please--there's his car! It'sturning round!" She started and her eyes fell upon the clock. "Just after midnight! I didn't notice its striking. Good-morning, Miss Nita! How funny it will seem to say Mrs. Randolph!"

"Polly!" the other expostulated. 

Polly laughed and flung her arms round Miss Sterling's neck. "Remember! I'm not going to let you off! You must tell me how hesaid it!"

"Charmingly, Polly, charmingly!"

"No, that won't do!--There's the bell!" And the crimson-robedlittle figure fled. 

Juanita Sterling had wondered what she would say when they met thenext time. How different this was from her dream!

Nelson Randolph took her hand in a warm clasp. "I am glad you letme come, " he said. 

Briefly she explained the situation. 

"Better call Dr. Temple. "

"I thought of him, but I didn't like to take any moreresponsibility. "

"Where is the telephone?"

She led the way and made a light. 

"Yes, it's Randolph, " she heard him say. "I am at Dr. Dudley's. He is out of town. A woman at the Home is very sick. Can you comeup? Yes, I will wait here and go over with you. "

He settled himself in a big rocker, and regarded her smilingly. 

"So the Princess had a race with the Dragon! That is more than Ianticipated. Was she frightened?"

Miss Sterling blushed. "Not much--a little, " she admitted. "Once--for a long minute--I was afraid the 'Dragon' was going tocatch me!"

"But she didn't! I am proud of you!" He grasped the hand thatrested on the arm of her chair. 

She pulled away and ran across the room. "I'm going to sit here!"she announced, smiling to him. To hold her hand that way--when atany moment Mrs. Dudley might appear!

He surveyed her with amusement. "Was that an unforgivable sin?" hetwinkled. 

"M--no, " demurely. "The Doctor may come. "

"He won't come in at the window, " he laughed. "Don't you think youare a little unkind, when I have been so far away all day andhaven't had a glimpse of you since last night?"

"You can see me just as well over here. There have been other dayswhen you have not seen me. " A mischievous light gleamed in hereyes. 

"It wasn't my fault, " he smiled. "I tried pretty hard to see you!"

She went back, blushing like a school-girl. 

"Thank you! I'll be good! I can't realize that you are coming tomake my lonely home such a place of delight!"

She could not look up to meet the eyes that she knew were dwellingupon her. 

"I want to take you over there to-morrow, " he went on. "There area few changes I propose making, and you may like to suggest some onyour own account. You can have it any way you please. "

She glanced up now, her cheeks still aflame, her face flooded withjoy. 

"I shall like to go, " she said; "but I think I'll leave the changesto you. The outside looks beautiful to me just as it is. The widelawn on the south side, with the background of evergreens, ismagnificent!"

"I am glad you like that. I never tire of it. So you don't wantme to trim the trees up--as some folks advise?"

"O-h!" she gasped. "The effect would be ruined!"

He smiled. "I might have done it to please you, but I think I'dhave argued a little first. "

"I should have argued more than a little if you had suggested it, "she laughed. 

"I am going to build out a big veranda from the dining-room, put inwindows for the winter, and then give them over to screens throughthe summer. "

He paused to listen. "Dr. Temple, I presume, " as a car whizzed upand stopped. He went to the door, while Miss Sterling threw on hercoat. 

Mrs. Dudley joined them, and the four proceeded to the Home. 

The superintendent opened the door to them, smiling a little whenshe saw Nelson Randolph. 

"There is probably no real need of routing people from their bedsat this hour, " she said; "but, of course, we wish to do all we canwhen any one is suffering. The patient will be glad to see you, "she added, addressing the Doctor. 

The physician was swift in his diagnosis. "It is a case that callsfor quick work, " he told Mrs. Dudley. "There must be an operationat once. You think your husband will be here on the 1. 03 express?"

"I feel sure of it. "

"Then we will wait for him. "

"She can be taken over to the hospital now;--we need not wait forthat. "

Mrs. Dudley returned home to make the needful preparations, andJuanita Sterling went to encourage Miss Crilly for the comingordeal. 

The patient was tearful, but brave. 

"Probably I never shall come back, " she said; "but you are awfulgood to try to save me, Miss Sterling! I'd like to live longenough to show you how much I appreciate it. "

"Nonsense, that wasn't anything! And of course you're coming back!Dr. Temple says you have every chance in your favor if it's doneright away. He thinks you are in splendid condition. Now don'tyou worry a single minute!"

"I'll try not to! I wish I were as brave as you. I'd never havedared to go--with her chasin' me! My! I wish I could have seenyou two leggin' it!"

Miss Sterling laughed. "That is what Polly wished. But as for mybeing brave, Miss Crilly, I'm afraid I'm not. I am going to tellyou my big secret--I have told only Polly yet; but maybe it willgive you something to think of, --I expect to marry Mr. Randolph!"

"O-h, Miss Sterling! Oh, my! Isn't that perfectly beautiful!Well, you have given me something to think of! Why, I 'most forgotalready what's comin'! And I'm going to keep thinking of it hard, so's I won't worry! The idea of your marryin' the president! Ido' know's I wonder you weren't scared o' Miss Sniffen! And tothink how I jollied you only this morning--about him! Why, I neverthought of such a thing!"

"Of course not! But it didn't trouble me. "

"It didn't--really?"

"No, I quite enjoyed it!"

"You're awful good to say so! But what about Miss Puddicombe? Ithought he was--"

"No, he wasn't. It was a mistake. They're cousins, distantcousins, that's all. "

"Well, well, isn't that funny! And I'm so glad for you that Idon't know what to do!--O-h! my! that was a pretty big pain! But Ican bear it better now--will you kiss me once, just once, MissSterling?"

She bent and kissed her, and smiled cheerily. 

"What's that! I guess they're after me! Oh, if I don't come back--"

"But you are coming back!"

"Maybe--but if I shouldn't, remember I'll always love you for whatyou've done for me!"

The patient was wrapped up quickly by one of the hospital nurses, and two orderlies bore her away. She was still smiling. 

Juanita Sterling stood watching her out of sight, when a light stepclose behind made her start. 

"Did I frighten you?" smiled Mrs. Albright. "It's about MissTwining--Has Dr. Temple gone?"

"He was in the hall talking with Mr. Randolph. I'll see. "

She ran down a few steps, and then back again. 

"They're there still. Is she worse?"

"I don't know. She heard the commotion and after they'd gonecalled me in. She got nervous, lying there and imaginingeverything. I wish the Doctor could see her. Should you dare ask?"

"Yes--" She was on the stairs. 

Nelson Randolph saw her coming and put out his hand. But hedropped hers suddenly, as his fingers touched it. 

The sparkles of amusement were still in her eyes when she told hererrand. 

Dr. Temple looked at his watch. 

"Time enough?" inquired the president. 

"Plenty. "

Mr. Randolph approached the superintendent who was busying herselfat her desk. 

In a moment he returned. "Mrs. Nobbs will go up with you, " he said. 

Juanita Sterling did not wait; she hastened upstairs to insure Mrs. Albright's safe exit from the corner room. 

The door was left partly open as Mrs. Nobbs and the physicianentered, and the two in the opposite apartment moved out of range. 

The low voices of doctor and patient did not carry beyond thecorridor; but at a step Miss Sterling bent forward. 

Dr. Temple was taking an instrument from his bag. 

"Stethoscope, " she whispered. 

For several minutes no sound came from the sick-room. Thelisteners breathed anxiously. 

"Good as anybody's!" The tone was emphatic. 

Miss Sterling caught Mrs. Albright's hand in a rapturous squeeze. 

"Do you mean--no heart disease?" Miss Twining's soft voice wasshrilled with incredulous joy. 

They could not catch the reply; but they smiled to each other indelight. 

Shortly Mrs. Nobbs and the Doctor went downstairs, leaving the doorfree. 

The others hurried across. 

Miss Twining was tearfully excited. "Oh! did you hear? He saysmy heart is all right, and in the morning I can go down tobreakfast! He'll insure my living to be a hundred years old--as ifI ever would!" She laughed quiveringly. "Those pink tablets I'mto take after meals, and the brown ones if I should feel bad--Inever shall again! I believe it is two hours apart--you see! Hesays it is just a little nervous breakdown--There isn't any anodynein them! Oh, I'm so glad you called him!"

CHAPTER XXXV

A NEW WIRE

Early the next morning Juanita Sterling was awakened by a heavythud. Where was it? It came again. She sprang out of bed, threw arobe around her, and ran over to the window. 

Some distance below appeared a grinning face. A man was coming upa ladder. 

"Don't be scared, ma'am! I'm only going to put on the loop. Isn'tthis the room where the 'phone's to be?"

"Why--I don't know, " she hesitated. 

"It's to go in Miss Sterling's room. "

"Who ordered it?"

"Nelson Randolph of the Paper Company. "

"Oh, yes!" she cried, "that's all right. "

"Where will you have it? On this side?"

"I--guess so--" She looked around. "Yes, here'll be a good place. "

"All right, ma'am! Another man 'll be up to do the wiring. I'monly putt'n' on the loop. Orders were to rush it through--that'swhy I'm so early. " He grinned. "Hope I haven't disturbed you, ma'am. "

She assured him that she was not in the least disturbed. She drewdown the shades and turned back to the room. It was not yet sixo'clock. 

A telephone of her very own! Delightful possibilities loomedbefore her through all her dressing. No more dreading of stormydays when she would be shut in the house; no more fears to tortureher in the wakeful hours of the night. Help and protection wouldbe hers at call!--And she could talk with Polly! She wanted todance for very joy. And only two days ago her heart was aching!She felt as if it would never ache again. 

At breakfast she heard many surmises regarding the strange noisesabout the building, before the workmen on the L were there. Shedecided to keep silent unless she were asked. It would be knownearly enough. 

The electrician had come and gone, leaving on a table by the windowthe little instrument which seemed to its happy possessor to bealmost alive. She stood looking at it and wondering how soon itwould be in working order, when Mrs. Albright came in. 

At once she saw the telephone, and stared in astonishment. 

Miss Sterling laughed. "No more midnight troubles!"

"I am so surprised I don't know what to say. " The visitor sat down. 

"It isn't usable yet, " Miss Sterling told her. "The man said hehad to do some wiring in the cellar, make connections, and so on. "

"Won't it be lovely for you!" cried Mrs. Albright. 

"For all of us, " amended the other. "I want the ladies to feelthat it belongs to them as well as to me, and to come and use itwhenever they wish. "

"That is good of you! I'm sure it is needed badly enough. Isn't itnice that Miss Crilly is doing so well?"

"Yes, I'm glad as can be! I felt she would come out all right, butit is better to know it. "

"She owes her life to you. I never should have dared to brave MissSniffen's anger, as you did. "

"I guess I shouldn't have dared, if I hadn't known there wassomebody ready to stand by me in case of need. "

"That must have helped. Miss Sterling, I couldn't keep fromhearing what you told Miss Crilly last night. "

"I supposed you would; in fact, I meant you should hear. "

"Well, I am so glad! You don't know how glad! Only I can't bearthe thought of losing you. "

"Don't begin to worry yet! I shall not go at present. "

"Well, I wish you all possible joy, and I feel sure you'll haveit--with such a good man. My married life was short, --only oneyear, --but it was packed full of happiness. I have had the memoryof that all these years. "

"Was it sudden?"

"Like that!" She snapped her fingers. "We were in New York--on apleasure trip!" She smiled sadly. "A runaway horse struck himdown--he was gone in an instant!"

Tears sprang to the eyes of the listener. 

"Now I ought not to have told you!" Mrs. Albright said regretfully. 

"Yes, you ought! I am glad you did! I knew you had had sorrow;but I didn't know just what it was. "

"Death isn't the worst thing that can happen, " she smiled. "I tryto think only of the happiness I've had, instead of the rest. And, my dear, I cannot wish you any greater joy than I had as long asJack was with me. "

"It must be good to have that to remember. Sometimes--"

"Ting! ting! Ting! ting!"

"Why!--I wonder--" Miss Sterling ran over to the telephone. 

"Hallo!" she called. 

"Good-morning, Juanita!"

"Oh, Mr. Randolph! Good-morning!"

"My name is Nelson. "

She laughed softly. "Good-morning--Nelson!"

"Thank you! It is pleasant to hear you say it. "

"I didn't know the wire was usable yet. "

"I told them to call me up as soon as it was in working order. "

"It was such a surprise! I can't tell you what a joy it is to me!"

"I couldn't think of a better way out of the difficulty. "

"It is the best of anything. "

"I shall feel safer about you. Are you alone?"

"Yes, I am now. Mrs. Albright was here when you called; but I seeshe has slipped away. "

"It is delightful to be able to talk with you at any time. Youcannot realize what you are to me!"

She smiled into the mouth-piece. "You think, then, that a woman isincapable of the same feeling?"

"Oh, no, not incapable, but--I thought--that, perhaps--"

"You think I don't feel quite as you do--is that it?"

"Yes. I don't see how it is possible!"

"I am glad you think it is my heart that's at fault, instead of mybrain. "

"No, no, not at fault! I can't explain here. I'll wait till I seeyou. "

"Oh, let's finish it up right now! This is a private wire, isn'tit?"

"Certainly. "

"We'll go ahead, then. What makes you think I don't feel as Iought?"

"I didn't say just that! You're all right, anyway!"

"Thank you! But why do you think I don't feel as you feel?"

"Well, in the first place, there is no reason why you should. "

"Isn't there? And in the second place?"

"Why, you--you--weren't anxious to go to ride with me!"

"How do you know? Miss Sniffen got the invitations, not I!"

"I gave you one, face to face!"

"0-h, up in the pasture!"

"Yes. You offered no reason for your refusal. "

"I couldn't! I supposed that you were engaged to Miss Puddicombe. "

"And you were afraid she wouldn't like it?"

"You are not a good guesser. I think I didn't consider her verymuch, " with a little laugh. 

"Then you thought I ought not to ask you?"

"Don't ever enter a guessing contest--you wouldn't win!"

"I suppose not, " meekly. "Can't you help me out?"

The red in her cheeks crept up to her hair, she frowned a little. "I--I could not give you the real reason, Mr. Randolph, and Ididn't want to lie!" She ran ahead hurriedly. "I was trying toforget, and--"

"Wait a minute! A train is going through the cut, and I didn'thear that last. . . . Now go on, please. "

"I don't want to! It was bad enough to say it once!"

"You need not repeat, then. Though I should like to hear. "

"I said--I--had been trying--"

"Just a minute! Somebody is knocking. "

She sighed. She had a mind to run away--she hated the telephone!

"Hallo!"

No answer. 

"Princess, are you there?"

"Yes, " faintly. 

"Sorry I had to keep you waiting. Now I am all ears!"

"I wish you weren't!"

"Never mind, then! Let it go till I see you this afternoon. "

"Mercy! no!--I said--I--oh, I'm not going to tell you! You canguess it out for yourself. "

"Perhaps I can't. "

"Never mind! You won't miss much. Good-bye!"

"Wait a minute! Juanita!"

"Yes. "

"I'll be there about three, but I'd better call you up before Istart. I'm sorry you won't tell me. "

"It doesn't need to be told. Anybody could guess!"

"I can't see any clue. "

She laughed. "I'm the clue! Good-bye. "

CHAPTER XXXVI

POLLY DUDLEY TO CHRISTOPHER MORROW

 _Saturday Morning, _Dear Chris, --

I have such an avalanche of news, I don't know where to begin. First, I must thank you for your dear letter and the wild flowers. They are lovely. We were immensely interested in hearing aboutyour school, it is all so different from ours. What do you thinkfather said, Chris Morrow! He put the sheets carefully back in theenvelope, and as he laid it on the table he exclaimed, "That boy isa born letter-writer!" It ought to make you very proud, but I knowit won't. He never said that over a letter of mine! But I am notjealous. I do wish you were here. I wish it every day. But I'mglad you are so happy with your father, and that he has such asplendid position. Now for my news!

I ought to be dusting my room this very minute! My desk is sodusty--it blew in last evening, I guess, when the window was open, the dust, I mean--and it stares me in the face and makes me feelguilty. I can't do as Mrs. Albright does when her room is dustyand she doesn't feel like dusting. I went to see her one day, andshe was sitting by the window, smiling as usual. She said, "Don'tlook around, dear, for I presume the dust is thick on everything. I was too tired to dust after my walk, so I took off my glasses andhave been having a really beautiful time in spite of the dust. "

 _Later. _

There! I feel better. Everything is bright as new! Now I shan'tbe in terror if the doorbell rings. 

I wonder what I'd better take first. I wrote you all about MissCrilly and what a time Miss Nita had getting a doctor. Miss Crillyis back at the Home now, perfectly well, and you can't see her tenminutes before she will get in something about Miss Nita's savingher life. She did, too! Father says that if she had waited tillmorning it would have been too late. Poor Miss Sniffen! I'm gladshe didn't have any more to answer for! Mr. Randolph put a privatewire up to Miss Sterling's room, and she felt fixed all right. Itwas funny! If he'd waited till the next week he wouldn't haveneeded to do it, though it was very nice for her as long as she wasthere. Well, a week after the telephone was in, Mabel ran up toMiss Major's room before she was up, frightened half to death. Shesaid, "Oh, Miss Major!"--woke her out of a sound sleep--"MissSniffen has gone! And Mrs. Nobbs has gone! And Bridget has gone!"Bridget was the cook. "How do you know?" Miss Major asked. "'Cause they ain't anywhere!" Mabel cried. "We've looked all over, Nellie and me! In Miss Sniffen's room and Mrs. Nobbs's room andBridget's room! They ain't anywhere at all!" Of course, thatroused the house, and everybody was running round half-dressed, andthey hunted everywhere, and they couldn't find a trace of thethree. Their trunks had disappeared and every vestige of theirbelongings! The servants didn't know what to do, and they stoodaround helpless, till Miss Major and Mrs. Albright went into thekitchen and began to get breakfast. Miss Nita telephoned to Mr. Randolph, and he came up and appointed Miss Major to have charge ofthings till they could get new officers. In the middle of theforenoon who should appear but Mrs. Dick!--Mrs. Tenney, I shouldsay. Her husband had died a month or so before, and she had triedto get back into the Home, but Miss Sniffen wouldn't have her, andshe hadn't dared to apply to anybody else. As soon as she came inand found out they'd gone, she took off her things and went rightinto the kitchen to help. She started to make some bread; but theflour was sour and wormy, and she wouldn't use it. So Mr. Randolphsent up some new, and told her to order anything she needed. Youcan imagine they had a good dinner! It was a first-class meal, they all said, the best they had had in years. Miss Nita called meup early, and I ran over before school. They were having a regularjubilation, --as happy as a flock of kids!

Now they've got a superintendent that is worthwhile! She is justlovely! The matron is nice, too, so motherly. And what do youthink! They have a trained nurse--all the time--and they are goingto fix up an infirmary on the top floor, so those that are sick canbe quiet without the well ones having to be whist. Dr. Temple hasbeen appointed House Physician--oh, I tell you, things are mightilychanged at the Home!

I think I wrote you about Miss Twining and her "resurrection. "That night when Dr. Temple contradicted so emphatically what Dr. Gunnip had told her she says she felt as if she had been dead andburied all those dreadful weeks and had come back to life. MissCrilly insists that if it hadn't been for Miss Twining's"martyrdom" we never should have had "spunk" enough to go to Mr. Randolph with our awful story. I guess she is right. That stirredus up to do something. Miss Twining is pretty well now. Shewrites nearly every day, and as she can sell as much as she likesshe earns a good deal. She told me once how she had always longedto hear one of her poems read in church. Well, last Sunday Mr. Parcell finished up his sermon with her "Peter the Great. " It isbeautiful--I'll copy it for you some day. He repeated itsplendidly. I couldn't resist glancing over at Miss Twining--youought to have seen her! She looked just like a saint--or an angel!

Have I told you how father all but scolded me for talking to theminister in that way? He didn't like it a little bit! I shan'tdare to tell ministers what I think after this! But I do believeit did Mr. Parcell good. He has been lovely to me ever since. Heisn't half so cold and top-lofty as he used to be. 

I'm getting down pretty near the weddings, I guess. We've had two!They're celebrating birthdays now at the Home, and Mrs. Adlerfeld'shappened to be the first one. Miss Churchill had a lovely birthdaycake for her, and chrysanthemums. The table looked beautiful. Butlittle Mrs. Adlerfeld gave them a surprise. Of course, MissChurchill and the matron knew all about it, and Mrs. Albright andMiss Nita and I; but the majority did not dream of such a thing. At eight o'clock Mrs. Adlerfeld, who had slipped away to put on hertraveling dress, walked in on the arm of Mr. Von Dalin, and therewas a minister, and they were married! Colonel Gresham gave heraway, and we had such a nice time! She is living in New York. Oh, she was so sweet! I wish you could have seen her. In speaking ofMr. Von Dalin she said, "He is always a glad man. I could notmarry a man who was not glad. " Isn't that dear? It was hard tolose her. I am thankful Miss Nita didn't have to go away--I don'tknow what I should have done!

Now comes her wedding! It was so pretty, everybody said. I was init, so I couldn't tell so well. The chapel and all the rooms werebeautifully decorated with flowers, and the bride wore a simpletailored suit of dark blue, hat and boots to match. They lookedsplendid together, he is so tall and handsome and she is so slenderand pretty. You don't know how much prettier she is since she hascurled her hair! I always thought she would be. Almost all theladies went right to curling their hair as soon as Miss Sniffen hadskipped out, and it is a great improvement. Father gave away thebride, and David was Mr. Randolph's best man. I was the maid ofhonor. I felt as if I had been married myself. David said hedidn't, but he wished he had been. Doesn't that sound just likehim? He is the queerest boy! Do you know, he comes away up herealmost every morning, so as to walk down to school with me and cutout Todd Wilmerding! He knows I don't care a rap for Todd, but hehates to see him carrying my books!

Miss Nita says I must call her simply "Nita" now, but it is hard tochange. Mr. Randolph sometimes calls her "Princess, " and shealways smiles and blushes--I wonder why! "Princess" just fits her, doesn't it? He declares he shall feel slighted if I don't call him"Nelson"! As if I would--that dignified man! Nita insists that heisn't dignified one bit, but I don't agree with her. Anyway, Ishan't leave off the "Mr. " to-day! They were only gone a week. Igo over there nearly every day. The house has been altered a gooddeal. A beautiful, big veranda, or addition, has been built offthe dining-room, sides all glass, and heated so that it can be usedin the coldest weather. I ate dinner there last week. Nita hastwo servants, so she doesn't have to work hard. There is a newmusic room, too, out of the hall, with a magnificent new piano init! Miss Nita enjoys that. Oh, I forgot to tell you that they aregoing to have a piano at the Home! Mrs. Winslow Teed is delighted. And they have new china for the table. Miss Churchill couldn'tstand that old heavy stuff, and the good had all been broken. Youwouldn't know the place. The ladies can go and come as theyplease, making a note of where they are going, or not, just as theychoose. There are hardly any rules, and visitors are allowed everyafternoon between two o'clock and six. I guess Mr. Randolph meansto make up to them for all they have suffered through Miss Sniffen. One thing I am glad of! The ladies have some new dresses! AndMrs. Crump and Miss Castlevaine have new winter coats. They werethe worst dressed of anybody, as they had been there longest. AndI am almost gladdest of this, --each lady has five dollars a monthfor spending money! They are expected to buy their own shoes andstockings and gloves and neckwear and hats; but they'll have plentyleft for themselves. 

Mrs. Albright's birthday comes next week, and we are planning a bigtime. But the cream of the birthdays comes next summer, when weexpect to celebrate June Holiday's birthday. It will be a grandoutdoor affair. Some of the ladies have chosen their partsalready. Everybody is to represent something in a June day, andthe children--trustees' and managers' children, you know--are goingto be butterflies and bumblebees. They want me to be Morning--inlight pink. Miss Crilly is going to be South Wind--won't she bebreezy? She hasn't quite decided about her costume, but it is tobe of some gauzy stuff. I think Miss Lily will be Blue Sky andWhite Clouds. She will be sweet in blue and white. Then there aregoing to be lots of flowers and birds and all sorts of characters. I wish you could be here! Can't you come across? What do youthink Blue says he is going to be? A hop-toad! Isn't that likehim! If he does he'll carry it out so he'll keep everybodylaughing. There is Patricia coming! I must say good-bye in ahurry. Loads of love from us all. 

 Polly May Dudley. 

P. S. Patricia has just gone. She brought some news. Doodles isgoing to be soprano soloist in the boy choir at Trinity Church!Isn't that worth while! Of course, it is Mr. Randolph's doing. Heis one of the head men there, and what he says, goes. He thinksDoodles's singing is about right. So Nita will hear him everySunday. Mother says you'll have to stay home from school the dayyou read this, for there won't be time for anything else. Morelove from

 Polly. 

CHAPTER XXXVII

HOLLY AND MISTLETOE

June Holiday Home awoke early on the 24th of December, foreverybody--which means fifteen of the residents--was going to spendthe day with Mrs. Randolph. "From directly after breakfast untilmidnight, " the invitation ran, and the president's car was to be atthe Home by eight o'clock. 

Such a profusion of curls and crimps, of new dresses and waists andfichus, added to new shoes and hats and coats, would have shockedthe former superintendent of the Home; but Miss Churchill and MissEly even offered their services in the putting on of frills andfurbelows, to the astonishment of those not yet grown familiar withkindness. 

Mrs. Post, being unable to walk, had at first considered herself asentirely out of the fun; but Mrs. Randolph won the enduring love ofthat eldest member of the Home circle by saying that she shouldsend an extra man with the chauffeur, so that Mrs. Post might haveno fears regarding her trip from Edgewood Avenue to Courtney Street. 

The Randolph home looked a bower of Christmas greenery and blossomswhen the guests entered it that chill morning. 

"My! isn't it beautiful!" cried Miss Crilly, sniffing the pungent, woodsy odors. "Smells like you were right there!" She grasped herhostess by the shoulders. "Now, solemn true! Aren't you thehappiest mortal on earth?"

Mrs. Randolph smiled, blushing a little, too. 

"I don't know how happy other people may be, " she answered; "I onlyhope that they are as happy as I am. "

"There! I knew it!" Miss Crilly exulted, as if she had justdisclosed a secret. 

The others laughed, the thin ice of conventionality was swept away, and at once all were merry. 

"I think the new ladies wished they were coming when they heard ustalking about it, " said Miss Mullaly. 

"They said they were invited to spend the day with relatives, "returned the hostess. 

"Yes, but they won't have half so good a time as we shall. " MissCrilly wagged her head expectantly. "They'll just sit around stiffand poky--most of them look as if they would. Isn't Polly coming, Mis' Randolph?"

"This evening. "

"Won't that be lovely! She always makes things fly!"

During the forenoon the house was inspected from the quaint littlerooms under the eaves to the cold-storage apartment below ground. Miss Crilly insisting that she wanted to see the head and the footof it; and no new mistress of her own home would have been humannot to be pleased with the praise that came from all lips, evenincluding Miss Castlevaine's and Mrs. Crump's. In fact, these twofault-finders appeared to have been won over from their mostunpleasant habits by the changes at the Home, which went to provethat Colonel Gresham was not wholly wrong. 

"The clouds are chiming in with the rest of the world, " called MissMullaly from the sunshine-room, just as the sun was setting. "Comehere, every one of you, and see this sky!"

Informality was the watchword of the day, the guests having earlybeen given the freedom of the house, and Miss Mullaly had strayedaway from the others into the windowed room. 

"My sakes!" exclaimed Miss Crilly. "Isn't that a real Christmascelebration!"

After the first outburst, the little party watched the gorgeousdisplay almost in silence. 

"It is too grand for words, " breathed Miss Major. 

Mrs. Randolph caught sight of Miss Twining's face, and it turnedher from the distant glory. She told Mrs. Albright afterwards thatshe looked as if it were given her to see what was not visible tothe others--a glimpse of heaven itself. 

Mrs. Bonnyman broke the spell. 

"Let's go back before it fades, " she suggested. And the majorityfollowed her into the firelit living-room. 

"You missed the lovely purple tints, " Miss Mullaly told them, asthe remaining quartette filed back to join the rest. 

"We'd rather have the picture of that magnificent sky of mottledcrimson, " declared Mrs. Grace. 

"Nothing could be finer than that, " observed Mrs. Tenney. 

"Look out!" broke in a rich voice. "I shan't let you say there'sanything finer than this!"

"Not even a sunset?" laughed Miss Crilly, as Nelson Randolphappeared in the doorway, "A sunset is all right in its proper place, " he smiled; "but when Iwant to ornament a chandelier I prefer this. " He held up a largespray of mistletoe. "What do you think?" he challenged Miss Crilly. 

"I guess you've got me this time!" she laughed. 

"And I may get you again, my girl, before the evening is out!" Heshook a warning finger in her direction. 

"Dear me!" she cried, "I'm glad I came! To be called a 'girl'! I, an old maid of--I won't tell how many 'summers'! Thank you, Mr. Randolph!"

"If all old maids were as young as you there wouldn't be any, " heresponded gallantly. 

She laughed her blushing protest, while he went for a stepladder. 

The mistletoe, in its place of honor among the evergreens, broughtforth many expressions of admiration. 

The host surveyed it with satisfaction. 

"I think that's a pretty nice piece of mistletoe, " he said slowly. "It ought to be, I paid a good price for it. But I expect to getmy reward before midnight, " he twinkled to the smiling company. 

"Don't be too sure, Mr. Randolph!" cautioned Miss Crilly. 

"I am an expert at this business, " he announced gravely, "and all Ihave to say is, Look out!"

The ladies were still laughing when they sat down to dinner. Luncheon had been in the sunshine-room, but dinner was served inthe dining-room, a big, beautiful apartment all in oak, with a firecrackling at one end. The favors were knots of mistletoe andholly, and a roasted goose held the place of honor upon the table. All were in gayest holiday humor, from the mirthful host to quietMiss Leatherland, who came far enough out of her shy self to showher friends that she possessed a goodly amount of fun and onlyneeded the opportune moment to display it. 

As the guests sauntered back to the living-room, they made a widedetour, rather than risk crossing the space beneath the brilliantchandelier with its innocent adornment. The host, after carefullydepositing the cripple in the easiest chair, smiled over to MissCrilly. 

"Too bad to cause you so many unnecessary steps!" he said. 

"My feet are not tired, " she smiled back at him. 

"Then let's have a waltz!" he cried, coming up with outstretchedhands. 

"Too soon after dinner, " she laughed. 

"No, it's a good time!" he twinkled gravely. 

She hesitated, considering him with doubt on her face. 

"Don't you trust him!" called Mrs. Randolph. "He is longing towaltz you under the mistletoe!"

He strode across to his wife. 

"How dare you blacken my reputation in the face of all theseladies!" he cried sternly. 

She laughed up at him with fearless, roguish eyes. 

"Have I suggested anything that was not in your mind to do?"

A burst of laughter assailed him, while he walked offmuttering, --quite audibly, --"These women! these women!"

The jingling of sleighbells set the keener-eared of the guests tolistening. 

"Polly wouldn't come in a sleigh, would she?" queried one. 

"They're stopping here!" announced Miss Castlevaine from a frontwindow. "But it isn't Polly, " she added, "it's--goodness!--it'sSanta Claus!"

"Santa Claus!" echoed the roomful. And regardless of mistletoe, there was a rush across to the windows, while Nelson Randolph wentto welcome his guests. 

In they came, the strange little party of six, and were presentedto the company as Santa Claus and Madam Santa Claus and four of thelittle Santa Clauses. 

"Who can they be?" whispered Miss Mullaly to her neighbor. 

"More'n I know, " returned Mrs. Crump. "I guess Polly's one of 'em, but which!"

Santa Claus was the same rotund, pudgy old fellow--with the longwhite beard and the laughing face--that children love, and on hisbroad back was the proverbial pack of presents. His wife, in furfrom head to foot, wore a frilled fur cap, and, safely hiddenbehind her spectacled, rosy-cheeked mask, looked the veritablemother of all the little Santa Clauses attributed to her. Thechildren stood silently by in their picturesque costumes, lookinground the room, as children will, while their father and motherconversed with the host and hostess. 

Finally they were all seated, and Madam Santa Claus began in quitea motherly way to talk about her children. 

"It's Polly Dudley, " whispered Mrs. Tenney to Mrs. Prindle. "Iknow her voice. And I'm pretty sure that little one is Doodles. Don't they look funny?"

They were all clad in red and white. The girls wore scarlet frocksreaching almost to the floor, with short white fur coats, and capsto match. The boys had long red trousers, and coats like those oftheir sisters. As they looked around on the company they bore astrong resemblance to their parents, with their rosy cheeks andlaughing lips. 

"I had to leave most of the children at home, " the mother wassaying. "Lambkin is too young to come out such a cold night, soEagle stayed to take care of her; and at the very last minuteMonkey broke his arm, and of course Brother couldn't come withouthis twin. It only served Monkey right, he's so careless--thoughI'm not quite sure that it is Monkey! I never can tell those boysapart. " Mother Santa Claus wagged her head cheerfully. "Then, Mousey and Deer have sore throats, and I thought the rest hadbetter stay and keep the sick ones company. They'll have a goodChristmas Eve all together, even if they are sick. "

"Please, can I take off my coat?" asked one of the girls, coming toher mother's side. 

"Not yet, Starling. Sit down and be quiet!"

"Your children have unusual names, " twinkled the host gravely. 

"That's what people say, " the mother returned. "But we simply namethem according to their characteristics. This one, " nodding to thegirl who had just gone back to her seat, "we call Starling, becauseshe talks so much, and her sister there is Dove, because she is sogentle. Squirrel is the nimblest of them all and he is never stilla minute. See him wiggling round now! This little one, " reachingout a hand to the smallest of the four, "is Lark. Because he singsso sweetly. --Can't you sing your new carol, dear?"

So the youngest of the Santa Clauses stood up obediently and sung abeautiful Christmas song about the Baby Christ. The applause waslong and insistent. 

"He'll sing again for you pretty soon, " promised Mother SantaClaus. "I think father is ready to distribute the presents now. Come, children, run along and help him, and mind you all steplively!"

The rosy-cheeked Saint took up a big parcel, and read off, in aclear voice, "Miss Katharine Crilly. "

Starling was nearest, and took the package; but Miss Crilly, alittle upset at being the owner of the first name called, jumped upand hurried across the room for her present, unheedful of mistletoeand the eyes that were watching her. Just inside the enchantedcircle, the sudden hush of the room gave her its warning. Shecaught the eager glances directed beyond her, and turning her headuttered a startled cry. Almost at the same instant an arm shottoward her, missing its aim by scarce an inch. With one bound shecleared the invisible line of danger, and, scudding straight pastStarling and her inviting parcel, stopped only at the detaininghand of her laughing hostess. 

"Mercy sakes!" she cried, and her face rivaled in color the SantaClaus reds, as she met the laughing eyes of her host. 

She came back with her parcel, much flurried and still scarlet offace, while squeals of laughter and gay sallies rang about her. 

After that there was more heed, and the distribution of presentswent on without further hindrance. 

The big bag was empty at last, and Santa Claus exclaimed with asigh: "Oh, but it's hot! I say, let's get off some of thistoggery!" He slipped himself out of his fur coat, pulled off hiscap and his mask--and there was David Collins, smiling blithely tothe company!

The others were quick in following his example, and Madam SantaClaus stood revealed as laughing Polly, with Patricia, Leonora, Blue, and Doodles clustered round her. 

Then there was plenty to say, many thanks to be given, and muchchatter and laughter. In the midst of it all, Nelson Randolph madehimself heard:--

"Ye men-folk, listen! I am glad to share my rewards with you, sogo ahead, David and Blue and Doodles, and obtain as much tribute aspossible under the mistletoe!"

"How can you share what you haven't got and never had and don'tknow as you ever will have?" laughed Miss Crilly. 

He turned toward the saucy speaker and shook his finger sternly. 

"Jilting me, and then taunting me of my failure! Katharine Crilly, perhaps before midnight the slipper will be on the other foot!"

This brought a hubbub of applause and merriment, and the ladiesbacked away from the charmed circle and giggled and talked gaylyamong themselves. 

But Christmas presents are bewitching things, and it was not longbefore mistletoe was all forgotten in the beauties of fineneedlework, the mysteries of new stitches, and the attractions ofdainty knickknacks. David and Blue and Doodles succeeded in makingmomentary captives of Mrs. Tenney, Mrs. Winslow Teed. And MissLily, while Polly and Patricia were several times arrested on theirheedless ways across the room. 

Nelson Randolph seemed to have eyes only for Miss Crilly, althoughonce Polly almost walked into his hands. A short but exciting raceshe led him before dodging behind Miss Mullaly's chair and askingbreathlessly if the mistletoe was all over the room. 

He halted and looked round on the laughing company. 

"My word of honor! I forgot!--Lady Polly, I humbly beg yourgracious pardon!" He bowed low. 

"Granted, Sir Rogue!" she replied, dropping a curtsy. 

Full of the spirit of mischief, Patricia slipped away to the piano. And so the waltzing began. 

Of course, everybody knew what to expect from their "men-folk"partners unless they were exceedingly wary, and only an occasionalcouple whirled into the enchanted circle. 

Ice cream and cakes were succeeded by music and the singing ofcarols, until somebody suggested that it was time to go home. 

The host took out his watch. 

"I shall not open the door for anybody yet, " he declared. "Onlyten o'clock! Master Lark will give us another song!"

But before the command had been obeyed, the telephone rang lustily. 

"Oh, is it!" Mrs. Randolph heard her husband say. "Thank you all, and a Merry Christmas to every one of you!"

When he returned he nodded smilingly to her, and then Doodles gavea funny little sleepy song that none of the others had heard, --"TheLand of I-dunno-where. "

Afterwards came more carols, until Blue and Doodles had to hurryaway lest they miss the last car to Foxford. 

The all-day guests began to put on their wraps, word was sent tobring up the car, and all was bustle and happy words and MerryChristmases in abundance. Each guest carried a pretty basketfilled with gifts from the host and hostess, and it was nearlyeleven before the last load was off, with the sleighful of youngfolks to keep it company. 

Nelson Randolph and his wife went silently back to the desertedliving-room. 

"Seems kind of lonely, doesn't it?" she said. 

"Not a bit!" he replied, leading her under the mistletoe andclaiming his reward. 

"They did have a good time, " she said happily. 

"The best, I'll warrant, that they've had for a decade. " He lookeddown at his wife searchingly. 

"What is it?" she smiled. 

"You didn't care, did you?"

"For what?"

He tossed his head toward the branch above them. 

"No, indeed!" she replied. "Why should I?"

"I didn't think you would, " he said slowly; "but some women wouldhave had a fit!"

"I wasn't built that way, " she laughed. "I think I enjoyed it morethan any of the rest of you!"

"My dearest wife!" he said gravely, while his lips found theirfavorite spot where a curl strayed over her forehead, --"My dearestwife!"

She heard with almost a start. Did he realize his words, or was itsimply an impulsive phrase? A story had been told her once--but, no, that did not belong to Christmas Eve!

"It was all a happening, " he went on. "I spied the mistletoe whenI was coming home, and it set me to wondering if it wouldn't helpout; so I brought it along. I wanted those dear women to have areal Christmas merry-making, not a sham affair. Take such folks, they'll generally sit around and talk, and laugh a little, andthink they are celebrating something. I wanted them to have ayoung Christmas. And I didn't catch anybody after all, " he ended, a plaintive note in his voice. 

"You didn't try to catch anybody, did you?" she smiled. 

"What ever put such a thing into your head?" he demanded fiercely. 

She laughed. "I have seen you a few times before to-night. "

He frowned--then broke into a chuckle. 

"Bless you!" he said fervently. 

"Nelson Randolph!" she suddenly cried out, trying to break awayfrom him, "The windows! I forgot!"

"What's the matter with them?" he twinkled. "They're all shut. "

"But the shades! They're up!--Nelson!"

"What if they are?" he returned comfortably. 

"Somebody may look in!"

He smilingly held her tight. "If any wanderer is abroad in thiscold, he ought to be rewarded with a picture of domestic bliss. "

"But if Mrs. Betts should be coming home late!--"

"She'd probably be disappointed that it was only I, instead of someother woman's husband. "

"Nelson, do let me go!. . . I think we might find easier seats, " shelaughed, as she came back to him. 

He turned her toward the little mantel clock. It was two minutesof twelve. 

"Almost Christmas morning!" she said softly. "I wonder if they'llcall us up to-night. "

"Hardly. We should have heard before. Everything was complete atten o'clock. "

"How surprised they were!" she mused smilingly. "I'm so glad youdid it for them. "

"I am glad you did it!" he amended. 

She started to reply, but he lifted a detaining finger. The cityhall clock was striking the hour. 

"My princess, "--his lips touched her own, --"I wish you thejoyfulest Christmas--"

"Ting! ting! Ting! ti-i-ng!" broke in imperiously. 

"Go, " he urged, loosing his clasp. 

"Oh, Mis' Randolph! is that you?" came in Miss Crilly's clearvoice. "We all wish you a merry, merry Christmas, and we thank youmore than we can ever tell if we live to be a hundred years old!They piled into my room to wait till Christmas morning, for theywould have me do the talking, though I can't do it half so well assome of the rest of 'em! Oh, you don't know how surprised we were!We stood talking in my door. Mis' Albright and Miss Mullaly andMiss Major and I, and I said, 'Come in and sit down!' So I strucka light, and happened to glance this way! Well, I gave one scream, and looked round to make sure where I was; and Miss Mullaly shesquealed out, 'How came that here?' Then I spun across the roomlively! And when I picked up your card with its dear little pieceof mistletoe--well, you could have knocked me down easy! We heardlittle shouts and laughs all up and down, and Miss Major said, 'Iwonder--' and ran right off to her room quick. Then the otherscaught on, and they went! I had to follow, of course, to see! Andwhen we found there was a 'phone in every room--we just didn't knowwhat to do! Why, if I wake up in the night I shall want to runover here to feel of it, just to make sure it is true! To think ofyour doing it for us!"

"I didn't! It is Mr. Randolph you ought to be thanking, not me!He--"

There was a dash across the room and the receiver was caught fromher hand. 

"No, no! I had nothing to do with it! I only filled my wife'sorder--that's all!"

"Nelson Randolph!" she expostulated. "Let me have the telephone!"

But he shook his head. "Thank you, Miss Crilly, on her behalf!I'm mighty glad you like them. What's that? Oh, well, if she did, I should be there beside her, thanking Him for giving me so good awife!"

"What are you talking about? I want to know!"

With a smile he relinquished the instrument. 

"I heard you say that! I told him that Miss Mullaly said you oughtto get down on your knees every day of your life and thank the Lordfor giving you such a good husband. "

"You can tell Miss Mullaly that is just what I do!"

"My! I will. Isn't this fun, to be talking with you thisway!--and at midnight, too! Oh, why didn't I think of it when hewas there! Well, you thank him for us all! You ought to haveheard us gabble when we found those five-dollar gold pieces in ourbaskets! It was lovely of him to do it! And those shoes you gaveme--did you crochet them yourself?"

"Certainly. "

"All those stitches for me! They're beautiful! I've always wishedI had some of that kind. And--just think!--I shouldn't be hereto-night if it hadn't been for you! Oh, I couldn't thank youenough if I should live to be a thousand years old! You'll be sureand come to our tree, won't you?"

"We will look in on you some time during the evening. We can runaway from the Dudleys' for a little while. "

"Well, I am so full of happiness I believe one drop more would makemy eyes spill over! I never thought I should chime in with Mis'Puddicombe, but to-night I do! June Holiday Home _is_ the gate ofheaven--and all because of you and Polly!"

THE END