t for a minute--that
was all. No, I don't think you did anything that a sensible boy
would mind in the least. Even if you were grown up and engaged to
David, you did nothing that should have caused him any annoyance."

"Oh! that's more than mother gave me credit for!--Do you really
know what you're saying anyway?" laughed Polly.

"Perfectly, Miss Dudley! And I declare to you this moment that you
are a model of propriety!"

"O-o-h! Don't I look awfully puffed up? Now you'll think me
silly! But I've talked long enough about David and me. I'm dying
to tell you how glad, glad, glad I was last evening every time I
looked your way! I almost forgot the birthday girl for thinking of
you! Wasn't Mr. Randolph lovely? And didn't you have a dandy
time? Why, he kept as close to you as if you 'd been engaged to
him! He--"

"Oh, Polly, don't talk that silly stuff! I won't hear it!" Miss
Sterling got up hurriedly and went to her work-table, apparently
hunting 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 thought
you were having a lovely time--you looked as if you were! Doodles
spoke 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 I
guess he thought so--"

"Polly! what did I tell you?" She came back with a half-mended
stocking.

"Aren't you ever going to let me speak of Mr. Randolph again? He
acted 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 a
little uncertainly.

Polly drew a long breath of disappointment. "I never knew you to
act 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 so
much better."

"It is a rare gift to be a good accompanist, and you surely possess
it."

"Thank you--you're not saying that to counterbalance what you said
about--?"

"No, I'm not! When I say a thing I mean it."

"Perhaps some other folks do. Oh, Miss Nita! I couldn't help
hearing w