dered Polly.

Miss Crilly laughed. "Sure!" she agreed. "I'll find out who wants
to 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. Post
and Miss Leatherland. What can we do!"

Polly counted up. "That makes twelve of you, so Patricia and
Leonora can go. David and I will stay home."

"You'll do no such thing!" Miss Sterling's tone was firm. "I'll
send Polly in my stead."

"Polly won't go!" she laughed. "You're the one that received the
invitation, and the idea of your staying behind! David is coming
up, anyway, and we're to play duets if we can't go; so we'll be all
right."

Miss Sterling gave Polly a quick glance of surprise, and Polly
threw 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 one
o'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 ride
makes me good for nothing. That note for Miss Twining was from her
minister, Mr. Parcell. It seems, awhile ago, she sent him a book
of her own poems, and this was to acknowledge it and beg pardon for
his tardiness. It is a beautiful note! She let me read it. He
praises her poetry sky-high--he doesn't say too much, you know, but
just enough. And you ought to see her--she is so pleased! She
wanted me to tell you that she had it. When she first read it she
cried, and I didn't know but it would upset her; but I guess it
hasn't. He says he is coming to call on her as soon as she is able
to 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 no
heed. She and Miss Crilly hurried away.

"I hope she won't ever find out my part in it," sighed Polly. "But
I 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 it
made up?"

Polly laughed happily. "No more quarrels forever! Mrs. Gresham
was sick, and David came up for father; so I asked him to stay--and
we