over and flung his arm over his mother's shoulders.
"Yes, Mr. Maynard--she is great. And we shall live to call her
'blessed,' for this temporary parting from Polly will soon be a dream of
the past, and both father and mother will laugh at this talk!"

Drawing Polly into the house, Eleanor whispered: "I know just what you
are going to say, Goody-good! You were ready to explode because you had
not told me any such things as I pretended you had. But, don't you see,
I had to take lots of things for granted to put the plan over in a few
seconds? Suppose I had started out with turning to you every few moments
for approval, where would we have ended."

"That's what _you_ think, Nolla, but let me tell you this much right
here"--and Polly planted her feet firmly and lifted her head upon her
proud neck, until Eleanor stood admiring her independence--"I can talk
for myself, every time! Don't ever quote me again in any thing that I
ever said or did. You may think it is all right because you win out on
those grounds, and simply because you never have been taught properly by
your mother. But _I_ know better and I won't accept any victory won on
any other basis than a clear conscience. Ask Anne Stewart whether she
does not agree with me on this point. Now let me tell you, that much as
I had yearned to go to New York with you-all I cannot go because you
took my personal rights from me. I love you and I was crazy to leave
home to go to school, but I will never consent to have any one say or
act for me, in any way, when I am perfectly able to do so for myself."

"Oh, Poll! I don't mean it that way--don't you know I only did it to
help you out?" cried Eleanor aghast at the turn in events.

"Who asked you to help me out?" demanded Polly, her blue eyes emitting
sparks of fire.

"Why--wh--y--you see I had to win your father over!"

"But _who_ told you so? You know very well that it was your own pride in
your ability to _talk_ that made you take the bit between your teeth.
But you will learn now, that I intend driving my own steed, and will not
allow others to whip my mount!"

Eleanor was silenced as she began to review the very recent talk she had
given out on the terrace. Polly was right!

"It hurts me to tell you this, Nolla, but it is best that we have a
clean slate from this night on. You are awfully clever and witty, too,
but you do exaggerate something terrible! I cannot sit tamely by and
accept all the things you say of me an