d n't without a tussle; but Cornelius was
more than a match for him--my! Don't I wish I were as strong as
he!"

"You will be some day," encouraged Polly. "But I'm glad I chose
that book for Cornelius--it's all about a knight!"

"What book?" queried David.

"Oh, the book I left at his home for him this afternoon! I
forgot," and she caught up the long parcel for David. "I hope
you'll like that," she said.

The boy's eyes glistened when he saw what it was.

"Oh, you don't know how many times I've wished I had a flute!"
he cried, fingering the little instrument delightedly.

"What's going on here?" called Dr. Dudley, from the open door.

"These are going _in here!_" flashed Polly, deftly transferring
a square, thin package from the couch to the Doctor's pocket.

It caught and held by one corner, but the physician did not leave
it long. He looked at it critically, and then laid it on the
table, and began untying the bright ribbon which bound it.

"You have seen the hole in my Sunday handkerchief!" exclaimed
the Doctor, dramatically, his eyes a-twinkle as he opened the box.

Polly and David laughed.

The handkerchiefs were fine and dainty enough to suit the most
fastidious gentleman, and Dr. Dudley expressed sincere admiration
for the gift.

Then the story of the locket had to be told again, and at its end
David discovered that it was time for him to be at his new home.

Polly began to look over the packages, picking out what she wished
to carry upstairs at once.

"Are n't you going to tell me about your visit?" asked the
Doctor, dropping into his easiest chair with a luxurious sigh of
relief, after a hard day.

The little girl's face grew suddenly grave. In the pleasure of
the last hour she had forgotten the trouble that had been looming
ahead of her ever since Mrs. Jocelyn's proposition. She laid
Mabel's doll back on the pile, and came slowly over to the Doctor.

Chapter XVI

A Secret

"You went shopping, I observe," began Dr. Dudley, tentatively.

"Yes," responded Polly, balancing herself on the arm of his
chair. "Mrs. Jocelyn bought lots of things for me to give to
people. We bade out a list--or she did. She let me choose."

"That was kind."

"Yes," Polly assented, and then studied the rug for a moment.

The Doctor waited.

"We went to a musicale, this forenoon, at Mrs. Trowbridge's,"
she resumed. "The little boy was there who plays the violin so
beautifully. Mrs. Jocelyn got m