he gets back!"
And Poly, assured of followers, skipped away for the dust-cloths.

Of course Polly did most of the little tasks; that was to be
expected, since she had no lame back or twisted leg or crutches in
the way. But everybody that was on his feet had some share in the
general service, and was therefore free to appropriate a part of
the praise with which Miss Lucy showered them.

Yes, she had had a charming ride, she told them, and they felt it
must be so, since they had never seen her in a gayer mood.

"Run up to my room if you can slip away," she whispered to Polly.
"I shall be there changing my gown."

After Miss Lucy had gone, the attention of the rest was attracted
by a horseback party on the street, and Polly darted away as she
had been bidden.

"Dear child!" said Miss Lucy, taking the little face in both her
hands. "You have given me a great pleasure."

"It was n't I," laughed Polly. "It was Dr. Dudley. Are n't you
glad now that you went?"

"Yes," she smiled. "Because if I had n't, Elsie might not have
had this birthday present. Come, see what Doctor and I bought for
her."

She opened a small package, disclosing a tiny box. In the box was
a little gold signet ring with and Old English "E" engraved upon
it.

"Oh," admired Polly, "is n't that lovelicious! I'm so glad for
Elsie!"

"Yes," Miss Lucy went on, "I think she will like it. We wanted
to give her something that she would keep to remember the day by,
and we could n't think of anything better. She has a poor little
home, though her mother works hard and does all she can to make
the children happy. But Elsie can't have had many bright things
in her life, so we're going to try to make her birthday as
pleasant as possible."

"I should think this would please anybody, it is so beautiful!"
and Polly laid it gently back in its little case.

Presently she was downstairs again, happy in the knowledge of
sharing a secret with Miss Lucy and Dr. Dudley.

After dinner she read to the children from her new book of fairy
tales, and the Miss Lucy taught them some new games that they
could all play--even those who were still in bed.

They were just finishing one of these, when the strains of an old
song suddenly sounded near by.

"Oh, a hand-organ!" somebody shouted, and they flocked to the
windows.

"And he's got a monkey!" squealed Brida.

"Oh, that's 'count o' my birthday!" cried the happy Elsie. "I do
wish he'd come up here!"

Her