votion to Betty; but now, both lonely and both in a
new environment, they had been greatly drawn together. Polly's
occasional visits had been one of Esther's few sources of pleasure
outside her work.

"How charming you are looking, Polly," Esther began, taking off her
guest's dark coat and hat, and seeing her emerge in a crimson woolen
dress, which made a bright spot of color in the shabby room. Polly,
you must remember, was only pretty on occasions; but this afternoon was
certainly one of her good-looking days. The cold had made her pale
cheeks flame and given a softer glow to her eyes.

"I am simply ravenous, Esther, and dying for your delicious tea," Polly
next remarked, following her hostess to the tea table and taking her
seat, while Esther poured out the boiling water. "It is a kind of a
homesick day and I have been wishing that we were going to have a
meeting of our old Sunrise Hill Camp Fire circle. What wouldn't you
give for a glimpse of the Princess this afternoon?"

Esther's lips twitched as she lighted her three candles.

"Almost anything I possess," she returned.

"But you are going to see her pretty soon? You are going back to
Woodford for Christmas?" Polly tried to hide her own nervousness in
putting this simple question. With her eyes shining over the edge of
her cup she continued slowly drinking her tea, so that the rest of her
face could not be seen.

But Esther was not paying her any special attention. Quietly she shook
her head. "No, Polly, I am not going home. I am so sorry, for I
wanted to dreadfully. But my music lessons are so expensive that
father does not feel he can afford to let me come. I haven't yet had
the courage to write and break the news to the Princess. She is fond
of me, don't you think so, Polly? She will be sorry that I can't be
with her for the holidays? Of course I know she does not care for me
as she does for you. I shall never expect that. But it does mean so
much to me to feel sure of her affection."

Polly frowned in a slightly puzzled fashion. Esther's adoration even
of her beloved Betty seemed a little unnatural. Why should one girl
care so much about the attitude of another one? She loved Betty
herself, of course, and Betty loved her. Yet she doubted very much if
either one worried over the emotions of the other.

"Oh, yes, Esther," Polly returned a trifle impatiently. "Of course
Betty is devoted to you. Why shouldn't she be? Really, I do