ions in the world.

With Ronald at the court the days grew pleasanter than ever. He begged
Pollyooly to demand that she too should have a holiday. But this she
would not do. She had seen the world at too close quarters to throw
away things idly; and she was learning French. Indeed, the lessons had
been reduced to French because Pollyooly had heard the Esmeralda say
that she found her knowledge of French a perfect blessing; and agreeing
with her, the Honourable John Ruffin had said that to an artist who
danced on the continent and in the Americas, French must be worth
hundreds a year.

Pollyooly had the firmest intention of dancing herself on the continent
and in the Americas, and she applied herself to learning the French
tongue with the vigour and tenacity with which she worked at her
dancing. Miss Belthorp was astonished at the quickness with which she
learnt; and she talked with enthusiasm to the duke of his daughter's
gift for languages.

"She has: has she?" said the duke; and he looked at her somewhat
queerly.

"It's perfectly wonderful!" said Miss Belthorp.

"Oh, well: it's a very good thing. I dare say it will come in useful
one of these days," said the duke.

On their walk that morning he told Pollyooly that Miss Belthorp had
said that she was a marvel at languages; and Pollyooly was very pleased
to hear it. She told the duke her reason for working so hard at her
French.

He frowned for the next hundred yards, or so; then he said irritably:

"I can't see why on earth you want to go in for this dancing and all
this stage business at all."

"Oh, but if you can dance--really dance, they pay you ever so well,"
cried Pollyooly.

"I tell you what it is: you're a jolly sight too keen on money--for a
child of your age--it's--it's mercenary--yes: mercenary," said the duke
severely.

Pollyooly flushed, and looked at him with her eyes bright either with
tears, or a sparkle of anger.

"But I _have_ to get money," she said with some heat. "When Mr.
Ruffin's creditors hale him away to the deepest dungeon in Holloway
(he's said they will lots of times) you don't suppose I'm going to let
the Lump go to the workhouse! And where should I get another place
like Mr. Ruffin's? I should only have Mr. Gedge-Tomkins."

"Oh, well--of course--if it's like that," said the duke in a tone of
awkward apology.

Pollyooly said nothing for a while; she walked on with knitted brow.
Then she said:

"And anyhow when