TWO OF THEM
Polly came early the next morning to talk over things.
"You got all tired out, didn't you?" she exclaimed, meeting the
wearied eyes.
"Oh, no!" denied Miss Sterling. "I didn't sleep quite as well as
usual, but I'm all right."
"I'm glad it is only that. You look almost sick," Polly scanned
the pale face a little doubtfully. "I'm worried about David--he
acted so queer last night."
"What's the trouble? They were talking of it coming home."
"About David?--or me?"
"Miss Castlevaine spoke of David's being with Patricia, and was
wondering if you had quarreled--that's all."
"No, there hasn't been a word!" cried Polly disgustedly. "But I
suppose he is jealous of Doodles--such a silly! He's a lovely boy,
if he weren't always getting jealous of everybody. He wants me to
stay right with him every minute and not speak to anybody else!"
"That is foolish."
"I know it, but that's David Collins!"
"I wonder--" she stopped.
"What?" asked Polly.
"I was only thinking about Colonel Gresham. Perhaps it was jealousy
that caused the estrangement between him and Mrs. Jocelyn."
"Maybe--I never heard what it was."
"Possibly it is in the blood, and David can't help it."
"He needn't be a goose just because his grand uncle was! It isn't
as if we were grown up!"
Miss Sterling gave a little laugh.
"I don't care, it isn't!" insisted Polly. "If I were eighteen and
engaged to him, of course, I shouldn't expect to go around with
other boys--'t wouldn't be right: but now--!" Polly's face finished
it.
Juanita Sterling looked gravely at nothing.
"And such a boy as Doodles!" Polly went on. "To start with, he is
younger than I am, and that ought to be enough to give David some
sense! Mother says she didn't see me do anything out of the
way--did you. Miss Sterling?"
"Why--why,--what was it you asked, Polly? I was thinking so hard,
I lost that last!"
Polly looked keenly at her friend's flushed face.
"I believe you do think I did something! What is it? Tell me
right out! I shan't mind!"
"No, no, Polly! Forgive me, it wasn't anything about you and
David--I happened to let another thought in just for a minute--that
was all. No, I don't think you did anything that a sensible boy
would mind in the least. Even if you were grown up and engaged to
David, you did nothing that should have caused him any annoyance."
"Oh! that's more than mother gave me credit for!--Do you really
know what you're saying anyway?" laughed Polly.
"Perfectly, Miss Dudley! And I declare to you this moment that you
are a model of propriety!"
"O-o-h! Don't I look awfully puffed up? Now you'll think me
silly! But I've talked long enough about David and me. I'm dying
to tell you how glad, glad, glad I was last evening every time I
looked your way! I almost forgot the birthday girl for thinking of
you! Wasn't Mr. Randolph lovely? And didn't you have a dandy
time? Why, he kept as close to you as if you 'd been engaged to
him! He--"
"Oh, Polly, don't talk that silly stuff! I won't hear it!" Miss
Sterling got up hurriedly and went to her work-table, apparently
hunting for something in her spool basket.
"Why, Miss Nita!" Polly's tone was grieved.
"Well, forgive me," came from over the array of threads and silks,
"but I do hate to hear you say such things!"
"I was only telling the truth," said Polly plaintively. "I thought
you were having a lovely time--you looked as if you were! Doodles
spoke of it."
"Yes, I dare say I looked and acted like an old fool!"
"Miss Nita! You couldn't! You looked too sweet for anything, and I
guess he thought so--"
"Polly! what did I tell you?" She came back with a half-mended
stocking.
"Aren't you ever going to let me speak of Mr. Randolph again? He
acted as if he were dead in love with y--"
A hand was clapped over her mouth.
"I won't hear it! I won't! I won't!" Miss Sterling laughed a
little uncertainly.
Polly drew a long breath of disappointment. "I never knew you to
act like this before," she mused.
"How sweetly Doodles sang!" said Miss Sterling.
"Yes," agreed Polly dispiritedly.
"And you are a charming accompanist."
"Oh! now, who's silly?"
"Nobody." Miss Sterling drew her hand from her stocking.
"It doesn't seem to me that I play well at all--I long to do so
much better."
"It is a rare gift to be a good accompanist, and you surely possess
it."
"Thank you--you're not saying that to counterbalance what you said
about--?"
"No, I'm not! When I say a thing I mean it."
"Perhaps some other folks do. Oh, Miss Nita! I couldn't help
hearing what Mr. Randolph said when he bade you good-bye--I was so
near!"
"What if you did! There was nothing secret about it." The voice
was hard and unnatural. Miss Sterling felt the flame in her cheeks.
"Well, I was almost sure that it meant he was going to take you to
ride, weren't you?"
"Of course he won't ask me!" She crossed over to the work-table
for another stocking.
"I think he will," said Polly decidedly. "You'll go if he does,
shan't you?"
"No, not an inch!"
"Oh, why? I'd go in a minute if he'd ask _me_!"
"Isn't there something we can talk about besides that detestable
man! How did Colonel Gresham enjoy Mrs. Adlerfeld?"
"I don't know. I haven't seen him. I guess I'd better go. Mother
may want me." Polly walked slowly toward the door.
"I hope I shall be in a more agreeable mood when you come next
time," smiled Miss Sterling.
"I hope so," replied Polly soberly.
The door had shut, the light footfalls were growing faint, when
Juanita Sterling began to sob. Her lips twitched as she tried to
suppress the tears. It was no use, they would have their way, and
she finally hid her face in her hands and let them go.
"Why, Miss Nita! Dear Miss Nita!" Polly had her arms around her
friend's neck, crooning love words.
"I--I--didn't hear you knock!" apologized Miss Sterling.
"Never mind, you darling! I only gave one little tap--and then
I--came in. You don't care, do you? If you do, I'll go right
away. But I'm sorry you feel so bad! You're not sick, are you?"
"N-no,--oh, no!"
"Well, don't tell me, unless you'd rather. Sometimes I feel better
to tell mother when things trouble me."
Getting no answer, she went on.
"Should you like to have mother come over?"
"Mercy--no! Don't tell anybody, Polly,--will you?--what a fool I
am!"
"Of course, I won't tell--ever! But you're not a fool! Nobody can
help crying when things go wrong. Miss Sniffen hasn't been saying
anything, has she?"
"Oh, no! I haven't seen her lately."
Polly waited patiently.
"I came back for my handkerchief," she explained. "I thought I
must have dropped it--oh, there it is!"
"Was I dreadfully cross to you? I didn't mean to be, dear child!"
"You weren't a bit!" insisted Polly. "I ought to know better than
to torment you about--that man. But I like him so well, I can't
understand why you don't. I wish you did!"
The sobs started again, and Miss Sterling got up quickly.
"I don't see what makes me act--like this!" she exclaimed fiercely.
Polly was not obtuse. She began to think hard. Still, Miss Nita
had said--Miss Nita would not lie! It was beyond her understanding.
Miss Sterling wiped her eyes.
"You know we're to go on a hike to-morrow," said Polly tentatively.
"Ye-s," feebly. Then, "I'm not going."
"Oh! why?"
"Don't want to! Should if it wasn't for that!"
"Good reason," commented Polly, and she waited for a retort, but
none came. "I'm afraid David will fuss," she said finally.
"I don't blame him one mite!" Miss Sterling broke out.
"Wh-why, you said--I hadn't done a thing!" Polly was plainly
astonished.
"You haven't! But I don't blame David all the same." Miss
Sterling smiled a queer little equivocal smile.
"Well, you two are the hardest mortals to understand!" sighed
Polly. "I give it up!" She skipped toward the door. "Be ready at
two, to-morrow. Miss Nita!" she called back. "If you're good, I'll
let you walk with David."