ed Polly--"I thought she was pretty
bold! But he is too smart to be such a fool!"

"Love sometimes makes fools of the best of us."

Polly watched the red flame up in the thoughtful face beside her,
and in that moment Polly grew wise.

"He doesn't love that Puddicombe ninny and he never will! You
should have heard her talk when he was dancing with you. I was
over there. Such airs! You'd think she held a mortgage on the
world!"

A soft tap on the door was followed by the entrance of Miss
Castlevaine.

"Have you heard?" she whispered tragically.

"No." Miss Sterling grew grave.

Polly bent forward in her eagerness.

"You see, I went down to get a pitcher of hot water, and I heard
Miss Sniffen's voice in the dining-room and so went in that way.
Mrs. Nobbs was up on the step-ladder in front of the placard, so I
didn't see it at first, but when I did it muddled me so I just
stood there and stared. Miss Sniffen turned round and said, 'What
do you want?' sharp as could be, just as if I had no business
there. She felt guilty all right! You could see that! Well, if
you'll believe me, I couldn't think what I had gone for! And she
said it again! Then I happened to see my pitcher, and that brought
me to my senses, and I told her, 'Some hot water.' 'Why don't you
go get it, then?' she yelled out, as if I were deaf! And I
went--huh!"

"But what was it they were doing?" urged Polly.

"Didn't I tell you? They were putting up a notice in big letters,
'No talking, please.'"

CHAPTER XXIII

"HILLTOP DAYS"

When Polly chanced to find her Miss Nita out she usually dropped
into some other room for a little chat. On one such afternoon Miss
Twining welcomed her most gladly.

"I get lonesome sitting here by myself day after day," the little
woman confessed. "Sometimes I am actually envious of Miss Sterling
when I happen to see you go in there."

"Then I'll come oftener," Polly declared. "I'd love to! I'm
always afraid the ladies will get sick of the sight of me, I'm
round here so much."

"Mercy! I don't believe anybody ever thought of such a thing. I'd
be so happy to have you come to see me every day, I'd feel like
standing on my head!"

Polly laughed. "I shall surely come! I should like to learn how
to stand on my head--I never could seem to get the trick of it."

"I didn't say I'd do it!" twinkled Miss Twining; "but I declare, I
believe I would try, if that would get you in here!"

"Nev