?"

"You not only may, but you must. Good-by."

Polly went upstairs, and, after washing the lunch-dishes in a
reflective turn of mind which did away with part of the irksomeness of
the task, went into the parlor and sat on a stool at her mother's feet.

A soft rain had begun to fall; the fire burned brightly; the bamboo
cast feathery shadows on the wall; from a house across the street came
the sound of a beautiful voice singing,--

"Oh, holy night! the stars are brightly shining.
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth!"

All was peaceful and homelike; if it would only last, thought Polly.

"You are well to-night, mamacita."

A look of repressed pain crossed Mrs. Oliver's face as she smoothed the
bright head lying in her lap. "Very comfortable, dear, and very happy;
as who would not be, with such a darling comfort of a daughter? Always
sunny, always helpful, these last dear weeks,--cook, housekeeper,
nurse, banker, all in one, with never a complaint as one burden after
another is laid on her willing shoulders."

"Don't, mamma!" whispered Polly, seeking desperately for her
handkerchief. "I can stand scolding, but compliments always make me
cry; you know they do. If Ferdinand and Isabella had told Columbus to
discover my pocket instead of America, he would n't have been as famous
as he is now; there, I 've found it. Now, mamma, you know your whole
duty is to be well, well, well, and I 'll take care of everything else."

"I 've been thinking about Edgar, Polly, and I have a plan, but I shall
not think of urging it against your will; you are the mistress of the
house nowadays."

"I know what it is," sighed Polly. "You think we ought to take another
boarder. A desire for boarders is like a taste for strong drink; once
acquired, it is almost impossible to eradicate it from the system."

"I do think we ought to take this boarder. Not because it will make a
difference in our income, but I am convinced that if Edgar can have a
pleasant home and our companionship just at this juncture, he will
break away from his idle habits, and perhaps his bad associations, and
take a fresh start. I feel that we owe it to our dear old friends to
do this for them, if we can. Of course, if it proves too great a tax
upon you, or if I should have another attack of illness, it will be out
of the question; but who knows? perhaps two or three months will
accomplish our purpose. He can pay me whatever he has been paying