ss," he explained sullenly. "And Mollie had
been telling me that she was kind of uneasy about you and that she felt
there must be some reason you wouldn't give why you did not wish to
come home for the holidays."

"So you undertook to play detective and find out?" Polly announced in
the cool, even tones that made Billy hot with anger and a sense of
injustice.

He was perfectly sure that he was right in his attitude toward her.
She had been disobedient and audacious beyond his wildest conception,
even of her. And yet she had a skilful fashion of making the other
fellow appear in the wrong.

"I told Mollie that I would call on you and Esther," he returned,
relapsing into his old-time familiarity. "You see, I told her that I
was sure things were quite all right, but I wanted to convince her too.
I didn't think you would mind seeing me. I thought you might even be
glad to hear about your Woodford friends. So as Mollie gave me your
address, I went out to your house at about eight o'clock. The maid
told me that you had gone to the theater, told me which one. Of course
I just supposed that you had gone to see a show. And that was pretty
bad for two young girls! But when I got here and the curtain went up
and you came out!--why, Polly, I just couldn't believe it at first, and
then I got to thinking of how your mother and Mollie would feel and
what might happen!" And Billy's voice shook in a very human and
attractive fashion.

Instantly Polly's hand was laid coaxingly on the young man's coat
sleeve. "But, Billy, seeing as now I have been and gone and done it
already, why, think of me in any way that you please. Only don't tell
on me for another week. The play is to last only through the holidays.
And I promise on my word of honor to come home as soon as it is over
and to tell mother every single thing."

"Word of honor?" Billy repeated slightingly. And of course, though
Polly deserved her punishment his inflection was both rude and cruel.

Up to this moment the little party of three persons had been entirely
uninterrupted. Now Esther heard some one coming quickly toward them.
And turning instantly she understood the impression that this scene
might make. The man was the leading actor of the company, Richard
Hunt, who in a quiet way had shown an interest and an attitude of
protection toward Polly. Now observing a strange young man, and
Polly's evident agitation, it was but natural that he should suppose
t