I think the very fact that she is unmindful of her attractions,
coupled with her indifference to the attentions of the male sex, acts as
a spur to them; each tries to see if she will not capitulate to his
individual charms."

Eleanor laughed. "You speak as if you believed the young men to be
egotistical enough to _think_ they were charming."

"They do, Nolla!" retorted Mrs. Fabian. "Every Adam's son firmly believes
he is more alluring and attractive to a girl, than his friends. That is
why they all follow tamely after a girl who has no time for them: they
cannot believe it _possible_ that she is not overcome with their
fascinations."

Eleanor smiled as she listened, then she remarked: "I guess I'll try
Polly's strategy and see if the beaus line up for me."

"You have no need to experiment with any new tricks," replied Mrs.
Fabian, warningly. "There are enough sighing young men already, waiting
to break their hearts and necks, for a mere glance from those impish eyes
of yours."

Eleanor laughed merrily at her chaperone's words, but Polly's return to
the room interrupted their little talk.

"What do you think?" demanded Polly, as soon as she was in the room.

Not giving them time to answer, she said: "Jack Baxter is going to
furnish a bachelor apartment in the city, and says he is going to give
Nolla and me the contract for doing it. It will be our very first work as
interior decorators!"

"Oh," gasped Eleanor, "how can we do it?"

Polly looked amazed at such a question, and retorted: "Why, with money
and brains, to be sure!"

"Is that why he's coming tomorrow evening?" asked Eleanor.

"Yes; he is now staying at Mr. Dalken's apartment, and both of them are
coming over tomorrow. He says he has been West since we last saw him, and
he stopped at Pebbly Pit to see the folks, on his way back from the
Coast. That is why he has not been heard from--he was called away so
suddenly, and just got back today."

"I wonder why he took all the trouble to go to Pebbly Pit?" said Eleanor.
"He didn't know a soul there!"

"That's what I asked him, and he says he will tell us all about it
tomorrow night," explained Polly.

CHAPTER XI

POLLY'S FIRST CONTRACT

Promptly at eight, Jack Baxter and Mr. Dalken were announced to Polly and
Eleanor. The Fabians had gone to the Opera and Mr. Dalken was supposed to
act as chaperone for the evening.

"This is a new experience for me," laughed he, "but not one that I
dislik