was saying: "Isn't it too jolly of John to send me East for the
Holidays, by making me power-of-attorney for the Stock-holders meeting
the first of January. That was the only way I could have come--by having
my fare paid!" Paul laughed because they all knew of his financial
problems, and how he was striving to win success that he might propose to
Eleanor.

Polly felt annoyed because she was sure Eleanor had led Tom to the den
that she might advise him further in his love-affairs. And it was this
interference by Eleanor, that roused much of Polly's indifference or
impatience towards Tom. Now she felt she had been given a good
opportunity to square accounts with her chum.

Paul and she were standing alone for a moment, when she saw him looking
about for someone. She gave the desired cue: "You'll find Nolla with Tom,
enjoying a tete-a-tete in Mr. Dalken's little den across the hallway,
Paul."

As she watched Paul hurriedly excuse himself, she experienced a new
sensation--that of gratified revenge on a friend. She walked about the
room, apparently looking at the pictures, but really to reach the hall
without attracting attention. Once she got out of the room, she made a
dash for a shadowy corner made by an old ormolu secretaire between the
two doors. She could see into the den and watch Paul's next action.

Two huge Turkish chairs were drawn up before the fire-place but the
electric lights were out and only the candles on the tables near the door
were lighted. The leaping flames of the logs burning in the fire-place
threw dancing shadows over the two occupants of the chairs, but anyone
standing near the door could not see who these occupants were.

Paul crept stealthily over to the chairs, planning to surprise his two
old friends--believing Tom to be one, and Eleanor the other. He lifted
his hands with the intention of clapping them over Eleanor's eyes to make
her guess who was there, when he heard words that rooted him to the spot.
Polly saw but could not hear, so she lost the best part of her
retaliation on Eleanor.

Just as Paul was about to bring down his palms over Eleanor's eyes, a
strange voice murmured intensely: "You know how I feel about it, Nolla.
This love is so absorbing that I cannot give my attention to studies, or
to any other important matter. If I am treated to second place, now that
another lover is at hand, I will clear out of New York and never be heard
from again. In fact, I am going to purposely