y,
seriously.

"Not a thing. He has seemed just the same as ever."

"That's what I should have said. Then he may not know about his wife's
perfidy, and I think we ought to prepare him for such news, Nolla."

"Polly, we tried to force an adopted son on him, once, and since that
time I have been wary of trying to interfere in any other of his personal
affairs."

"Then let us talk it over with Prof. and ask what he thinks about telling
Mr. Ashby," suggested Polly.

"That's more like sense. We'll tell Mr. Ashby ourselves, when we get back
to the Shops."

Thus Mr. Ashby was told the story as told by Mrs. Courtney but he seemed
not surprised as the girls expected him to be. He merely shook his head
sympathetically and said nothing.

"Did you know it?" asked Polly, amazed.

"We all knew of it a few weeks ago. Poor Dalky refused all our advice to
fight the divorce and exempt himself from paying alimony--as he will have
to do for not putting in a defence. He smiled tolerantly and explained:
'If she wants any of my money she is welcome to it. I have more than I
can use, you know'."

"There! That is exactly what I said he would do!" declared Polly,
vehemently.

"Oh, why does he let her have it? There are so many ways he could make
poor people happy, instead of throwing his wealth away on such a
mercenary creature!" wailed Eleanor.

"We have no right to question his motives, Nolla," said Mr. Ashby,
seriously. "I do not wish to speak of this again, unless he himself
mentions the subject to you girls. He has seemed anxious to keep the news
from you, for some reason. But I firmly believe the poor man still has a
shred of love for his wife alive in his bosom, and that is why he will
not oppose her in any way she wishes to secure happiness."

That night when Polly and Eleanor sat together doing some home-work on
decorating, Polly suddenly looked up and said: "Nolla, if only our dear
Dalky could meet our dear Mrs. Courtney--wouldn't they make a fine
couple?"

"Oh, Poll! There you go again! I have tried to keep from thinking that
very thing, ever since I heard Mrs. Courtney tell us of that horrid
woman's being in Reno. Our Dalky will be free, and what so great as to
have him fall in love with a really appreciative woman." Eleanor clasped
her hands and expressed ecstatic joy at the very idea of such bliss.

"But the whole plan would be ruined if it turned out that Dalky was still
in love with his first wife, you know," a