p me in the planning of the
legal defence of those lava-cliffs at Pebbly Pit?" Tom demanded of his
friend.

John smiled knowingly. "I'll admit you're not smoking, even though you
rushed to a sanctum protected from girls' invasion; and you are not
thinking of lava or injunctions, just now. You're pitying yourself for
what you consider shabby treatment, while all the time Anne can see that
your evening's disappointment is your own fault."

Tom weakened. "For goodness' sake, tell Anne to advise me what to do, if
she knows every cure."

"Come on and have a talk with her. She is just outside, waiting for us,"
coaxed John, placing his arm in that of his friend's, and gently forcing
him out of the room.

When Tom met Anne's sympathetic eyes, he confessed. "Anne, what's the
matter with Polly? She doesn't seem to know I am on earth. Did you watch
her enjoy that dance with a kid like Ken, and then snub _me_ outright
when I asked her to dance the next one with me?"

"I don't know what she did, Tom, but let me give you a bit of sensible
advice about Polly. John thinks I am right in this, too, don't you,
dear?" Wise Anne Brewster turned anxiously to John for his opinion.

"Yes, Tom, Anne is a wonder in such things. You listen to her, old man,"
agreed John.

Tom sighed heavily and signified his willingness to listen to anything
that would end his heartache. Both his companions smiled as if they
deemed this case an everyday matter.

"Tom, you are morbid from over-work at the mines," began Anne. "Remember
this, Polly has been on the go in Europe all summer, seeing first one
interesting thing after another, and not giving a single thought to you,
or anyone, on this side the water. She sneered at anyone who tried to
flatter her, or pretended to make love to her, while in Europe, and only
cared for art during that tour which meant so much to her.

"You ought to be thankful that she took this attitude, and returned home
heart-whole. What would you have done, had she fallen in love with an
attractive young man with a title? But she was too sensible for that. She
returns home with her mind still filled with the wonderful things she saw
abroad, and eager to tell everyone she knows all about her trip.
Naturally, she never gives a thought to a lover, or a future husband. She
is too young for that sort of thing, anyway, and her family would
discourage anyone who suggested such ideas to her. We want her to
continue her studies and find