antly but never smiled; the girls
wondered at their strange behavior. Then Mr. Dalken said sarcastically:

"We have met before. In fact, the lady is obliged to me for having spared
her chauffeur a fine."

"What do you mean?" gasped Polly, all at sea.

"He means, my dears, that he took us to the police station a short time
ago, just because his stupid chauffeur wouldn't back out of the
congestion. Naturally, when my man tried to back out the car grazed the
one behind, and that started the fight," explained Mrs. Courtney.

"I beg pardon, Madam. _I_ did not take you to the station house. You took
yourself in order to save your chauffeur. And I went to see that my poor
man had simple justice in the case," said Mr. Dalken, bowing low in mock
humility.

"Oh, oh! Isn't this dreadful after all we hoped for!" cried Polly,
throwing herself in a chair and burying her face in her arms.

"What is so awful, Polly dear?" asked Mrs. Courtney, springing over to
the troubled girl and placing an arm about her.

"Oh, oh! I am so heart-broken over this misfortune!" cried Polly.

"What misfortune, Polly dear?" now asked Mr. Dalken, coming close to the
girl.

"Oh, oh, oh! I can't speak of it!" sobbed Polly.

"Perhaps I can comfort her, Madam, if you will allow me," suggested Mr.
Dalken, anxious to take Mrs. Courtney's place as comforter.

She sent him a glance that said as plain as could be: "I can comfort her
myself--you need not mind!"

Meanwhile Eleanor stood and rapidly pondered the situation. She felt like
laughing outrageously at the prank Cupid had played on them, but she
dared not utter a sound of mirth because that might spoil everything. And
there might be a possible chance of saving the day, after all.

Suddenly, without any previous notice, Eleanor fell upon the other chair
by the table and dropped her head upon her folded arms. Her body shook
nervously, and Mr. Dalken believed her to be crying, too. He hastened to
assure her that there was really nothing to cry about, but his assurance
only caused the girl to quake the more.

Eleanor was not crying, but had felt that she must laugh or leave the
room. As she had no desire to leave, she tried to hide her laughing in
her arms upon the table. But when Mr. Dalken began to comfort her, she
lost all control of herself and had an attack of hysterical laughter.

The two distraught adults were not able to cope with the situation, and
they looked at each other in mute appea