uld leave New York in May or June, dawdle along the route
until we reach Southern California. Those who cannot take time to go to
Hawaii, can railroad themselves back home, and we can sail leisurely
across the Pacific to visit the Hawaiian Islands. There again, those who
cannot go on to the Orient with the decorators who need to study customs
and periods in the Far East, may say good-by to us and watch us go west,
while they go east back to business.

"If we take our time, stopping at the Philippines on the way, we ought to
do Japan and China and even the principal parts of India, in a few
months. We can bid the East good-by about March and escape the unpleasant
season there. By taking a direct route home we might reach New York in
June. It all depends."

"Oh, wouldn't it be wonderful! And all our dearest friends with us!"
cried Polly, clasping her hands in ecstasy.

"Dear, dear! If only Tom will let you go, Polly!" sighed Eleanor,
mischievously.

"Tom! What has Tom got to do with it?" demanded Polly.

"Well, you know, he says you ought to consider his wishes more, since he
is sure you are his soul-mate," teased Eleanor.

"The sooner he finds out that I propose keeping my own soul in custody
the better it will be for Tom!" declared Polly.

"There, now! That doesn't sound much as if our Polly was deeply in love,
does it, Dalky?" laughed Eleanor, clapping her hands.

"I never thought she was! She was moved by compassion for Tom, to partly
agree to consider his proposal. I knew she would not forfeit her
profession for the doubtful result of conjugal bliss," remarked Mr.
Dalken.

"Hem--she's right!" asserted Mrs. Courtney. "When two people, as you and
I are, are on hand to prevent our young friends from precipitating
themselves into double harness before they have thoroughly studied their
own minds and desires, we ought to succeed in the work because we speak
from experience."

"Yes," agreed Mr. Dalken, reminiscently; "I would never marry the finest
woman on earth, after my first venture."

"Nor would I accept a man, even though he presented himself to me in
guise of a saint! Even saints have their bad days," laughed Mrs.
Courtney.

Polly and Eleanor exchanged troubled glances for it was evident that
their match-making was hopeless. But the voyage to the Orient might
develop many interesting things which were not revealed to the actors
then. Thus we leave Polly and Eleanor for the time, and return to our own