joy and satisfaction in her work, until she
is twenty-one, at least, and then she can consider matrimony.

"You know, Tom, that we all favor you immensely, as a future husband for
Polly, but we certainly would discountenance any advances you might make
right now, to turn Polly's thoughts from sensible work and endeavor, to a
state of discontent caused by the dreams of young love. If you are not
willing to be a good friend to the girl, now, and wait until she is
older, before you show your intentions, then I will certainly do my
utmost to keep Polly out of your way. But if, on the other hand, you
promise to guard your expression and behavior, and only treat Polly as a
good brother might, then we will do everything in our power to protect
Polly from any other admirers and to further your interests as best we
can. Do you understand, now?"

Tom had listened thoughtfully, and when Anne concluded, he said: "If I
thought I had a chance in the end, I would gladly wait a thousand years
for Polly!"

"Well, you won't have to do that," laughed Anne. "In a few years, at the
most, Polly will want to get out of business, and settle down like other
girls--to a slave of a husband and a lovely home of her own that she can
decorate and enjoy to her heart's content."

Tom brightened up visibly at such alluring pictures, and promised to do
exactly as Anne advised him to.

"If Polly pays no attention to you now, remember it is because she is
different from most girls you have known. She was brought up at Pebbly
Pit ranch without any young companions, until _we_ went there that
summer. She had a yearning for the beautiful in art and other things, but
never had the slightest opportunity in the Rocky Mountains, to further
her ideals. The only education she had had in the great and beautiful,
was when she was riding the peaks and could study Nature in her grandest
works.

"Can you blame her, then, because she revels in her studies and has no
other desire, at present, than that of reaching a plane where she can
indulge her talent and ideals? Can't you see that a youthful marriage to
Polly, now seems like a sacrifice of all she considers worth while in
life?"

Tom nodded understandingly as he listened to Anne. And John added: "I
told you Anne had the right idea of this affair! Polly's absolutely safe,
for a few years, from all love-tangles. And when she begins to weary of
hard work and disappointments in business, then is your chance to s