tgrowth of spontaneous gratitude. She flung both arms about his
neck and being too short to reach his cheek, kissed him on the chin as
she would have done had he been John. Tom trembled, but realized at the
same time, that Polly's kiss meant nothing. Still he was humbly grateful
for even that token of gratitude from the reserved girl.

"Now tell me, Tom dear, what did the folks say about our sudden
elopement?" Polly laughed as she used the term.

"Oh, Polly! I'd swim from here to China for you if only it could be an
elopement!"

The girl instantly took alarm, and looked about for Mrs. Hall. But Tom
forced a laugh and tried to make her believe he was joking. "Do you think
that any man would do _that_ for a girl?" he added.

Then he hurried on to say that no one on the yacht had been injured by
the collision, but they were hours in reaching their dock. He said that
they (Polly and Tom) were not missed at first, and not until conditions
had calmed down somewhat, did Eleanor call for Polly. Then it was found
that neither Tom nor Polly were to be found.

"It was Eleanor who remembered seeing us promenade along the side where
the rail was detachable, and it was Eleanor who said we must have been
thrown out where the steps came up. So the captain was taken to task for
having such a careless man on board, and both the man and the captain
were discharged."

"Poor man--it wasn't his fault!" sighed Polly.

"Well, if you hadn't recovered, I'd have sent him to jail for life,
because it was criminal negligence to leave that rail open as it was!"
was Tom's threatening reply.

"I'm glad there is no cause for such harsh treatment," responded Polly.

Tom gazed, with his soul in his eyes, as he breathed fervently: "You're
not half as glad as I am, darling!"

Polly sprang away at that, and ran to the window, saying: "Don't you
think we might start for the City? Mrs. Hall went to fetch a hat and wrap
for me and she ought to be back by this time."

CHAPTER IV

A REUNION AND A VISITOR

Never was maiden welcomed so enthusiastically and so fervently, as Polly
Brewster, that morning when she stepped from the launch to the sea-wall
at Battery Park. Her father and mother vied with each other in embracing
and kissing her, while the tears of happiness streamed from their eyes;
John and Anne hovered beside them, watching every dear feature of Polly's
face. Eleanor stood holding fast to her best friend's skirt, as if that
could