“I got that booby prize you made.”

“Did you?” cried Polly, with animation. 166 “Oh, I wonder whether you were the one—” she paused.

“The one that what?” he asked hastily.

“The one that thought there wasn’t anything in the game.”

“Well, yes, I was. And the others had all the luck, and so of course I got beaten.”

“Of course!” said Polly, with a twinkle of delight.

“I see you’re on their side, but all the same I want you to help me to pay them back. You see I wanted to do something about it, and I thought of sending Miss Compton some flowers with a verse, and I thought perhaps you could do the verse.”

“Did you expect me to furnish the idea, too?”

“Why, of course! That’s why I came to you. I thought, if you were so awfully bright, perhaps you could make verses.”

Polly looked thoughtful.