"It must be rather troublesome to be in such demand," the Doctor smiled.
"It is," responded Polly between a laugh and a sob.
The sat for a while in silence, Polly's head nestled on the broad shoulder.
Finally Dr. Dudley spoke. "Can you keep a secret?"
"I think I could—I know I could," she answered slowly; "but I never have any to keep."
"I am going to let you into one," he smiled; "but you must n't breathe a word of it to anybody."
"Oh, I won't! I won't tell it as long as I live!" she declared solemnly.
He laughed. "This will not be so great a tax on your patience as all that. I hope the secret will be out in a month. The thistledown, what should you say if I should tell you that Miss Lucy and I are going to be married?"
Polly sat up straight, her eyes round with astonishment.
"Truly?" she cried.