“You are going to stay a few days with me, aren’t you?” she asked, quivering with eagerness.
“Oh, no! we must go back to-night,” Mrs. Randolph answered.
Polly shook her head. “You must not! I am going to keep you for a week, at least. No, hear me through! Miss Crilly will—I see by her face.”
“Oh, I should be perfectly delighted!” that little woman beamed; “but—”
“There isn’t any ‘but,’” resumed Polly.
“I guess Mr. Randolph will think he is a big ‘but,’” laughed his wife.
“I’ll manage it with him,” promised her hostess, “unless you really don’t want to stay—and in that case I’ll make you want to.”
They laughed, and the girl went on.
“Give me one good reason for not staying!” she demanded, facing her friend with determination in her eyes.
“Why, we didn’t intend to—”