It was a merry party that enjoyed dinner that evening, but Jimmy took no interest in it, as he still watched for the coming of his lady—as he called her to himself. During a lull in the conversation in the dining-room, Jimmy distinctly heard a voice telling of exploits in the Rocky Mountains, when Eleanor spent the Summer at Pebbly Pit.
Jimmy started! It was Polly’s own voice! But how did she get down while he stood watching so carefully?
He hurried to the door of the room and looked in. There she sat, entertaining the whole assembly, with her stories—and he had been left out in the hall all that time! He could have wept!
When he took a seat at the table, everyone expressed the deepest concern for him. “Was he ill?” “Did he feel badly about the fine for speeding?” and many other questions to which he gave no reply.
When they left the room, Jimmy jumped up also, and just as Polly was leaving, he caught her hand.
“Won’t you let me see you alone this evening—please?”
Polly lifted her head a bit higher—if that were possible—and deigned to glance at him. “What for?” snapped she.
“I—I want to tell you—oh, just give me a moment!”
“Very well—one moment right here! Let the others leave.”
“No—no, not in this public room. Somewhere where I can speak——” begged Jimmy.