Everyone but Jack pretended not to know, but he blurted out: “When I was out at the ranch, that Tom Latimer said something about coming East for the Winter months—as long as Alexander proposed to stay out there and take a hand in the work.”
“Why, this is the first word you’ve said about it,” said Polly, amazed.
“Had I known you were so deeply interested in the plans of young Latimer, I would have told you immediately,” said Jack, with sarcasm born of jealousy in his voice.
Polly refused to answer him, and immediately asked Mrs. Fabian to excuse her from dinner as she wished to dress for the evening.
The rest of the family finished the meal with the uncomfortable sense of Jack’s having lost caste in Polly’s estimation. He felt it himself, and it certainly did not tend to make him more agreeable that evening.
As soon after dinner as could be politely managed, Jack spoke of a theatre engagement and excused himself. His hostesses felt easier when the door slammed upon him, for they dreaded having Tom announced while his rival was there, and then have the whole evening spoiled by both young men glowering at each other.
While Eleanor and Nancy ran upstairs to dress for the evening, the former whispered: “If Tom remains in New York all this winter, I bet he’ll get Polly before he goes back to the mines, or else he’ll ‘cook his goose’ for all time!”
Nancy laughed merrily, and said: “No goose will be cooked if Polly knows it! But I’ll wager you a box of candy, Nolla, that Tom will not get his girl before he goes back to the mines.”
“All right, Nanc! That’s a wager; a five-pound box of the best bon bons, that Tom and Polly will be engaged before the end of this winter season!”