Tom caught his breath in consternation at this news. “Your announcements, Polly! Oh, and you jilted me, after all!”
Polly enjoyed turning the knife in the wound, because she felt so wretched herself for having ruined Eleanor’s happiness.
“I could not jilt anyone who never proposed, could I? I have maintained for a long time, and everyone who knows me is aware of it, too—that I am engaged to my profession and I have ordered my announcements to that effect. I propose sending out my business cards the first week of January!”
The relief to Tom was so great that he sighed aloud: “Oh, thank heavens for that!”
“I knew you would be glad, Tom; so you see you are sensible after all, and can thank heaven that you had no cause to be jilted!” laughed Polly, maliciously, but she felt no satisfaction in this outcome of her understanding with Tom.
CHAPTER XV
MUTUAL CONSOLATION
It was at this point in Polly’s independent speech that the door opened and Mr. Dalken came in with his two repentant lovers. Tom saw that the clouds had been dispersed and now there seemed to be a clear sky for Paul. But he was curious to hear what had happened during the short time he had been smoking that cigarette.