CHAPTER VI
POLLY AND ELEANOR BEGIN COLLECTING
Within a week after the westerners had gone back home, matters with Polly and her friends in New York settled down in a smooth current. The Fabians found a commodious house in a refined environment quite near the Ashby’s home, and the two girls, Polly and Eleanor, lived with them.
Mr. Fabian temporarily resumed his lectureship at the Art School of Cooper Union, and his two promising pupils, with Dodo Alexander as a new beginner, accompanied him every night that the classes met.
The Alexanders had leased an expensive suite at an apartment hotel near the Fabians, and much to little Mr. Alexander’s joy, although much to Mrs. Alexander’s disgust, they settled down to a hum-drum life that winter. She sighed as she referred to her life.
“Dear sakes! Here I am with all this money to spend on a fine time, and I have to waste my days sitting around hearing Dodo rave about Corunthian Columns, Ionack Piers, and such foolish stuff. As for Ebeneezer! He is just impossible to get along with, since he found what quiet friends he had in the Fabians and the Ashbys!”
The result of such complaints from Mrs. Alexander were soon evidenced by her spending her evenings at theatres, dances at various clubs and places she had forced an entrance to, and in daily shopping trips about the city.
The motley collection of antiques the girls had secured while abroad and had shipped home, arrived in due season and the cases were sent to Mr. Ashby’s Shop. The girls were told that the goods had been delivered, and the next day they hastened to the establishment to admire their purchases.