"Brewster? so it is! Indeed I am glad to see you here. Come to cheer up the little girl, eh?" and Eleanor's father grasped the ranchman's big hands.

Mrs. Brewster and her two young male companions (Tom had gone to telephone) were now introduced to Barbara and Mrs. Maynard. The latter had never met the Brewster family, and Barbara, thinking it wiser to a.s.sume indifference, smiled coldly.

"We're stopping at the Park Hotel, Brewster-what about you folks? Might as well go where we do," suggested Mr. Maynard.

"I wired there for accommodations; Polly mentioned it in several of her letters as being quite near the Studio."

"Fine! Then we will go right along. Here Taxi! eight of us and baggage."

"You mean seven, Mr. Maynard?" ventured John, politely.

"No-didn't you know Pete was here with us? He came on another coach with some chums who were coming East."

"I haven't seen much of Pete, this term. I've been cramming every moment, so as to finish and be ready to help in the mine, you see,"

explained John, hesitatingly.

Mr. Maynard saw the expression and said nothing, but he determined to find out why Pete had not seen much of Paul and John and Tom, that term.

Three young men who could be of great advantage to a wild young student should be cultivated, he thought.

When Sam Brewster did anything, he never did it by halves; consequently when he wired the Park Hotel for rooms, the day he left Denver, he engaged a whole suite. No better accommodations than he had, were to be found in the building, and the Maynards had to accept second-best.

When Mr. Maynard found the ranchman had the very finest the hotel afforded, he chuckled delightedly to himself, for he had silently watched the manner in which Barbara received the greetings of the people who were so kind to her that Summer.

Mrs. Maynard was furious with her husband. "My dear! what possessed you to come to this horrid place. Don't you know that Bob's position must be catered to? Even the best hotels here are rather too ordinary. She should be stopping at the newest and most exclusive one uptown."

"When she marries that little numb-skull you've tagged to her skirts, she can stop where she likes. But her Dad is running this show. I'm here to visit Nolla, and I stop where I can call and see her, or she can run in to see us, without wasting time traveling on the streets."

"You always did spoil Nolla-while poor Bob has to take third place in your affections," complained Mrs. Maynard.

"Bob's mother makes up for any lack in me. That's why I have to give double love to Nolla and Pete-Bob has _all_ of yours."

The usual ending to similar scenes might have resulted, had not Mr.

Maynard gone out to hurry over to the Studio. But his wife and Barbara sulkily unpacked their trunks and made very fine toilets before they thought of calling at the Studio.

Mr. Maynard rang at the front door of the Studio, but he had to wait a few moments before the door opened. From within, merry laughter and joyous shouting could be heard. Then in another moment, Eleanor was in her father's arms and was dragging him into the happy circle.

The Brewsters, and Paul and Pete were already there, so that the newcomer's appearance added another reason for Polly and Eleanor's happiness.

"I haven't enough china to go around for such a family!" Mrs. Stewart said plaintively; as she came into the room with her arms dusted with flour.

"And only half of us here, too!" laughed Mr. Maynard.

"What-more on the way?" exclaimed Anne.

"Nolla's mother and Bob will be, shortly."

"Mother-and Bob!" cried Eleanor, eagerly, happy that her mother and sister cared enough for her to come and visit her.

"Now that adds to all my troubles," Mrs. Stewart declared as she dropped into a nearby chair.

"But why-the more the merrier," laughed Mrs. Brewster.

"Why-because there are only seven straight chairs in this stable. All the others are great cushiony things that won't do in a small dining-room such as ours."

"Motherkins!" said Paul, laughingly picking his mother up and seating her upon his strong knees, "Did her think we-all would permit her to cook a great supper for such a mob?"

"Of course-I like it, dear, but I am staggered at the limitations-china and chairs."

"Mrs. Stewart, we are not going to eat a crumb in this house during the Holidays, unless it be a theatre supper or afternoon tea! That is all settled beforehand. Run upstairs and put on your evening dress. We propose making a party of it this first night," called Mr. Maynard, trying to make himself heard above the general din.

"Is it your party, Dad?" asked Eleanor, gayly.

"Yes, and to please Bob it is to be at the Ritz. To-morrow it will be Brewster's turn, and that's up to him to say where we go."

"Oh, Daddy-I know a place!" exclaimed Polly, eagerly. "Eleanor and I have never been, but we've heard lots about it and this is the chance.

We'll all go down to Chinatown, to-morrow!"

A wild chorus of laughter greeted this proposal, and Polly looked surprised. To make matters worse, she added explanatorily: "Why, the girls say chop-suey is great! And at Christmas time the c.h.i.n.ks' stores are beautiful! The lovely things one can buy then are the best that are imported from the Orient."

"We'll do Chinatown, thoroughly, Poll, but it may not be to-morrow night," promised John, who had hitherto been completely engaged with Anne's whispers and looks.

Thereafter followed delight upon delight, each day filled with new plans and exciting fulfillments. Ken and his parents, the four Latimers, the Ashbys, Mr. Fabian, and even Mr. Dalken, were included in the gay whirl of these pleasure-seekers. Mrs. Maynard and Barbara actually enjoyed the wholesome fun and almost forgot to be affected or sn.o.bbish. To a.s.sociate intimately with Mr. Dalken, whose social standing was well-known in Chicago, as well as in other large cities, was excuse enough to accept all the other friends. But added to that pleasure, the friendship and evident intimacy the Ashbys and Latimers entertained for Polly and Eleanor, made Mrs. Maynard feel there might be hope for Nolla in the future.

Christmas fell on the Thursday after the Westerners had arrived in New York; and considering all the fun and gadding that had been indulged in, on the days preceding the twenty-fifth, that day pa.s.sed quietly for all.

Each family enjoyed its own gathering and gifts, and all a.s.sembled at the Ashbys in the evening, to enjoy music and dancing, and everyone declared it had been a fine day!

Friday started anew the excitement of planning and enjoying whatever came in the way of the party. But Sat.u.r.day night had been set aside for Mr. Dalken's Christmas party. Elizabeth was invited to bring her friends, and everyone in Polly's and Eleanor's friendship ring were included.

Mr. Dalken lived in modest but very large rooms of a bachelor apartment house, downtown, and here he had an enormous tree fixed in the center of the living-room. No one was allowed to see that room until all had a.s.sembled, but when the doors were opened, there were "ahs" and "ohs"

from everyone.

The tree was so beautifully trimmed that it seemed a pity that it should ever be dismantled. But soon, the attractive white packages tied with red ribbons, filled the guests with curiosity; and once Eleanor had peeped at the name written on one box, there was no peace but her host must distribute the gifts.

Mr. Dalken never spared time or money when he did anything for his friends, and his Christmas Party was to be one all would remember. The gifts were carefully selected for each individual and those for the four girls-Elizabeth, Ruth Ashby, Polly and Eleanor, were exquisite and costly. Elizabeth had craved a ring. She had it. Ruth, Polly, and Eleanor each had a long barpin of platinum daintily jewelled.

With her usual impetuosity, Eleanor suddenly sprang up and hugged Mr.

Dalken gratefully for her gift. Polly smiled and shyly shook hands, while Ruth said he must have read her thoughts, for she had asked Dad for a pin and had been refused. Now she had it, anyway, and from her second-best Dad. Elizabeth was pleased, too, but merely murmured "Thanks, Papa."

"How do you like the jewels in the pins, girls?" asked Mr. Latimer, quizzically, as no one had mentioned the gems.

Suddenly Polly looked up at him. She caught the twinkle in his eyes, and instantly wheeled to look at the other men. Each one was smiling as if there was a fine secret here.

"I just know these are Rainbow Cliff jewels!" exclaimed Polly, joyously.

"No-are they?" demanded Eleanor, holding the pin aloft to let the light flash over and through them.

"Now I am deeply offended! I want the girls to see that I got the very best and finest stones in New York, and someone dares suggest that they may be lava!" grumbled Mr. Dalken, trying to be peevish.

"I can find out by taking mine to Tiffany's, to-morrow," said Ruth, wisely.