"Yes; I really believe, Nolla, that I learned as much of textiles, and fabrics, by simply handling and selling the materials, as if I had given days to the study of them."

"It was not only a brilliant idea of Mr. Fabian's, to suggest to Mr.

Ashby that Ruth and we two girls be permitted to act as clerks in his rooms, but it was as kind and generous of Mr. Ashby to take us. The way he taught us all about different factories and their best and weakest points in manufacture; the time he took to demonstrate differences in lace and silk curtains, the best style of linen for covers and draperies, the tapestries and carpets of modern factories-why, I can tell at a glance now, just whose goods I am handling."

"Yes," admitted Polly. "How many decorators' a.s.sistants know the style of upholstery b.u.t.tons that ought to be used on a French divan? Or what shaped b.u.t.ton ought to go on a Turkish chair? I never dreamed that there was any difference, according to art, between a tufted wing-chair and one that was smoothly upholstered. I bet the majority of people select one or the other because they like the looks, but very few know that certain lines in a fireside chair demand tufted upholstery, and another period must never have b.u.t.tons or fringe."

"Exactly! That is what I mean, Polly, when I say I am sure we two know an awful lot about decorating, already. It is so."

"Dear old Fabian says, this is our critical year-if we can manage to pa.s.s through the period between second and third years of study without discovering that we know it all, we may eventually hope to become average decorators," Polly laughed.

"Pooh! We both know Mr. Fabian is a dotard about us. If anyone dares to hint that we are not as advanced as he says we are, he glares like a jealous cat over her kittens."

Polly and Eleanor reached the Studio by this time and found Anne reading a long letter from John. She was smiling happily as she read, and Eleanor grinned charitably at her.

Polly sat down to wait till the letter was read. Then Anne glanced over at the girls.

"Well, dears, John has definitely settled everything. Tom Latimer and he are coming on to New York directly their college commencement is over.

Polly's father and mother _may_ decide to come, but that is not yet certain. As soon as you two girls are off, we will all go back home and stay."

"'And they lived happily ever after,'" quoth Eleanor, teasingly.

Anne smiled. Polly seemed dissatisfied.

"What do you mean 'as soon as you girls are off?'"

"Why, off on the European trip. The Ashbys were here to-night and it is all settled. Mr. Brewster wrote a fine letter and thanked them for their wonderful offer to chaperone you girls."

"Oh, oh!" shouted Eleanor, springing up and throwing her arms about Polly's neck.

Anne and her mother laughed as the impulsive girl whirled Polly around and around, until both, exhausted, fell upon the divan. Then Polly asked the question Eleanor had choked in her throat.

"What about John, Anne? Are you going to Denver or to Pebbly Pit?"

"I expect to go to Pebbly Pit, dear," said Anne, blushing.

"No need to feel embarra.s.sed over it, Anne," laughed Eleanor. "It isn't as if we had never heard of your plan. Besides we are all in the family, now-or at least we will be."

"Where does your relationship come in, Nolla?" asked Mrs. Stewart, quizzically.

"Why, didn't you know, Mother Stewart? I propose to become Paul's bride, some day, but he doesn't know it, either!" and the irrepressible girl laughed madly as she ran upstairs to her room.

Her friends in the living-room laughed also, but Polly doubted that it was said in fun. She rather suspected Eleanor of receiving many nice letters from Paul Stewart, during her second year in New York. But Eleanor kept her own secret.

As June entered and schools were all beginning their examinations, Mrs.

Stewart began to clear up the rooms in the home they had occupied for two years. Anne's and her own personal property were to be packed and sent to Denver. Polly and Eleanor's had to be sorted and packed and stored; the winter clothing in strong moth-proof chests, and the things they proposed taking abroad with them, in small steamer trunks.

Mr. Fabian had spoken for the lease on the Studio when Mrs. Stewart's time expired, and until then, most of the furniture could remain as it was. Polly and Eleanor were to have the two small rooms and live with the Fabians, and Mrs. Fabian had written that she would buy back the things as they stood, thus saving everyone trouble and time.

As the days of June pa.s.sed, Anne had another letter from John, begging her to come to the graduation in Chicago. But Polly and Eleanor needed her in New York, as everything was in a panic preparing for the ocean voyage, and working so hard at school, too.

Before the girls knew it, therefore, the westerners were with them in New York. Mr. and Mrs. Brewster expected to see Polly off on the steamer, and John said he had unexpectedly planned to have Anne marry him before Polly sailed.

"Oh, that will be great! A wedding and a farewell party all in one,"

cried Eleanor.

But John took Polly aside and whispered: "Polly, I want my only sister to witness my marriage to the best girl living, so you will have to persuade Anne to look at it as I do."

"All right, John," laughingly replied Polly. "I'll do my best to make her steal my only brother from me."

Tom Latimer joined them at this moment, and said to Polly: "You have grown so tall and look such a fine young lady, that I wonder how Anne can steal any man from you. Now if I were John, I should never _want_ to be stolen from you."

"Oh, Tom!" laughed Polly, greatly amused at his words. "You talk exactly like Winnie Trevors. He's the society pet that expects to marry Elizabeth Dalken. But you should see him-and hear him talk!"

"Tom Latimer would never thank you for that left-handed compliment, Polly, if he could but see the slim little dude you compared to him,"

said Eleanor, joining the group.

"I believe I do know him, Polly-If he is the silver-haired lap-dog I went to grammar-school with."

"Yes-he _has_ got whitish hair, Tom!" laughed Eleanor.

Polly smiled but said nothing. Then Tom said, "Will you take all that back, Poll, or must I punish you severely, some day?"

"I never take back a word I once have said-unless I can see where I can benefit myself. You see, Tom, I have changed woefully, since living in New York. I am exactly like other citizens here-I am supremely selfish, these days."

Tom smiled. "I can offer you a bite of attractive bait. Will you apologise for calling me 'exactly like Winnie' if I tell you a profound secret?"

"That depends! What do you call 'profound,' and will I be concerned in hearing it?" teased Polly.

Eleanor had never known Polly to behave so coquettishly before, and to her astonishment, she beheld her little model of virtue flirt distractingly with Tom. Or Eleanor _thought_ Polly was flirting, when she sent a dazzling look at him from her wonderful eyes.

"It is the secret about the Valentine Roses. At last I have managed to learn who really sent them to you."

Eleanor perked up. Here was a delightful situation. Polly had never been able to find out who had sent the roses, and Tom was ready to confess.

"Oh, really!" exclaimed Polly, eagerly inquisitive.

Tom laughed. "Are you concerned? Is it a profound secret?"

"Yes, oh, yes, Tom!" cried Eleanor, excitedly. "Do tell us what you know."

"But Polly has to show her interest, too. If she says she is sorry for likening me to Winfield, I will tell her who sent the roses."

"Is he nice, Tom?" asked Polly, anxiously.

"I have heard people _say_ he is, and _I_ think him great!"

Eleanor chuckled. This was a scene after her own heart.

"Is he old-or ugly, Tom?" added Polly.