“Such a combobbery as that cow cut up!  My!  I thought she’d knock the man into slivers!” said Miss Crilly.

“But she didn’t!” observed David.

“No,” said Polly, “he drove her off finally.”

“And we beat it!” giggled Miss Crilly.

“We thought you would wonder what had become of us,” smiled Leonora.

“We did,” agreed Mrs. Albright, “and somebody else will be wondering that same thing, if we don’t march home about as fast as we can!”

Polly’s cool and charming sweetness was all that saved the party from Miss Sniffen’s very apparent displeasure, the tardy ones agreed.  Supper had been served at least five minutes before they filed into the dining-room; but their astonishing appetites, which gave a relish even to soggy corncake and watery tea, almost counterbalanced any fears for their future walks with Polly.

Juanita Sterling sat down wearily in her own room.  “I wish I had stayed at home!” she sighed.

CHAPTER XIV

POLLY PLANS

“Father,” Polly began thoughtfully, “I’ve been thinking—­you remember I told you about our walk the other day and how tired Miss Nita and some of the other ladies were before I even thought of such a thing—­” Polly stopped questioningly.

“I remember,” smiled Dr. Dudley.

“So don’t you think it would be nice—­until they grow stronger, you know—­for them to ride instead of walk?”

“Very nice, indeed.  Do you want me to take them?”

“I wish you could,” laughed Polly, “but I know you don’t have time.  I happened to think, though, why couldn’t we have the car some morning, while you are busy in the hospital?  Evan could drive for us.”

“A very good plan,” the Doctor nodded musingly.  “You wish to go with them, I take it.”

“Yes, I think I’d better.  I know, one more could go if I didn’t; but I guess they’d be more lively with me along than if they went with just Evan.”

“If I were going I should certainly want you, too,” twinkled the doctor.

“Oh, dear!  We don’t have as many good rides together as we used to, do we?” Polly bent down from the arm of Dr. Dudley’s chair where she was sitting and cuddled her cheek against his.

“No,” he replied, “we’ll have to borrow an hour some day and run away.”

“Wouldn’t that be fun!  Oh, let’s!”

“I think we’ll do it, then I can get re-acquainted with you.”

Polly chuckled.  “As if you didn’t know me clear through, from head-top to toe-tip!”

“I feel quite like a stranger lately.  I come in here and ask, ‘Where’s Polly?’ and your mother says, ‘She is over at the Home,’ or, ‘She’s gone to walk with Miss Sterling.’  When I see Miss Sterling I shall tell her what I think of it.”

“You might tell me,” suggested Polly demurely, “and then I can repeat it to Miss Nita.”