“I prefer to say my say to her,” the Doctor replied with no hint of a smile.  “You might not say it strong enough.”

A wee chuckle escaped Polly.  “What are you going to tell her?” she coaxed.

“That she can’t have my girl so much without paying for her.”

“Oh,” laughed Polly.  “Miss Nita doesn’t have any money.”

“It would be of no use in this case.  Do you suppose you can be paid for in money?”

“Oh, you dearest, funniest man!  I wish you could see Miss Nita more—­you wouldn’t wonder I like to go there.  She is so lovable.”

“I do not doubt it.  How is she now—­better?”

“Ever so much better!  She doesn’t say anything lately about wanting to die.  I wish she had nice things to eat—­I don’t see how she stands sour bread and so much corned beef and mackerel and sausages.”

Doctor Dudley shook his head musingly.  “It is too bad—­a magnificent building, and wretched household management.”

“I wonder why they keep Miss Sniffen,” Polly said.

“Probably she is agreeable to the trustees, and nobody calls their attention to anything wrong.”

“Yes, I’ve seen her—­when some of the officers came.  She is as smiley as a goose!  I hate her smile; it looks as if she didn’t mean it.”

“She is evidently not the woman for the place.  I am sorry.”  The Doctor glanced at his watch and rose abruptly.

“Got to go?”

“I ought to have gone earlier.”

“Oh, dear!  I wish other folks didn’t need you all the time!” mourned Polly.

He stepped back and kissed her.  “That is the penalty of more money,” he smiled.

“More fame, you mean!” she retorted and heard a little chuckle as he passed out the door.

Polly did not plan long without acting, and within an hour she was on her long walk to Colonel Gresham’s, to talk over her scheme with Leonora and David.

She found Mrs. Gresham just starting to meet a train.

“I’m so sorry I can’t stay,” she told Polly, “and Leonora and David are not at home!  But the Colonel is out in the stable.  He will be delighted to see you.  I’ll call him.”  She turned to a bell button.

“Oh, no, please!” interrupted Polly.  “I’d rather go there.  I haven’t seen Lone Star for an age!”

“You’ll find them chatting together, as usual,” laughed the little lady, and Polly skipped off as soon as Mrs. Gresham had driven away.

“Good afternoon, Miss Dudley.”  The Colonel extended his hand.

“Seems to me you’re pretty formal,” smiled Polly.

Colonel Gresham laughed, a gentle, mellow laugh, quite in harmony with the happy-lined face and the graying hair.

“I wish I had a chair to offer you,” he said, looking about him, as if expecting one to pop into sight.  “I suppose I’m indebted to David and Leonora for this visit.”

“No, Colonel Gresham, I came to see you especially this time.  I was going to ask them what they thought of a little plan I have; but they are not necessary—­and you are!”