“No; because you do help along.  It isn’t just money and cake and such things.”

“I like cake!” She smiled whimsically.

“Oh, why don’t I bring you some!  We had a lovely raspberry layer cake when Mr. Von Dalin was here, and I never thought to bring over a mite!  Mother says I am growing careless, and I’m afraid she’s right!”

“Dear child!  I don’t want you to bring me cake!  I said that only in fun.”

“You shall have some, all the same!  Isn’t the table here any better?”

Miss Sterling wrinkled her face into an answer.  “The last cook is the worst we’ve had yet.”

“Too bad!  Colonel Gresham said he was going to see Mr. Randolph about things; but I dare say he has forgotten it.”

“I hope he won’t think I’ve been complaining to you.”  Miss Sterling looked alarmed.

“No, I cautioned him.  Probably he will never think of it again.”

“I rather hope he won’t.  My fear of the Powers is amounting almost to terror.”

“Oh, Miss Nita, don’t be afraid!  That will make you go back!  You mustn’t have a bit of fear!”

Miss Sterling laughed softly.  “Well,” she yielded—­“let’s talk about the birthday celebration.”

“You haven’t stopped being afraid.”  Polly scanned the other with keen eyes.  “But never mind, we’ll go ahead with the plans.  I love to plan!  Don’t you?”

“I like it too well; but I’ve seen so many of my projects burst into nothing all in a minute that I’ve been trying lately to content myself with everyday happenings.”

“I’m sorry you’ve had so much trouble, Miss Nita,” said Polly plaintively.

The little woman smiled.  “I ought not to have said that.  I’m better, you know!  How are we to get up to Foxford?”

“Oh, in automobiles!  Didn’t I tell you?  Colonel Gresham will let us have two, and Mrs. Illingworth one, and father ours.  I don’t know how many will go from here, but there’ll be David and Leonora and Patricia and me, besides the Colonel and the chauffeurs.  You don’t think but that Miss Sniffen will let them all go, do you?” Polly added anxiously.

“Perhaps.”  Miss Sterling mused over it.  “I can’t tell; I’ve lost the map of Miss Sniffen’s mind.”

“Did you ever have it?” laughed Polly.

“I think once I had a facsimile of it.”

Polly chuckled.  Then she shook her head doubtfully.  “I wish Miss Sniffen—­wasn’t Miss Sniffen,” she mused vaguely.  Suddenly she brightened.  “Why can’t we tell Mr. Randolph about it and ask him to ask Miss Sniffen?” She waited eagerly for the answer.  It was not quick to come.

Miss Sterling bent her head in thought, while the color fluttered on her cheeks.

“I’m afraid it wouldn’t be best,” she said finally with a deep breath.  “He might—­”

“Oh, bother!” Polly broke in; “I was so sure that was a brilliant thought of mine!  And now you turn it down just like any common idea!”