Sidney felt immensely flattered that Pola had taken her in among her peacocks. (Secretly, too, she considered that she carried herself well among them. She was most careful of her dress, now!) She did not know that Pola's sort instinctively seeks out someone to dazzle, that Pola's generosity was a part of the dazzling process. She thought Pola wonderful to accept so casually her gilded privileges. Why, if Pola didn't like a dress or a hat or a pair of shoes she simply didn't wear it; she could buy anything she wanted from any one of the priceless bits of jewelry in the shops at Hyannis to the delectable sweets in the tea-rooms on Commercial Street. She could do just as she pleased--even more than Mart, for _she_ never had to darn or mend or wipe dishes or dust or hang up her clothes or brush them. Realizing all this Sidney came to forgive that first condescension that had stung; she thought Pola little short of an angel to be so prettily friendly with them all. So engrossed was Sidney in basking in Pola's favor that for a time she felt no compunctions at deserting Mart and Lavender; in fact she did not even think of them. Both Mart and Lavender had become suddenly very busy with affairs that kept them out of sight. If, once in awhile, Sidney wondered what they were doing something of Pola's or something Pola said quickly crowded the thought from her head. But one afternoon they encountered Mart as they strolled toward the Green Lantern to sit under its gay awnings and drink tea. Sidney introduced Mart to Pola and to cover Pola's rude stare she added quickly: "We're going down to the Green Lantern, Mart. Won't you come with us?" conscious as she said it that her voice sounded stilted. "No, thanks. I'm going to do something lots more exciting than sitting _there_! And I'm in a hurry, too." And with that Mart swung on past them, her head high. Sidney had a moment's longing to run after her and coax her to come, but Pola's light giggle checked her. "Isn't she a riot? I'd have _died_ if she'd come with us!" "Oh, Pola--she'll hear you!" pleaded Sidney. She hated herself because she did not tell Pola at once how bravely Mart shouldered her responsibilities, about gran'ma, who looked to Mart for everything. Instead she simply walked along with Pola and let Pola giggle. Pola, sensing Sidney's feelings, slipped her arm through hers and gave it an affectionate little squeeze. "You're such a funny child," she said softly. "You'd be nice to anything. I can't, of course, for I go around to so many places and mother's warned me often about strangers. Anyway, it's lots nicer for just us two to be together, isn't it?"