"That's what _you_ think, Nolla, but let me tell you this much right here"--and Polly planted her feet firmly and lifted her head upon her proud neck, until Eleanor stood admiring her independence--"I can talk for myself, every time! Don't ever quote me again in any thing that I ever said or did. You may think it is all right because you win out on those grounds, and simply because you never have been taught properly by your mother. But _I_ know better and I won't accept any victory won on any other basis than a clear conscience. Ask Anne Stewart whether she does not agree with me on this point. Now let me tell you, that much as I had yearned to go to New York with you-all I cannot go because you took my personal rights from me. I love you and I was crazy to leave home to go to school, but I will never consent to have any one say or act for me, in any way, when I am perfectly able to do so for myself." "Oh, Poll! I don't mean it that way--don't you know I only did it to help you out?" cried Eleanor aghast at the turn in events. "Who asked you to help me out?" demanded Polly, her blue eyes emitting sparks of fire. "Why--wh--y--you see I had to win your father over!" "But _who_ told you so? You know very well that it was your own pride in your ability to _talk_ that made you take the bit between your teeth. But you will learn now, that I intend driving my own steed, and will not allow others to whip my mount!" Eleanor was silenced as she began to review the very recent talk she had given out on the terrace. Polly was right! "It hurts me to tell you this, Nolla, but it is best that we have a clean slate from this night on. You are awfully clever and witty, too, but you do exaggerate something terrible! I cannot sit tamely by and accept all the things you say of me and our plans. Why, we scarcely said a dozen words about college and Europe!" "But I did it all for your sake," was all Eleanor could offer in self-defense. "That's just it! I _will not_ have any one say they had to tell lies to help me along. If I can't paddle my own canoe through the rapids, I can go ashore. But I will balk every time another tries to turn me from the course I know to be my true one. So there!" "Polly dearest! Do you mean that after all I have done to get Dad here and win your father's consent to your going, that you refuse to leave home--just because I colored my words a bit too vividly?" "You can color your words as rashly and with as vivid colors as you choose, Nolla, but I say that when you begin to infer that the coloring is of _my_ choosing and that I am in hearty sympathy with the way you win out in matters, then I will balk and if necessary, deny it in the future. I _hate_ color when it is daubed on falsely!"