"Yes; we've gone through school together since we were little shavers. And that's quite a record for boys in New York, where folks are always moving from one district to another," replied Jim. "I believe your brother Tom said you were going to Yale?" continued Eleanor. "We will, if we pass the tests. I'm sure Ken will, but I'm not so sure of myself." "Now--don't belittle yourself. You know you will pass," added Kenneth. "I'm sorry you both will be away from home, because Polly and I expect to attend school in New York this Winter," remarked Eleanor. "Me? School in New York?" cried Polly, astonished. "Why, yes, of course! Didn't you know what was in my mind when I decided I would like to go to New York with Anne Stewart?" "But that doesn't mean _I'm_ going there!" exclaimed Polly. "Of course you are. I don't want to go without you, so I shall scheme to win your folks over to my way of thinking." "Well, all I can say, is this: If you win them over to see how important it is for me to go to school in New York, you are a wizard--that's all!" declared Polly, laughingly. "Your laugh sounds dubious, but I'll show you, pretty soon." "Now, if you two girls should find yourselves in New York, we will have our folks meet you and pilot you through the wilderness. It's worse than out here on the mountains, you know," laughed Jim. "In case I don't pass for college, I won't mind so much, as long as you girls will be in the city to console me," added Kenneth, gallantly. They laughed. "We won't waste much time consoling any one, I can tell you," added Polly. "No; Polly and I are going to study some profession, you know, and begin business as soon as we complete our education." "What?" exclaimed Jim, surprised to hear such young girls plan for a business life. "Yep! Polly is just daffy over interior decorating, and since she showed me all her magazines and other books on it, I am crazy about it, too." "But you don't have to study _that_!" declared Kenneth. "That shows how little a man knows about it. Why, not only must a decorator--a real one, we mean--know all about periods in architecture and furnishings of all kinds, but she must know at a glance, whether an object is genuine antique or a counterfeit," explained Eleanor, glad to impress her male friends with her understanding of what is essentially a woman's profession. "Besides that," added Polly, "a good interior decorator must know the name of a painter of pictures,--whether an old master or a modern artist. Not an engraving or etching shown but the good decorator ought to be able to say who did it, and name its date. "There are lots of counterfeit antique china sold to-day, but a good decorator can tell instantly whether it is real antique or not. "Besides china and pictures, one must be able to name a rug--its qualities and value, at a glance. As for draperies and wall-hangings, well! It all has to be thoroughly learned," said Polly.