"I always thought a man took up interior decorating just because he happened to have been an upholsterer or fresco painter. I never knew there was any studying to be done, first," said Jim. "You didn't, eh! Well then, let me tell you this much; Polly and I intend to use our money from the mine, to put us both through school in New York. Any other city would do, I suppose, only Anne Stewart will be there, and I never can study under any one else! So I have to attend class in New York," Eleanor spoke with the greatest assurance that all she said had already been agreed to by Polly's family. "Then when Polly and I have had a year or two with Anne, we will take a special course in some one of the best schools on the subject. This course finished, we propose going to Europe to study Italian, French, Spanish, and English periods and styles. If we have an extra year or so, to spare, we might go to Japan and Egypt, as I just adore those two lands." "W-h-y! Eleanor! You never mentioned a word of this to me before! Who told you we could go?" gasped Polly. Eleanor laughed merrily. "You big innocent! Why, _I_ just told you _myself_--that we were going abroad." "If I ever manage to break away from Pebbly Pit after the awful speech I made recently, I'll be lucky, and let New York or Europe alone!" laughed Polly. "You never would have had gumption to speak as you did, Polly, if it hadn't been for my training you. This is what I have done to you--you are growing to be more independent of others." Eleanor smiled self-complacently at Polly, but the latter retorted: "I owe you nothing on an exchange, Nolla, because you must admit that I have filled you up with ideas you never dreamed of before you came to the ranch!" "Shake, old girl!" laughed Eleanor, holding out her hand. "But about New York--girls. It would be great if you can fix it. Ken and I will be home every holiday, and perhaps we can run down from New Haven, now and then, over Sundays," remarked Jim, eagerly. Eleanor held up an assuring hand, as she nodded her wise little head knowingly and said: "Leave it to Nolla, boys!" They laughed and agreed that there was no one else that could arrange affairs any better! Polly sat mute, for she wondered if it ever would come true--what Eleanor had planned about Europe. In her wildest fancies she had never dared allow her thought to outline _such_ possibilities. But here was a harum-scarum friend who seemed to get everything she wanted by merely saying, "We must have it, you know!" "I guess we'd better be starting back to camp," suggested Kenneth, looking up at the sun. "Yes, it will take us fully an hour, riding down," agreed Jim. So they helped the girls into their saddles, and soon all four were having a good time going back to Buffalo Park. CHAPTER XI A WILD-WEST COUNTY FAIR That same night while at supper, Mrs. Carew asked her guests if they had ever visited one of the western celebrations.