"Wouldn't it be wiser, my dear, to wait until the next day?" Miss Price had suggested, not daring to hint more strongly of the possibility of the blasting of their hopes. "The excitement and pleasure of being on your feet again should be sufficient for Wednesday." But Ilga, sanguine and joyous, wished her friends there to witness her achievement, and so the preparations had gone on. Miss Price was to be the guest of honor, and Polly, Patricia, David, Gustave, and June English and her brother were to make up the party. Mrs. Barron was sparing neither trouble nor money to please her daughter, and there were to be guessing contests, with prizes for the successful ones. It was quite out of Ilga's power to keep a secret, so Polly had been treated to a glimpse of the dear little pussy-head pins, with the emerald eyes, and had heard all about the odd-shaped sandwiches and the curious cakes representing animals, birds, and various other objects, the guessing of which was to be the feature of the tea. She had even peeped at one of the beautiful boxes of confections which stood ready to be given the departing guests as sweet good-byes, until she was looking forward to the party almost as joyfully as Ilga herself. And then the New York letter came. Ilga noticed the change as soon as Polly appeared. "What's the matter?" she asked abruptly. Polly had been bravely trying to smile, but at the sudden question the corners of her mouth flew down. "How'd you know there was anything?" she faltered. "Hoh, I can read you like a book! Your mother sick?" "No, oh, no! But I can't be here at the party!" "Why not?" Ilga raised herself on her elbow. "We had a letter from Cousin Floyd last night, and they want me to come to New York Wednesday morning." "Well, you aren't obliged to go, if they do! Oh, you haven't a bit of spunk!" "It isn't that, Ilga. Father thinks I ought to go, seeing it's my vacation, and so does mother. Two of my girl cousins that I haven't ever seen are going to sail for Germany in a day or two, and they aren't coming back for years, maybe, and they want me to help them receive at their farewell party--" "Oh, yes! I s'pose their party's better'n mine!" Ilga burst out scornfully. "If you do go, Polly Dudley, let me tell you I'll never speak--" "My dear!" Miss Price arrested the rash words on Ilga's lips, and took the hot cheeks between her cool palms. The excited girl sobbed out her penitence and her disappointment in the nurse's arms, while Polly sat by, distressed at the way things were going. When the tears were spent, the three talked the matter over quietly,--or as quietly as Ilga would allow. At first she decided peremptorily that if Polly could not be there she would have no party at all; but arguments and persuasions finally had their effect, and the plans were left unaltered, Glen Stewart being chosen in place of Polly. CHAPTER XIV POLLY IN NEW YORK