"We mustn't go too far, or Cornelius might miss us," warned Polly. "There he is now!" as the straight little figure swung into sight. The three had a merry walk home, notwithstanding the distance and the haunting fear in the hearts of two of them that there would be anxiety because of their unexplained absence. Cornelius insisted on accompanying them to within a block of home, and then he stood on the corner and watched them away. Mrs. Dudley met them at the foot of the steps, both hands outstretched. "Children! where have you been?" Polly felt nearer than usual to a real reprimand, and she hurried to explain. "We didn't mean to be gone so long, but we got lost in Cherry Hill Park--" "Cherry Hill Park! What in the world started you up there this hot night?" "Why, we went up on Oregon Avenue, and then thought we'd just go over to the park, and we got tired,--or I did,--and we sat down on a bench and went to sleep--both of us!" Polly giggled at the remembrance. "Then we couldn't tell which way to go, and Cornelius came along, and he had to do an errand for his mother, and we waited a good while for him--and that's why we didn't come before." "Well, you have had a time! You'd better run right home, David, for your mother is worried. She supposed you were over here, and came to see what kept you." "Is Uncle David home?" questioned the boy tentatively. "I think she said not." Polly's eyes and David's met in tacit understanding--the secret was Colonel Gresham's, and not to be spoken of. Then the boy whirled towards home. "Good-night!" called Polly, and to the accompaniment of fleeting footfalls came the answering "Good-night!" CHAPTER XVII AT MIDVALE SPRINGS Polly's worry about her father's reduced salary and the unpaid coal bill did not wholly leave her mind, but returned at intervals with ever renewing force. At these times she still wondered if she ought to have gone to live with Uncle Maurice; yet the thought of it brought such terror to her heart that she would resolutely turn from the picture, arguing that the time was past for accepting his offer, and that now, whatever the consequences, she must remain in the home she had chosen. She longed intensely to earn some money to help out the situation, thinking how delightful it would be to put ten dollars into her father's hand with the astonishing announcement that it was her very own to do with as she pleased. But, realizing her helplessness in this line, she would resolve again and again to eat as little as possible, and as far as she was able to insist on wearing her old clothes, and to protest against spending even precious pennies for the pretty things she so loved to wear. But it was the eating question that troubled her more than the dress, for her healthy appetite often tempted her into indulgences which she would afterwards regret. One noon she so far forgot herself as to ask for a second helping of strawberry shortcake.