"Why," exclaimed her father playfully, "if you keep on at this rate, I shall have to charge you more for board!" Polly looked up, dropped her fork, and covering her face with her hands broke into tears. "Thistledown!" cried the Doctor. "You foolish child!" laughed Mrs. Dudley. "You know father was only in fun!" But Polly sobbed on, nor could she be induced to eat the piece of shortcake she had wanted. Dr. Dudley and his wife were puzzled, but Polly did not make matters clearer, only refused to finish her dinner, insisting that she had had enough. Her mother coaxed, the Doctor all but commanded, yet she silently kept her trouble in her heart, and went miserably to school. There Patricia met her with the announcement that she and her mother were going to Midvale Springs to spend the summer, having arranged to leave as soon as school should close. "And we want you to go with us," Patricia went on with eager emphasis, passing her arm cozily around Polly's waist. "You and I can have a room together next to mamma's and it will be too lovely! I lay awake last night thinking of it." "But I can't--" began Polly. "You can, too!" contradicted Patricia. "You've got to! I won't let you do anything else! Now say yes right away--there's a dear!" she coaxed, pinching Polly's mouth with a thumb and forefinger, her favorite method of wheedling. "Cousin Harold's coming for a visit pretty soon," evaded Polly. "I don't know what he would do if I shouldn't be here when he came." "Huh!" scorned Patricia, "guess I shouldn't stay home for a boy! He can come some other time. I'm your cousin, and I want you, and I'm going to have you! You never do anything I ask you to, and I think you might just for this once!" she pouted. "Why, Patty, I do everything I can to please you!" protested Polly. The "Patty" won smiles. It was Patricia's favorite nickname, and she was always pleased when Polly used it. "You're a darling!" she cooed. "You do everything lovely! And you'll do this for me--I know you will!" she ended archly. Yet Polly was equally certain in her inmost heart that she should never go to Midvale. To be sure, she reasoned prudently, it would save her board at home, and that was to be desired, but, on the other hand, there must needs be new clothes for a summer's stay at the fashionable Springs, which would more than offset the gain. She would give Patricia no encouragement.