"Isn't it delicious to worry one's self over who could have sent us a welcome, when we _might_ know for certain, if we would but act prosaically and open the seal." The girls laughed, and Eleanor remarked, knowingly: "Oh, _Polly_ knows who it is from! She just wants to enjoy a few extra thrills before she reads the message." "Nolla, I do _not_ know, and you know it! You always make 'a mountain from a mole-hill.' I declare, you are actually growing to be childish in your old age!" retorted Polly, sarcastically. Her latter remark drew forth a peal of laughter from the girls, Eleanor included. But Polly failed to join in the laugh. She cast a withering glance at Eleanor, and walked aside to open the envelope. The four interested girls watched her eagerly as she read the short message. Polly would have given half of her mine on Grizzly Slide, to have controlled her expression. But the very knowledge that the four friends were critically eyeing her, made her flush uncomfortably as she folded up the paper again, and slipped it in her pocket. "Ha! What did I tell you! It is from HIM!" declared Eleanor, laughingly. Dorothy Alexander was duly impressed, for she had firmly believed, hitherto, that Polly was a man-hater. The manner in which she had scorned Jimmy Osgood on that tour of England would have led anyone to believe that such was the case. Now the tell-tale blush and Eleanor's innuendo, caused Dorothy to reconsider her earlier judgment. Polly curled her full red lip at Eleanor's remark, and was about to speak of something of general interest, when Dorothy unexpectedly asked a (to her) pertinent question. "Polly, has anyone ever proposed to you?" Eleanor laughed softly to herself, and Polly sent poor Dodo a pitying glance. "Is that little head of yours entirely void of memory, Dodo?" said she. Then, without waiting for a reply, Polly continued: "Did not Jimmy propose to me, as well as to every one of you girls?" "Oh, but I didn't mean that sort of an affair," explained Dorothy. "I mean--were you ever in love with anyone who thought he loved _you_?" "Oh, isn't this a delightful conversation? I wouldn't have missed it for anything in the world!" laughed Eleanor. "Nolla," rebuked Polly, seriously, "your head has been so turned since all those poor fortune-hunters in Europe flattered you, that I fear you will never succeed in business with me. I shall have to find someone else who will prove trustworthy and work." Polly's threat did not appear to disturb Eleanor very much, for she laughed merrily and retorted: "Dodo, if I answer your question for Polly, what will you do for me, some day?" "Nolla, you mind your own affairs!" exclaimed Polly, flushing again. "Dodo is such a tactless child that she never stops to consider whether her questions are too personal, or not. But _you_--well, you know better, and I forbid you to discuss me any further."