Mrs. Fabian smiled. "That is the usual experience the young men have with Polly. I think the very fact that she is unmindful of her attractions, coupled with her indifference to the attentions of the male sex, acts as a spur to them; each tries to see if she will not capitulate to his individual charms." Eleanor laughed. "You speak as if you believed the young men to be egotistical enough to _think_ they were charming." "They do, Nolla!" retorted Mrs. Fabian. "Every Adam's son firmly believes he is more alluring and attractive to a girl, than his friends. That is why they all follow tamely after a girl who has no time for them: they cannot believe it _possible_ that she is not overcome with their fascinations." Eleanor smiled as she listened, then she remarked: "I guess I'll try Polly's strategy and see if the beaus line up for me." "You have no need to experiment with any new tricks," replied Mrs. Fabian, warningly. "There are enough sighing young men already, waiting to break their hearts and necks, for a mere glance from those impish eyes of yours." Eleanor laughed merrily at her chaperone's words, but Polly's return to the room interrupted their little talk. "What do you think?" demanded Polly, as soon as she was in the room. Not giving them time to answer, she said: "Jack Baxter is going to furnish a bachelor apartment in the city, and says he is going to give Nolla and me the contract for doing it. It will be our very first work as interior decorators!" "Oh," gasped Eleanor, "how can we do it?" Polly looked amazed at such a question, and retorted: "Why, with money and brains, to be sure!" "Is that why he's coming tomorrow evening?" asked Eleanor. "Yes; he is now staying at Mr. Dalken's apartment, and both of them are coming over tomorrow. He says he has been West since we last saw him, and he stopped at Pebbly Pit to see the folks, on his way back from the Coast. That is why he has not been heard from--he was called away so suddenly, and just got back today." "I wonder why he took all the trouble to go to Pebbly Pit?" said Eleanor. "He didn't know a soul there!" "That's what I asked him, and he says he will tell us all about it tomorrow night," explained Polly. CHAPTER XI POLLY'S FIRST CONTRACT Promptly at eight, Jack Baxter and Mr. Dalken were announced to Polly and Eleanor. The Fabians had gone to the Opera and Mr. Dalken was supposed to act as chaperone for the evening. "This is a new experience for me," laughed he, "but not one that I dislike. In fact, I will be glad to offer my services in the same capacity, at any time, for you girls." "Better beware how you offer yourself on such an altar," teased Polly, trying to appear calm and composed, whereas she was keyed up to hear about the proposed work young Baxter wished them to do for his new apartment. Eleanor deemed it wise to mention another subject first, so she asked: "How long were you at Pebbly Pit, Mr. Baxter?"