Time passed quickly, with a new pastime planned by Tom, for each day. And most of these pleasures included the other girls, as well as Polly. So the enjoyment was general, and Polly could not say that Tom tried to get her company for himself, by leaving her friends out of any fun. December came in, and the Christmas season advanced, with Tom still leading a gay life and escorting the girls to every pleasure or entertainment they heard of; and Polly was still the kind little "sister" to him in every way, but nothing more. Tom had selected his Christmas gift for Polly, but no one had been told about it. This he had kept absolutely secret. The Christmas Holidays came and all schools closed, so that the girls had no studies to attend to, and no art work to prepare. Jim Latimer and his chum Kenneth came home from Yale for the two weeks' vacation, and they immediately called on Polly and Eleanor. Tom saw how gladly Polly welcomed Jim and Kenneth, and he began to wonder if she really preferred a young boy's society to his. Polly and Jim were about the same age--not quite eighteen, while he--Tom, was almost twenty-four. Such a decrepit old age! The evening Jim planned to visit Polly and take Kenneth along for Eleanor, Tom, to the surprise of his parents, spent the entire evening with them; but he was not very attentive to what his mother said, nor did he seem over-pleased with being at home. Jim and Kenneth were noisy, active young college boys, and they furnished lots of fun that evening, of the energetic, "center-rush" kind. But Polly was relieved when they had said good-night and were gone. Eleanor laughed at the way Jim "rough-housed" both girls when he tried to kiss them good-night, and Polly indignantly told him he would never be invited there again! Jim laughed and caught hold of Polly to shake her for such a threat, but he smacked her loudly on the lips, instead. As the two girls went upstairs to retire, Polly said: "I'm sure Jim wouldn't have acted so silly if his big brother had been here!" Eleanor then added: "We have such lovely evenings with Tom, that this sort of horse-play gets on my nerves!" Then she slyly watched her friend's expression to try and read her mind. "I wonder why Tom never came in tonight?" said Polly. "Jack Baxter met me this afternoon, and he says Tom goes uptown regularly, to see a girl. Jack shadowed him and knows exactly where the girl lives. But he didn't say I must not tell you," said Eleanor, confidentially. Neither did she add that she had heard the address of this "girl" and knew it to be Tom's home and mother. Polly flushed, but said nonchalantly: "Poor Tom! He feels awfully bored with us girls, at times!"