“I am going to Overlook this afternoon to buy one,” declared Polly. But, to her chagrin, among her numerous purchases it was forgotten. Meanwhile Lilith grew desperate, and, borrowing a recipe from Sally Robinson, made some rolls for tea. “Dr. Abbe says they are the best he ever ate,” she told Polly, a new flush on her cheeks. For several days Polly had noticed that Lilith had been repeating this and that which “Dr. Abbe said.” It was unusual for Lilith. Now Polly smiled across into her friend’s eyes, and the blush on her cheeks grew deep. That night, at bedtime, she knocked on Polly’s door. “I saw your light,” she apologized; “may I come in?” Yet when the door was shut behind her she hesitated, her eyes downcast, the color fluttering in her cheeks. Polly drew her down to the couch. “Tell me,” she encouraged. “Is it some good news?” “Have you guessed?” Lilith’s happy eyes looked up in surprise. “Dr. Abbe?” smiled Polly. The other nodded, blushing deliciously. “I haven’t told anybody but mother. I wanted you to know. He says--this isn’t going to--to hurt you, Polly?” “Bless you, no!” Polly caught the pink face between her palms and kissed the sweet mouth. “I’m so glad, Lilith. I can’t tell you how glad. It is what I have wanted for a good while.” “But listen! He says he liked me from the first, but that he didn’t suppose I’d ever care a rap for him, and he says one day you happened to say something about me--I guess praised me up a little--you know, as you do sometimes--and it made him wonder if I ever could care. It was after that he asked me to go to Skyboro with him--the day of the thunder-storm--and since then he has come in my way more or less. Still, I didn’t think he was in earnest. I thought all the time that he was in love with you.” “I’m glad you are mistaken,” said Polly. “So am I,” confessed Lilith, “if you don’t care for him. I shouldn’t be happy a bit if you did.” Polly lay awake long after she had put out her light, thinking, thinking. Things with Lilith had gone just as she wanted them to go. If she could only know how David felt! Would he wish to hold her to a promise she had never made? She fell asleep and dreamed that she was being married to him, under an arch of sunflowers! She awoke with a shiver, unutterably thankful that it was a dream. The next morning a messenger rode up from Overlook with a special-delivery letter for Polly. She glanced at the envelope, and a frightened look flashed into her face. Upstairs she darted. A few minutes later she sought Lilith--her ready refuge. “Come right into my room and try to think what we can do!” she demanded. “What is it?” Lilith was plainly startled as she followed Polly. “It’s awful!” exclaimed Polly in a hushed voice. “Sardis Merrifield wants to come here and spend his vacation,--two weeks!” “Goodness! Sardis Merrifield!” Lilith sank back in her rocker, limp with the overpowering news. “And think of my cookies!” Polly laughed hysterically.