“You take a good deal for granted,” spoke Polly at last. “Hadn’t you better sit down?” “Don’t be a fool! Come on!” “Your implication sounds rather rude to my ears,” smiled Polly. He paid no heed. “Are you coming or not?” he asked with a tinge of impatience. “Not,” answered Polly. “I am used to being asked, rather than commanded.” “Pshaw!” David scorned. “Do you want a scene?” “No. I want to sit still. I am tired.” She sighed wearily. “Why didn’t you say so before?” pettishly. He took the chair that Russell had vacated. “Let’s go home,” he resumed. “You are as sick of all this as I am.” “I am sick of the way you behave,” she returned. “You make me ashamed of you.” “That should be reversed,” observed David coldly. A tiny smile puckered Polly’s lips. “Oh, yes, laugh!” he burst out. “It is what you have been doing all day.” Marietta and her partner whirled past the doorway. Polly arose. “If we must talk in this fashion,” she responded, “we had better find a more secluded spot.” “I will take you home,” he decided, offering his arm. Many glances followed them as they picked their way between the dancers. Polly wore a mask of smiles. David looked straight ahead. So they reached the front entrance. “I will bring the car round,” he said. “Not for me,” answered Polly softly. And she stepped outside. “Are you refusing to go with me?” he questioned severely. “We cannot talk here,” she demurred, and led the way to a seat under a tree. “Will you answer me?” he scowled. “You brought Marietta down, and I think you had better take her home.” “Oh! if that is all, I can come back for her. Or she can go along with somebody else.” “No,” Polly replied quietly, “that will not do. I’ll return as I came.” “H’m! I might have known you would not miss going with Ely.” Polly did not reply. “What do you wish to say to me?” she asked. With a little growl of disapproval, he dropped to the seat beside her. “If you won’t,” he began, “I suppose you won’t; and I want this business disposed of. I am tired of our everlasting squabbling. Perhaps a girl likes it--I don’t.” Polly sat silent. She was resolved not to be brought into another argument; she knew how little it would avail. “Well?” spoke up David, after a moment of stillness. Polly drummed lightly the arm of the bench. “Why don’t you say something?” David’s voice was a bit impatient. “I have nothing to say,” she sighed. “Not even an apology?” he asked in a surprised tone. “For what?” “Now, don’t pose as a martyr!” “I might,” she replied with a little bitter laugh. “To-day has given me sufficient excuse for it.” “To-day!” he echoed, “to-day! When I have accorded you full reign, and let you do exactly as you pleased!” She made no response, and he continued. “Do you think it meant no self-sacrifice on my part to allow you to come to such a party in company with another man? Is it nothing for me to let you run about with other fellows? to let you dance with those men?” Polly smiled.