The small guest of honor let her tongue play freely, and sympathetic Polly was sorrowed by her glimpse of the shadow of such an affliction. A barren, sad little life it must be, yet the tiny maid was seemingly not yet conscious of any poverty or pathos in her surroundings. “My brother’s coming home for a day or two sometime this summer,” she informed Polly. “He said in his last letter that he was going to give me a ride when he came. But you have got ahead of him,” she chuckled. “He wanted to take me to hear his valedictory when he was here two years ago in June; but it rained that day, and I couldn’t go.” For an instant a shade dulled the little face, then it made way for a smile. “What do you think!” she broke out, “He delivered his address to me--with all the motions, too! Wasn’t that lovely of him? Aunt Sophie said she guessed not many boys would have done it just to please a little sister. Oh, he’s the nicest brother in the world! And he wouldn’t have a new suit after all! We wanted him to; but he said his old suit was good enough. Of course, he’d look better than the rest, anyway--he’s just lovely!” Behind Polly a ceaseless stream of lively chatter told her that Clementina was enjoying herself. Jeffy, too, was puncturing the air with wild exclamations. Presently was heard the voice of Little Duke. “She will, too, you little stick-in-the-mud! My good boy!--Mi’ Duddy! Mi’ Duddy!” The girl looked round. Little Duke almost tumbled towards her in his eagerness. “Mi’ Duddy, My want to lie down out there.” He pointed to the field of mossy rocks and lush clover. “Oh, dearie, I’m afraid it’s damp!” “No, Mi’ Duddy! Dear Mi’ Duddy, My is good boy! My won’t be damp.” Polly laughed, but asked Evan to stop while she went on a trip of investigation. “All right,” was her verdict, on returning to the car. And instantly there was a clamor of voices from the back seat. “Oh, may I go, too!”--“I want to lie on the grass, Miss Dudley!”--“Please, can I go?”--“Do let us, Miss Dudley.” “We’ll all go,” Polly agreed. And in Evan’s arms the children were carried, from Little Duke to Dolly Merrifield, to bask among the sunny clover-blossoms. Little Duke sucked the sweet blooms, gazing contentedly up at the white sails on the deep blue sky. Presently he spoke. “My will stay here all night. My won’t be ’fraid. My will hold you’ hand, Mi’ Duddy.” “But I shan’t be here,” smiled Polly. “I must go home.” “My will stay alone. Stars will be here. My will hold Clover’s hand.” Still, even clover-blossoms lose their attractiveness after awhile, especially when there is a cushioned automobile in waiting; and after a quarter-hour of the sunny couch Little Duke was ready to relinquish present sweets for the swift-rolling car. “Did you like it?” Polly smiled down into the white little face beside her. She fancied it held a faint reflection of the clover’s own color. “Oh, it seemed as if it must be heaven!” sighed Dolly Merrifield softly.