“If you don’t want me, I s’pose I’ll have to,” plaintively. Nothing further came to Polly’s ears, except the patter of small footsteps, which told her of Clementina’s retreat. Why did Benedicta allow them to bother her and resent it almost as interference when Polly remonstrated? Now Clementina’s thin voice was piping out again. “Say, how soon will the cocoa gingerbread be done?” “Oh, not for a good bit!” “Say, don’t you think Dolly Merrifield’s brother is an awful lovely gentleman?” “I guess so.” “He’s beautifuller than any of the other gentlemen, isn’t he?” “Yere.” “Why don’t he be Miss Polly’s beau? They look sweet together.” “Teeters and tongs! What’s got into you?” “There isn’t any cocoa gingerbread inside o’ me!” resented Clementina. “Nor there won’t be unless you stay out of here!” Benedicta’s voice was as nearly impatient as it ever came to be with the children. “I don’t know where to wait,” complained the child. “Go and see Grissel and Dolly and the rest.” “I ain’t a wheel-chair one.” “Well, I’ll make you one if you don’t go this minute!” Which dreadful threat sent the little feet off again, not to return within Polly’s hearing. Although there were tasks still awaiting her, she lingered by her window long after her mending was finished and the garments folded ready to be put away. The questioning that had floated up to her from the kitchen had flooded her mind with thoughts that would not be thrust out, and she brooded over them with troubled brow and restless fingers. As yet she had said little to David. She had resolved not to be left alone with him if she could prevent it, although she felt that it was only delaying a sure occurrence. If he had been arrogant or assuming, as at the last time she saw him, she felt that things would have been easier for her; but he was cordial without assumption and genial without familiarity. He had rarely, she thought, appeared in so attractive a light--and yet--and yet--Polly knew that she had no love to give him, that she never could have any love for him again. Had he killed it by his faithless behavior, or had she never loved him? She could not tell. If there had been any real love in her heart for David Collins, of this she was confident, none of it was left. Still, she dreaded to tell him so. She vowed there in the silence of her room that she would not let herself be led into a position from which there was no escape.