Part 26 (1/2)

”I'll put this pillow right under your shoulders--so. Now throw your head--”

A sharp rap halted the sentence. Mrs. Albright sat up. The door was flung open before Polly reached it.

”Ladies! what does this mean?” Miss Sniffen stood there, resolute and merciless.

n.o.body answered.

Miss Twining and Miss Lily began hurriedly to gather up their disheveled hair. Miss Castlevaine arose haughtily. Polly's tongue was quickest to recover itself.

”I was only teaching the ladies some exercises to make them strong.

We are not doing any harm, Miss Sniffen.”

”I infer that it makes them stronger to pull their hair down.” The tone was smoothly sarcastic.

”Oh, that!” returned Polly, with a tiny smile; ”I've been telling them how to ma.s.sage the scalp, so as to make their hair grow.”

”Very necessary, indeed! And I suppose their hair grows faster if they stretch themselves out upon the bed and the floor! I'm ashamed of you!”

”Oh, Miss Sniffen!” protested Polly, ”you have to lie down to take these exercises! The book says so!”

”Book!” snapped the angry voice; ”I'll book you all for what you won't like if I ever catch you in such unladylike postures again!

You must be in your second childhood! Now march to your rooms, every one of you!” She waved her hand peremptorily toward the doorway, and the culprits filed meekly past her--all but Miss Castlevaine. She walked with stately step and head held high, as became the great-granddaughter of a d.u.c.h.ess.

”I think you would better go home now, you have worked mischief enough for one day!” She addressed Polly in a slightly mollified tone.

”Why, Miss Sniffen, I can't see what harm there is in trying to get well and strong. I should think you'd like the ladies to be better. Father and mother think these exercises are fine!

Mother's Grandaunt Susie told us about them. They made her as good as new!”

”We won't discuss the matter,” replied the superintendent in a hard voice. ”You need not remain to talk it over with Miss Sterling.”

”I'm going--right now!” Polly caught up her coat.

”Good-bye, Miss Nita!” She swept past Miss Sniffen with a curt bow.

The door tight shut, Juanita Sterling fisted the air in the direction of the departing superintendent. Then she drooped her head and sobbed.

CHAPTER XVIII

VICTOR VON DALIN

For several days the weather was showery, not very pleasant for walking, and Polly stayed away from the June Holiday Home.

”What will Miss Nita think!” she mourned. ”Miss Sniffen has probably forgotten by this time that she sent me home. Wouldn't it do for me to go over for just a little while this fore-noon, while the officers are all busy?”

”I think you had better wait until Sat.u.r.day,” her mother decided.

So Polly sighed and ran off to write a little note to her beloved friend. It was warm in her own room, and she carried paper and pencil out to her favorite seat on the veranda.

She was there when a man came up the front steps, a white-haired man. He walked with a firm, quick step, and when he saw her he came over to where she sat. He took off his hat with a courteous bow.

”May I ask,” he said in a low, pleasant voice, ”if you know a lady in the June Holiday Home named Adlerfeld, Mrs. Elise Adlerfeld?”