“I don’t mean that he’s weak or bad. If he was, I should hate him; but he does need someone to love him very much, and make him happy, as a good woman best knows how,” said Polly, as if answering the mute language of Tom’s face. “I hope Maria Bailey is all he thinks her,” she added, softly, “for I couldn’t bear to have him disappointed again.”

“I dare say he don’t care a fig for her, and you are only borrowing trouble. What do you say Ned answered when you asked about this inconvenient girl?” said Fanny, turning hopeful all at once.

Polly repeated it, and added, “I asked him in another letter if he didn’t admire Miss B. as much as Tom, and he wrote back that she was ‘a nice girl, but he had no time for nonsense, and I needn’t get my white kids ready for some years yet, unless to dance at Tom’s wedding’. Since then he hasn’t mentioned Maria, so I was sure there was something serious going on, and being in Tom’s confidence, he kept quiet.”

“It does look bad. Suppose I say a word to Tom, just inquire after his heart in a general way, you know, and give him a chance to tell me, if there is anything to tell.”

“I’m willing; but you must let me see the letter. I can’t trust you not to hint or say too much.”

“You shall. I’ll keep my promise in spite of everything; but it will be hard to see things going wrong when a word would set it right.”

“You know what will happen if you do,” and Polly looked so threatening that Fan trembled before her, discovering that the gentlest girls when roused are more impressive than any shrew; for even turtle-doves peck gallantly to defend their nests.

“If it is true about Maria, what shall we do?” said Fanny, after a pause.

“Bear it; people always do bear things, somehow,” answered Polly, looking as if sentence had been passed upon her.

“But if it isn’t?” cried Fan, unable to endure the sight.

“Then I shall wait.” And Polly’s face changed so beautifully that Fan hugged her on the spot, fervently wishing that Maria Bailey never had been born.

Then the conversation turned to lover number two, and after a long confabulation, Polly gave it as her firm belief that A. S. had forgotten M. M., and was rapidly finding consolation in the regard of F. S. With this satisfactory decision the council ended, after the ratification of a Loyal League, by which the friends pledged themselves to stand staunchly by one another, through the trials of the coming year.

It was a very different winter from the last for both the girls. Fanny applied herself to her duties with redoubled ardour, for “A. S.” was a domestic man, and admired house-wifey accomplishments. If Fanny wanted to show him what she could do towards making a pleasant home, she certainly succeeded better than she suspected, for in spite of many failures and discouragements behind the scenes, the little house became a most attractive place, to Mr. Sydney at least, for he was more the house-friend than ever, and seemed determined to prove that change of fortune made no difference to him.

Fanny had been afraid that Polly’s return might endanger her hopes, but Sydney met Polly with the old friendliness, and very soon convinced her that the nipping in the bud process had been effectual, for being taken early, the sprouting affection had died easy, and left room for an older friendship to blossom into a happier love.

Fanny seemed glad of this, and Polly soon set her heart at rest by proving that she had no wish to try her power. She kept much at home when the day’s work was done, finding it pleasanter to sit dreaming over book or sewing alone, than to exert herself even to go to the Shaws’.