Polly was glad with a dreary kind of gladness when the hour of dismission came, and she hurried away by herself, intent only on a refuge where she should be alone and could think things out. She found the kitchen door locked and the key in its accustomed hiding-place; so she let herself in, knowing that her mother was not at home. Up in her own room she sat down by the low side window, and looked out on the bare landscape of early December.
Aimlessly she let her eyes wander over the desolate garden of the next house, so recently robbed of all its greenery; then the muslin-draped windows opposite came within her vision. The caroling canary, in his little gilded prison, caught a glance, a frolicking squirrel running an endless race in his make-believe home, a lady stitching on a pink gown, and so towards the street. What she saw there made her start as if with pain.
Up the sidewalk strolled a lad, "Foolish Joe" people called him, and he was, as usual, accompanied by a little band of fun-loving, teasing boys. In a moment they were gone; but the shambling central figure with its vacant face stayed with her to accentuate her distress. She leaned her head upon her arm, but she could not shut out the picture.
Ilga's sneering phrases rang back and forth in her brain, until clear thought was impossible.
She had not heard any one come in, and she started at sound of her father's voice. Instead of answering she shrank back into her chair, involuntarily delaying the moment of meeting.
Dr. Dudley was mounting the stairs, two steps at a time.
"Well!" His tall figure filled the doorway. "Where is your mother?"
"I--don't know," Polly faltered. "She's gone out--the door was locked--maybe with Miss Curtis. Miss Curtis was here to dinner."
"Was she!" And then, "I am going down to Linwood, and I thought you folks would like the ride. We shall have to go alone, shan't we?"
Polly did not look up,--perhaps could not would be nearer the truth; but she rose instantly.
The Doctor took a step forward, and tilted her chin upon his finger.
In spite of her efforts to smile, her lip quivered.
"You and David been having a quarrel?" he asked whimsically.
"Then that isn't it? How long are you going to keep me guessing?"