"I guess maybe you didn't know about Miss Polly's love affair,"
he said slowly.

"Love affair--HER! No!--and I guess nobody else didn't, neither."

"Oh, yes they did," nodded the old man. "And the feller's livin'
ter-day--right in this town, too."

"Who is he?"

"I ain't a-tellin' that. It ain't fit that I should." The old man
drew himself erect. In his dim blue eyes, as he faced the house,
there was the loyal servant's honest pride in the family he has
served and loved for long years.

"But it don't seem possible--her and a lover," still maintained
Nancy.

Old Tom shook his head.

"You didn't know Miss Polly as I did," he argued. "She used ter
be real handsome--and she would be now, if she'd let herself be."

"Handsome! Miss Polly!"

"Yes. If she'd just let that tight hair of hern all out loose and
careless-like, as it used ter be, and wear the sort of bunnits
with posies in 'em, and the kind o' dresses all lace and white
things--you'd see she'd be handsome! Miss Polly ain't old,
Nancy."