to consider the situation. Taken all in all, it was not an
encouraging picture that the next few days presented. Her father
was liable to be called away at any hour of the night, leaving her
alone with Mary who slept at the far end of the house; there would
be the lonely hours when she was out of school; the next day was
Saturday--what should she do with herself? The prospect was too
much for poor Polly and, throwing herself down on her bed, she
gave herself up to the luxury of a hearty cry.

"I wish I were dead now,
Or else in my bed now,
I'd cover my head now,
And have a good cry."

"Is this what you call a hospitable welcome?" asked a sudden voice.

Polly raised her head in surprise, and saw Molly standing in the
doorway, with a smile on her face and a great bundle in her hand.
Polly sprang up and threw her arms around her friend excitedly.

"Oh, Molly Hapgood! where did you come from? I never, never was so
glad to see anybody in all my life."

"If that's a fact," said Molly coolly, "why didn't you come down-
stairs to meet me, and not make me hunt for you, all over the
house?"

"How could I meet you, when I didn't know you were coming?"
demanded Polly.