Juanita Sterling met the bright eyes, and nodded smilingly.

“Oh, Miss Nita!  Miss Nita!”—­Polly squeezed her friend’s arm in ecstasy—­“I can’t believe it!  It’s too lovely for anything!  I want to hop right over the moon!  How did he say it, Miss Nita?  Do tell me how he said it!  I’ve always wanted to know how they said it, and mother won’t tell me, and father won’t, and unless you do I never shall know!”

“You—­with a lover like David!” laughed the other.

“Oh, well, David’s only a boy!  Please—­there’s his car!  It’s turning round!” She started and her eyes fell upon the clock.  “Just after midnight!  I didn’t notice its striking.  Good-morning, Miss Nita!  How funny it will seem to say Mrs. Randolph!”

“Polly!” the other expostulated.

Polly laughed and flung her arms round Miss Sterling’s neck.  “Remember!  I’m not going to let you off!  You must tell me how he said it!”

“Charmingly, Polly, charmingly!”

“No, that won’t do!—­There’s the bell!” And the crimson-robed little figure fled.

Juanita Sterling had wondered what she would say when they met the next time.  How different this was from her dream!

Nelson Randolph took her hand in a warm clasp.  “I am glad you let me come,” he said.

Briefly she explained the situation.

“Better call Dr. Temple.”

“I thought of him, but I didn’t like to take any more responsibility.”

“Where is the telephone?”

She led the way and made a light.

“Yes, it’s Randolph,” she heard him say.  “I am at Dr. Dudley’s.  He is out of town.  A woman at the Home is very sick.  Can you come up?  Yes, I will wait here and go over with you.”

He settled himself in a big rocker, and regarded her smilingly.

“So the Princess had a race with the Dragon!  That is more than I anticipated.  Was she frightened?”

Miss Sterling blushed.  “Not much—­a little,” she admitted.  “Once—­for a long minute—­I was afraid the ‘Dragon’ was going to catch me!”

“But she didn’t!  I am proud of you!” He grasped the hand that rested on the arm of her chair.

She pulled away and ran across the room.  “I’m going to sit here!” she announced, smiling to him.  To hold her hand that way—­when at any moment Mrs. Dudley might appear!

He surveyed her with amusement.  “Was that an unforgivable sin?” he twinkled.

“M—­no,” demurely.  “The Doctor may come.”

“He won’t come in at the window,” he laughed.  “Don’t you think you are a little unkind, when I have been so far away all day and haven’t had a glimpse of you since last night?”

“You can see me just as well over here.  There have been other days when you have not seen me.”  A mischievous light gleamed in her eyes.

“It wasn’t my fault,” he smiled.  “I tried pretty hard to see you!”

She went back, blushing like a school-girl.