Miss Lucy was please, and Leonora tried to be.  Polly saw through her forced smiles, however, and proposed all the pleasant make-ups she could think of.

“You can take care of Phebe while I’m gone, and play she’s twin sister to your Juliet” (Leonora had named her doll after its donor), “and you make take the book Burton Leonard sent me.  We have n’t read more than half the stories in it yet.”

Leonora was beaming her thanks and her delight, when Miss Lucy declared that she should depend on her to help entertain the ward, and that made her look so joyful, Polly knew there would be little lonesomeness for the lame girl.

When Dr. Dudley heard that Polly was going, he promised to carry her in his automobile, for it was a long walk to Mrs. Jocelyn’s home.

“Then I shall have you to myself a little longer than the rest of the,” he twinkled.

“Anybody’d think I was n’t ever coming back!” laughed Polly.

“Oh, don’t say so!” shivered Leonora.  “Talk about what you’re going to wear!”

“All right!” Polly agreed.  “Miss Lucy and I have got it all planned.  I shall wear my best white dress, if it is as warm as it is today, and take my white sweater with me, so I’ll have it if it comes off cold.  And I’m going to wear my beautiful locket and chain that Mrs. Leonard gave me, and my newest blue hair ribbon, and my best ties, and my best hat.”

“Dear me,” mused Dr. Dudley gravely, “I did n’t know I should have to sit beside so fine a young lady as that!  I wonder if I must put on my dress suit.”

Polly giggled, and Leonora squealed, and they were not sobered down when they bade the Doctor good-night.

“Is n’t he nice?” admired the lame girl, as they went slowly upstairs, hand in hand.

“He’s the very nicest man in the whole world!” asserted Polly, and her nodding curls emphasized her praise.

Dressing came directly after dinner, and Polly had the eager assistance of every girl in the ward that was able to be about on two feet.

Angiola Cuneo fetched the pretty black ties, and Mabel Camp the long stockings.  Frederica Schmelzer held the box containing the hair ribbon of delicate blue while Miss Lucy brushed the fluffy curls into smoothness.  Stella Pope, greatly puffed up by the importance of her errand, went to Miss Lucy’s own room, and brought back the dainty white frock, all spotless from the laundry.  But Leonora’s was the crowning service of all.  With trembling fingers she clasped around Polly’s white neck the exquisite little gold chain, with its pendent locket, which had been Mrs. Leonard’s farewell gift when Burton left the hospital.

“There,” she whispered delightedly, patting Polly’s shoulder, “you look too sweet for anything!”

Polly dimpled and blushed, but only said:—­

“I wish you were going, too!”

“Oh my!” gasped Leonora; “I should n’t know how to act or what to say!  I guess I’d rather stay with Miss Lucy.”