The Doctor waited.

“We went to a musicale, this forenoon, at Mrs. Trowbridge’s,” she resumed.  “The little boy was there who plays the violin so beautifully.  Mrs. Jocelyn got me a new hair ribbon and sash to wear.”

“Did you enjoy those better than the music?” twinkled the doctor.

“Oh, no!” The tone was almost reproachful.  “One piece the boy played was lovely.  I hated to have him stop.  I wish I could play as well as he—­no, I don’t either!  I don’t want to!” she burst out fiercely.

Dr. Dudley glanced at her quizzically.  “You seem to be a young lady of changeable opinions,” he smiled.

Her lip quivered; but she struggled hard against tears.

“Suppose you tell me all about it, Thistledown,” the Doctor said gently.

“Oh, don’t let me go and be her little girl!” she broke out.  “Don’t! don’t!  I’ll do anything, if you’ll only let me stay with you!”

He drew her down into his lap, and soothed her with tender words.

“Nobody shall ever take you from me against your will, Thistledown!” His voice was tensely unnatural.  “Does Mrs. Jocelyn wish to adopt you?  Did she say so?”

“I don’t know about adopting.  She wants me to go and live with her.  She said I could have everything, if I only would,—­a new piano, and lessons, and two rooms all furnished beautiful, and a doll house, and go to Europe, and a pony—­two of ’em—­and, oh, I don’t remember half!”

And you are sure you wish to give up all that grandeur for this old codgery doctor who has n’t any money?”

“You are n’t old, and you are n’t cod—­the other thing—­and I love you!  Do you—­do you want me to go?” she sobbed.

“Thistledown,”—­and his voice was very tender,—­“I think such an arrangement as Mrs. Jocelyn proposes would break my heart.  Still, if you really would be happy in going to her, I trust I should be unselfish and brave enough to give you up.  But I am gladder than you can guess that you have chosen the life with me.”

“I could n’t choose any other way; but I love her, I lover her ever so much!” Polly sighed.  “I’m afraid she will feel bad not to have me go.  Oh, I wish there did n’t so many folks want me—­ first Aunt Jane, and now her!”

“It must be rather troublesome to be in such demand,” the Doctor smiled.

“It is,” responded Polly between a laugh and a sob.

The sat for a while in silence, Polly’s head nestled on the broad shoulder.

Finally Dr. Dudley spoke.  “Can you keep a secret?”

“I think I could—­I know I could,” she answered slowly; “but I never have any to keep.”

“I am going to let you into one,” he smiled; “but you must n’t breathe a word of it to anybody.”

“Oh, I won’t!  I won’t tell it as long as I live!” she declared solemnly.

He laughed.  “This will not be so great a tax on your patience as all that.  I hope the secret will be out in a month.  The thistledown, what should you say if I should tell you that Miss Lucy and I are going to be married?”