"Sort of funny, though," said Ned, "that he

hasn't answered before this. If he doesn't answer at all—well, do you think we ought to send him another, Laurie?"

Laurie shook his head. "No good," he said briefly.

"Oh, but he will answer it," declared Polly. "Why, he'd simply have to! His own self-respect would—would demand it!"

"Of course!" agreed Mae. "Maybe there's a telegram waiting for you now, Laurie."

"That's so." Laurie spoke with more animation. "Let's go and see, Ned."

"I didn't say anything about it to Miss Comfort," observed Mrs. Deane in the tone of one asking commendation.

"Oh, no, you mustn't," said Polly. "If—if nothing came of it, after all, she'd be too disappointed. Laurie, if Mr. Whatshisname still insists on—on things going ahead as they are going, what will you do then?"

"Me?" Laurie regarded her unemotionally. Then he shrugged. "Why, I guess that would settle it, wouldn't it? Isn't anything more I could do, is there? Or any of us?"