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London； Claridge's；〃 his heart told him it could no longer wait…
and he resigned his position and sailed。
On her trip round the world Polly had learned many things。 She
was observant； alert； intent on asking questions； hungering for
facts。 And a charming young woman who seeks facts rather than
attention will never lack either。 But of all the facts Polly collected；
the one of surpassing interest； and which gave her the greatest
happiness； was that she could not live without Sam Lowell。 She
had suspected this； and it was partly to make sure that she had
consented to the trip round the world。 Now that she had made
sure； she could not too soon make up for the days lost。 Sam had
spent his money； and he either must return to New York and earn
more or remain near Polly and starve。 It was an embarrassing
choice。 Polly herself made the choice even more difficult。
One morning when they walked in St。 James's Park to feed the
ducks she said to him：
〃Sam； when are we to be married？〃
When for three years a man has been begging a girl to marry him；
and she consents at the exact moment when； without capitulation
to all that he holds honorable； he cannot marry anybody； his
position deserves sympathy。
〃My dear one；〃 exclaimed the unhappy youth； 〃you make me the
most miserable of men！ I can't marry！ I'm in an awful place！ If I
married you now I'd be a crook！ It isn't a question of love in a
cottage； with bread and cheese。 If cottages were renting for a
dollar a year I couldn't rent one for ten minutes。 I haven't cheese
enough to bait a mouse…trap。 It's terrible！ But we have got to wait。〃
〃Wait！〃 cried Polly。 〃I thought you had been waiting！ Have I been
away too long？ Do you love some one else？〃
〃Don't be ridiculous！〃 said Sam crossly。 〃Look at me；〃 he
commanded； 〃and tell me whom I love！〃
Polly did not take time to look。
〃But I；〃 she protested； 〃have so much money！〃
〃It's not your money；〃 explained Sam。 〃It's your mother's money
or your father's； and both of them dislike me。 They even have told
me so。 Your mother wants you to marry that Italian； and your
father； having half the money in America； naturally wants to
marry you to the other half。 If I were selfish and married you
I'd be all the things they think I am。〃
〃You are selfish！〃 cried Polly。 〃You're thinking of yourself and
of what people will say； instead of how to make me happy。 What's
the use of money if you can't buy what you want？〃
〃Are you suggesting you can buy me？〃 demanded Sam。
〃Surely；〃 said Polly〃if I can't get you any other way。 And you
may name your own price； too。〃
〃When I am making enough to support myself without sponging on
you；〃 explained Sam； 〃you can have as many millions as you like；
but I must first make enough to keep me alive。 A man who can't do
that isn't fit to marry。〃
〃How much；〃 demanded Polly； 〃do you need to keep you alive？ Maybe
I could lend it to you。〃
Sam was entirely serious。
〃Three thousand a year；〃 he said。
Polly exclaimed indignantly。
〃I call that extremely extravagant！〃 she cried。 〃If we wait until you
earn three thousand a year we may be dead。 Do you expect to earn
that writing stories？〃
〃I can try；〃 said Sam〃or I will rob a bank。〃
Polly smiled upon him appealingly。
〃You know how I love your stories；〃 she said； 〃and I wouldn't
hurt your feelings for the world； but； Sam dear； I think you had
better rob a bank！〃
Addressing an imaginary audience； supposedly of men； Sam
exclaimed：
〃Isn't that just like a woman？ She wouldn't care；〃 he protested；
〃how I got the money！〃
Polly smiled cheerfully。
〃Not if I got you！〃 she said。 In extenuation； also； she addressed
an imaginary audience； presumably of women。 〃That's how I love
him！〃 she exclaimed。 〃And he asks me to wait！ Isn't that just like
a man？ Seriously；〃 she went on； 〃if we just go ahead and get married
father would have to help us。 He'd make you a vice…president or
something。〃
At this suggestion Sam expressed his extreme displeasure。
〃The last time I talked to your father；〃 he said； 〃I was in a position
to marry； and I told him I wanted to marry you。 What he said to
that was： 'Don't be an ass！' Then I told him he was unintelligent
and I told him why。 First； because he could not see that a man
might want to marry his daughter in spite of her money； and
second； because he couldn't see that her money wouldn't make
up to a man for having him for a father…in…law。〃
〃Did you have to tell him that？〃 asked Polly。
〃Some one had to tell him；〃 said Sam gloomily。 〃Anyway； as a
source of revenue father is eliminated。 I have still one chance
in London。 If that fails I must go home。 I've been promised a job
in New York reporting for a Wall Street paperand I'll write stories
on the side。 I've cabled for money； and if the London job falls
through I shall sail Wednesday。〃
〃Wednesday！〃 cried Polly。 〃When you say things like 'Wednesday'
you make the world so dark！ You must stay here！ It has been such
a long six months； and before you earn three thousand dollars I
shall be an old； old maid。 But if you get work here we could see
each other every day。〃
They were in the Sewards' sitting…room at Claridge's。 Sam took up
the desk telephone。
〃In London；〃 he said； 〃my one best and only bet is a man named
Forsythe； who helps edit the Pall Mall。 I'll telephone him now。
If he can promise me even a shilling a day I'll stay on and starve
but I'll be near you。 If Forsythe fails me I shall sail Wednesday。〃
The telephone call found Forsythe at the Pall Mall office。 He would
be charmed to advise Mr。 Lowell on a matter of business。 Would he
that night dine with Mr。 Lowell？ He would。 And might he suggest
that they dine at Pavoni's？ He had a special reason for going there；
and the dinner would cost only three and six。
〃That's reason enough！〃 Sam told him。
〃And don't forget；〃 said Polly when； for the fifth time； Sam rose
to go； 〃that after your dinner you are to look for me at the Duchess
of Deptford's dance。 I asked her for a card and you will find it at
your lodgings。 Everybody will be there； but it is a big place…full
of dark corners where we can hide。〃
〃Don't hide until I arrive；〃 said Sam。 〃I shall be very late； as
I shall have to walk。 After I pay for Forsythe's dinner and for
white gloves for your dance I shall not be in a position to hire
a taxi。 But maybe I shall bring good news。 Maybe Forsythe will
give me the job。 If he does we will celebrate in champagne。
〃
〃You will let me at least pay for the champagne？〃 begged Polly。
〃No；〃 said Sam firmly〃the duchess will furnish that。〃
When Sam reached his lodgings in Russell Square； which he
approached with considerable trepidation； he found Mrs。 Wroxton
awaiting him。 But her attitude no longer was hostile。 On the
contrary； as she handed him a large； square envelope； decorated
with the strawberry leaves of a duke； her manner was humble。
Sam opened the envelope and； with apparent carelessness； stuck it
over the fireplace。
〃About that back rent；〃 he said； 〃I have cabled for money； and as
soon〃
〃I know；〃 said Mrs。 Wroxton。 〃I read the cable。〃 She