I 'll keep my promise in spite of everything, but it will be hard to see things going wrong when a word would set it right." "You know what will happen if you do," and Polly looked so threatening that Fan trembled before her, discovering that the gentlest girls when roused are more impressive than any shrew; for even turtle doves peck gallantly to defend their nests.
"If it is true about Maria, what shall we do ?" said Fanny after a pause.
"Bear it; People always do bear things, somehow," answered Polly, looking as if sentence had been passed upon her.
"But if it is n't ?" cried Fan, unable to endure the sight.
"Then I shall wait." And Polly's face changed so beautifully that Fan hugged her on the spot, fervently wishing that Maria Bailey never had been born.
Then the conversation turned to lover number two, and after a long confabulation, Polly gave it as her firm belief that A.S.had forgotten M.M., and was rapidly finding consolation in the regard of F.S.

With this satisfactory decision the council ended after the ratification of a Loyal League, by which the friends pledged themselves to stand staunchly by one another, through the trials of the coming year.
It was a very different winter from the last for both the girls.

Fanny applied herself to her duties with redoubled ardor, for "A.

S." was a domestic man, and admired housewifely accomplishments.

If Fanny wanted to show him what she could do toward making a pleasant home, she certainly succeeded better than she suspected, for in spite of many failures and discouragements behind the scenes, the little house became a most attractive place, to Mr.Sydney at least, for he was more the house-friend than ever, and seemed determined to prove that change of fortune made no difference to him.
Fanny had been afraid that Polly's return might endanger her hopes, but Sydney met Polly with the old friendliness, and very soon convinced her that the nipping in the bud process had been effectual, for being taken early, the sprouting affection had died easy, and left room for an older friendship to blossom into a happier love.
Fanny seemed glad of this, and Polly soon set her heart at rest by proving that she had no wish to try her power.