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Rh fly about with great energy, singing and talking to herself, as if it was impossible to keep quiet. She started early to her first lesson, that she might have time to buy the tickets, hoping, as she put a five dollar bill into her purse, that they wouldn't be very high, for she felt that she was not in a mood to resist temptation. But she was spared any struggle, for when she reached the place, the ticket office was blocked up by eager purchasers, and the disappointed faces that turned away told Polly there was no hope for her.

"Well, I don't care; I'll go somewhere, for I will have my fun," she said, with great determination, for disappointment only seemed to whet her appetite. But the play-bills showed her nothing inviting, and she was forced to go away to her work with the money burning her pocket, and all manner of wild schemes floating in her head. At noon, instead of going home to dinner, she went and took an ice, trying to feel very gay and festive all by herself. It was rather a failure, however; and after a tour of the picture shops, she went to give Maud a lesson, feeling that it was very hard to quench her longings, and subside into a prim little music teacher.

Fortunately she did not have to do violence to her feelings very long, for the first thing Fanny said to her was,—

"Can you go?"

"Where?"

"Didn't you get my note?"

"I didn't go home to dinner."

"Tom wants us to go to the opera to-night and—"