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 Pollyooly felt very strongly that she was really the older and more serious of the two.

Often the Esmeralda talked to the Honorable John Ruffin about Pollyooly, asserting that she would make an admirable dancer, and that it would be a shame to let her talent be lost for want of the proper training. The Honorable John Ruffin was impressed by her earnestness, and discussed with her at length the matter of the proper training and how it was to be obtained.

At last he said, "Well, it is quite clear that the time has come for the friends of Pollyooly to rally round her—that is the right phrase, 'To rally round her.' A fund must be formed and administered by some serious person—Gedge-Tomkins would be an admirable man to administer it—to pay for her training."

"I must come into that fund," said the Esmeralda.

"You shall," said the Honorable John Ruffin, smiling.

At first the Esmeralda was very careful to drive Pollyooly back to the Temple immediately after the performance. Then she fell into the way of