stocking.

"Aren't you ever going to let me speak of Mr. Randolph again? He
acted as if he were dead in love with y--"

A hand was clapped over her mouth.

"I won't hear it! I won't! I won't!" Miss Sterling laughed a
little uncertainly.

Polly drew a long breath of disappointment. "I never knew you to
act like this before," she mused.

"How sweetly Doodles sang!" said Miss Sterling.

"Yes," agreed Polly dispiritedly.

"And you are a charming accompanist."

"Oh! now, who's silly?"

"Nobody." Miss Sterling drew her hand from her stocking.

"It doesn't seem to me that I play well at all--I long to do so
much better."

"It is a rare gift to be a good accompanist, and you surely possess
it."

"Thank you--you're not saying that to counterbalance what you said