the stairs he put his arm round her clumsily and kissed her.
Pollyooly flushed a little, but returned his kiss frankly; then she said: "It's funny, but I don't often get kissed except by the Lump."
"I don't care about kissing myself—much. In fact, I hate having women slobbering over me," said Ronald frankly. "But, somehow, you're different," he added thoughtfully.
"I like it rather," said Pollyooly. "Aunt Hannah used to kiss me, of course; but she's dead. And the Esmeralda used to kiss me when I was dancing with her; but she's gone to Paris and Berlin."
"The Esmeralda! You danced with the Esmeralda?" cried Ronald, in the liveliest amazement; and he stopped short on the stairs.
"Yes; at the Varolium; and I got a pound a week for six weeks. It's saved, every bit—in the Post-Office Savings Bank," said Pollyooly with natural pride.
"You were that kid! The fairy in Titania's Awakening! Why, I've heard no end about you! Half-a-dozen of the fellows talked of nothing else for days after the mid-term holiday. Lascelles minor
