partiality of pets, and Mrs. Willkit fell an unsuspecting victim to Polly's wiles. Besides, Mrs. Willkit, or rather her daughters, belonged to that sphere which is prone to regard hot-house pets as an indication of social elevation in the minds of the neighbors, and I have no doubt this conduced to the family permission, graciously accorded Mrs. Willkit to take upon herself for the summer, the cares and responsibilities incident to Polly's well-being.
It all worked out satisfactorily save that when restored to us at the end of the season Polly revealed some aberrations in her never too secure vocabulary which time did not alter or persuasion overcome. I realized too late the effect that social status has upon educational standards. Polly had not only failed to acquire any new words, but she mumbled or ran together those she already knew. Yet strange to say, she retained her affection for Mrs. Willkit, a characteristic back-handed slap at her own devoted household. She seemed by some clairvoyance to know when Mrs. Willkit entered the front hall and would set up an agitated scream of welcome almost before the door had closed behind her. This,
