“You won’t mind, however, if I decline to stay and be hung with you?” she asked. “On the contrary, I should mind very much. In fact, I demand that you remain and go bail for me in case I’m apprehended.” “I fear I couldn’t afford it,” she answered. “Doubtless your word would serve,” he said. “Perhaps, if you told them the excellent character I bear, you might get me off scot-free.” “But I don’t think I know enough about your character.” “There’s something in that,” he allowed. “Perhaps you had better observe me closely for the next hour or two. One can learn a great deal about another person’s character by observation.” “How can I do that if I go to church?” “You can’t. That’s one reason why you’re not going to church.” “Oh! And――are there other reasons?” “Yes.” “Perhaps you had better give a few of them. I don’t think the first one is especially convincing.” “Well, another one is that I haven’t seen you for three days.” She shook her head gravely. [Illustration] “Go on, please.” “Not good enough? Well, then, another reason is that you haven’t seen me for three days.” She laughed amusedly. “Worse and worse,” she said. “I didn’t think you’d care much for that argument,” he responded cheerfully. “It was somewhat in the nature of an experiment, you see. But the real unanswerable reason is this: I have missed seeing you very much, I have been very dull, you are naturally kind-hearted and would not unnecessarily cause pain or disappointment, and I beg of you to give me a few moments of your cheerful society! Is that――better?” “I don’t particularly care for it.” “Miss Devereux――――” “What have I told you?” she warned. “I beg pardon! But――now, really, please let me call you by a Christian name! I――I’d like to graduate from mythology.” “I don’t think it would be proper for you to call me by my Christian name,” she answered demurely. “A Christian name, I said,” he answered patiently. “Tell me why you don’t want me to address you as Miss Devereux, please.” “Because――――” She stopped and dropped her gaze. “We’ve never been properly introduced, have we?” “True! Allow me, pray! Miss Devereux, may I present Mr. Parmley? Mr. Parmley, Miss Devereux!” He stepped forward, smiling politely and murmuring his pleasure, and ere she knew what was happening he was shaking hands with her. “Awfully glad to meet you, Miss Devereux!” he assured her cordially. [Illustration] She backed away, striving to draw her hand from his, and laughing merrily. “Is that what you call a proper introduction?” she asked. “Well, it’s the best I could do under the circumstances,” Ethan answered. “Having no mutual acquaintances handy, you see――――” “Don’t you think――you might let go now?” she asked, her laughter dying down to a nervous smile. “Let go?” he echoed questioningly. “Please! You have my hand!” He looked down at it in mild surprise; then into her face. “Isn’t that the strangest thing? I was never so surprised――――!”