“But why do you call yourself an instrument of Providence? Because you live there?” “‘That sounds a little sacrilegious,’” he quoted. “I meant that if you had gone to church you would have made yourself very warm and possibly returned with a headache. I have saved you from that.” “Thank you! But of course if it hadn’t been for the introduction I couldn’t have stayed!” “That is understood,” he responded with becoming gravity. She smiled across as though amused by some thought, and Ethan felt vaguely uncomfortable. “It’s possible,” she said thoughtfully, “that you might have found a mutual acquaintance after all to perform the ceremony for you.” “Oh, I dare say; one usually can if one hunts long enough. It’s a common enough process, and not especially difficult. For instance, I ask, ‘You are acquainted in Boston, Miss Dev――Miss Unknown!’ You reply ‘Slightly, Mr. Parmley.’ ‘Perhaps you know the Smiths?’ ‘Smith, Smith? N――no, I don’t think so. Are they friends of the Joneses?’ ‘I dare say; I’ve never met the Joneses. Come to think of it, though, there were some Joneses visiting the Robinsons at Nahant last summer; he is a banker, I think; there were two daughters and a son just entering college,’ ‘Oh, were you at Nahant?’ you inquire. ‘Then perhaps you met the Browns there?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Really? Isn’t that jolly? Did you know Gwendolin?’ ‘Well, rather!’ I reply in a tone insinuating that it was rather desperate while it lasted. ‘Isn’t that odd?’ you exclaim. ‘Yes, funny how small the world is, isn’t it?’ I remark with startling originality. Then we’re acquainted. Yes, it’s simplicity itself.” “It certainly sounds so!” she laughed. “Let us try it!” “Very well.” She frowned intently for a moment, then, “Are you acquainted in Stillhaven, Mr. Parmley?” she asked. “Why, yes,” he answered, in surprise. “Then perhaps you know the――the Penniwells?” “Sorry to say I don’t,” he replied, laughing. “No? They live in the next house to the hotel.” “Hotel? Ah, I think I’ve met the Hotels! Was there a son about my age, with――――” “Don’t be absurd!” she laughed. “We’ll never get on if you don’t go by the rules.” “I thought I was,” he answered. “Let me see! Oh, yes, the Graveses, do you know them?” “Why, yes; do you?” he answered interestedly. “I’ve met them.” “Vincent is a great friend of mine,” he said eagerly. “I was on my way to visit them for a while when――when I stopped here.” “Really?” she cried. “How small the world is, after all!” They laughed together. Then, “And you know Vin?” he asked. “Yes, I――I’ve met him,” she replied. Her tone hinted of embarrassment. “Oh!” said Ethan thoughtfully. Had he discovered the explanation of Vincent’s puzzling warning? Was the girl before him the “preserves” referred to by his friend? Ethan’s heart sank for a moment. Nonsense! She had plainly implied that she knew him only slightly, in which case she didn’t belong any more to Vin than to him. “You don’t know him very well, then?” he questioned anxiously.