"Brunswick. How is Miss Thorn?" Ronald succeeded at last in putting the question he so greatly longed to ask--the only one, he supposed, which would cause a message to be sent to Joe announcing his arrival. "Joe? She is pretty well. I expect she will be down in a minute. Are you going to stay some while, Mr. Surbiton?" Ronald thought Miss Schenectady the most pitiless old woman he had ever met. In reality she had not the most remote intention of being anything but hospitable. But her idea of hospitality at a first meeting seemed to consist chiefly in exhibiting a great and inquisitive interest in the individual she wished to welcome. Besides, Joe would probably come down when she was ready, and so it was necessary to talk in the mean time. At last Ronald succeeded in asking another question. "Excuse the anxiety I show," he said simply, "but may I ask whether Miss Thorn is at home?" "Perhaps if you rang the bell I could send for her," remarked the old lady in problematic answer. "Oh, certainly!" exclaimed Ronald, springing to his feet, and searching madly round the room for the bell. Miss Schenectady watched him calmly. "I think if you went to the further side of the fire-place you would find it--back of the screen," she suggested. "Thanks; here it is," cried Ronald, discovering the handle in the wall. "Yes, you have found it now," said Miss Schenectady with much indifference. "Perhaps you find it cold here?" she continued, observing that Ronald lingered near the fire-place. "Oh dear, no, thanks, quite the contrary," he answered. "Because if it is you might--Sarah, I think you could tell Miss Josephine that Mr. Surbiton is in the parlor, could not you?" "Oh, if it is any inconvenience"--Ronald began, misunderstanding the form of address Miss Schenectady used to her handmaiden. "Why?" asked Miss Schenectady, in some astonishment. "Nothing," said Ronald, looking rather confused; "I did not quite catch what you said." There was a silence, and the old lady and the young man looked at each other.