“I must tell you that though I had dozens of letters, yours was the only one that appealed to me. A majority of them were frivolous, and some were from writers whose work I dislike. I had a feeling that if they were played out they never would be missed. But you were different; you are Farrington, and to have you fail would be a calamity to American literature.” He murmured his thanks. Her sympathetic tone was grateful to his bruised spirit. He had gone too far now to laugh away his appeal to her. And as the moments passed his reliance on her grew. They talked of the weather, the hills and the autumn foliage, while he speculated as to her identity. “Of course you know the Berkshires well, Miss----” “A man who can’t play a better approach than that certainly needs help!” she laughed. He flushed and stammered. “Of course I might have asked you directly if you lived in the Hills. But let us be reasonable. I’m at least entitled to your name; without that----” “Without it you will be just as happy!” “Oh, but you don’t mean that you won’t----” “That’s exactly what I mean!” She smiled, her elbows on the table, the slim brown fingers interlaced under her firm rounded chin. “That isn’t fair. You know me; and yet I’m utterly in the dark as to you----” “Oh, names are not of the slightest importance. Of course X Y Z is rather awkward. Let’s find another name--something you can call me by as a matter of convenience if, indeed, we meet again.” She bit into a macaroon dreamily while this took effect. “Not meet again!” he exclaimed. “Oh, of course it’s possible we may not. We haven’t discussed our business yet; but when we reach it you may not care for another interview.” “On a strictly social basis I can’t imagine myself never seeing you again. As for my business, let it go hang!” She lifted a finger with a mockery of warning. “No business, no more tea; no more anything! You would hardly call the doctor or the lawyer merely to talk about the scenery. And by the same token you can hardly take the time of a person in my occupation without paying for it.” “But, Miss----” “There you go again! Well, if you must have a name, call me Arabella! And never mind about ‘Miss-ing’ me.” “You’re the first Arabella I’ve ever known!” he exclaimed fervidly.