“I am sorry you have such a poor opinion of us New Yorkers,” said the young man. “Why are you so late this morning?” “I am not late; it is you who are early. This is my usual time. I have been a very punctual person all my life.” “There you go again, speaking as if you were ever so old.” “I am.” “Well, I don’t believe it. I wish, however, that you had confidence enough in me to tell me something about yourself. Do you know, I was thinking this morning that I had met you before somewhere? I feel almost certain I have.” “Well, that is quite possible, you know. You are a New Yorker, and I have lived in New York for a great number of years, much as you seem to dislike that phrase.” “New York! Oh, that is like saying you have lived in America and I have lived in America. We might live for hundreds of years in New York and never meet one another!” “That is very true, except that the time is a little long.” “Then won’t you tell me something about yourself?” “No, I will not.” “Why?” “Why? Well, if you will tell me why you have the right to ask such a question, I shall answer why.” “Oh, if you talk of rights, I suppose I haven’t the right. But I am willing to tell you anything about myself. Now, a fair exchange, you know—” “But I don’t wish to know anything about you.” “Oh, thank you.” George Morris’s face clouded, and he sat silent for a few moments. “I presume,” he said again, “that you think me very impertinent?” “Well, frankly, I do.” Morris gazed out at the sea, and Miss Earle opened the book which she had brought with her, and began to read. After a while her companion said— “I think that you are a little too harsh with me, Miss Earle.” The young lady placed her finger between the leaves of the book and closed it, looking up at him with a frank, calm expression in her dark eyes, but said nothing. “You see, it’s like this. I said to you a little while since that I seem to have known you before. Now, I’ll tell you what I was thinking of when you met me this morning. I was thinking what a curious thing it would be if I had been acquainted with you some time during my past life, and had forgotten you, while you had remembered me.” “That was very flattering to me,” said the young lady; “I don’t wonder you laughed.”