As they turned to leave the pedestal, the girl made an involuntary shrinking movement toward him. He looked up and saw, advancing toward them on Tele-motor-coasters, a tall dark man, a little younger than himself. The newcomer ignoring Ralph utterly, rolled up to Alice. "So you are enjoying the sights of New York," he said, with no other greeting, and with a disagreeable smile on his lips. "Yes," said the girl coldly, "I _was_ enjoying them, very much." He bit his under lip in an annoyed fashion, and a dull flush mounted to his hair. "I told you I'd follow you if you ran away," he said in a lower tone. Ralph, unable to catch the words, but reading a menace in the fellow's look, stepped forward. Alice turned to him eagerly and put her hand on his arm. "What is next on our program, Ralph?" she asked in a clear voice, while at the same time she pressed his wrist with her fingers as a signal for him to go on. As if Fernand had not existed, she moved away, her hand still on Ralph's arm. "Please, please," she murmured as he would have turned back. "That fellow needs his head punched," muttered Ralph savagely. "Don't make a scene--I just couldn't bear it," she pleaded. Looking down at her he saw that she was on the verge of tears. "I'm sorry," he said gently. "I'm so ashamed," she said pathetically, "what must you think!" "That I should go back and knock his head off," said Ralph. "But if you ask me not to, I won't. I suppose that was Fernand?" She looked at him in astonishment. "Do _you_ know him?" "Your father told me." "Oh," she said, troubled, "father shouldn't have done that. But I suppose he was afraid of a meeting of this sort." "How long has he been following you around?" "Oh, for ages, it seems. Really, about a year. I never liked him, but lately he's been perfectly horrid, and acts in such a threatening way--you saw him. I can't see why he should take the trouble to annoy anyone who loathes him as I do. But let's forget it. We have had such a wonderful day that I don't want it spoiled." And then timidly, with downcast eyes: "I called you Ralph. You must have thought me very forward, but I wanted him to think--" She stopped suddenly, and in confusion. And then, her natural gaiety coming to her rescue: "Heavens, the more I say, the worse I make it, don't I?" "It sounded fine to me," said Ralph, falling in with her mood, "I hope you will always call me that." And laughing together they rolled on. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 2: 72° Fahrenheit.] 5 NEW YORK A.D. 2660