"How very innocent! Just as if you are not the one who is most concerned." "I?" "Of course. You. Next to me." "I don't understand." "Come, now, Captain Randolph, how very ridiculous to pretend to be so ignorant!" "Ignorant?" said Jack; "ignorant is not the word. I am in Egyptian darkness, I assure you." "Egyptian darkness--Egyptian nonsense! Will it help you any if I tell you her name?" "Her name! Whose name? What 'her'?" Louie laughed long and merrily. "Well," said she, at length, "for pure, perfect, utter, childlike innocence, commend me to Captain Randolph! And now, sir," she resumed, "will you answer me one question?" "Certainly--or one hundred thousand." "Well, what do you think of Miss Phillips?" "I think she is a very delightful person," said Jack fluently--"the most delightful I have ever met with, present company excepted." "That is to be understood, of course; but what do you think of her coming to live here?" "Coming to live here!" "Yes, coming to live here," repeated Louie, playfully imitating the tone of evident consternation with which Jack spoke. "What? Miss Phillips?" "Yes, Miss Phillips." "Here?" "Certainly." "Not here in Quebec?" "Yes, here in Quebec--but I _must_ say that you have missed your calling in life. Why do you not go to New York and make your fortune as an actor? You must take part in our private theatricals the next time we have any." "I assure you," said Jack, "I never was so astonished in my life." "How well you counterfeit!" said Louie; "never mind. Allow me to congratulate you. We'll overlook the little piece of acting, and regard rather the delightful fact. Joined once more--ne'er to part--hand to hand--heart to heart--memories sweet--ne'er to fade--all my own-- fairest maid! And then your delicious remembrances of Sissiboo." "Sissiboo?" gasped Jack. "Sissiboo," repeated Louie, with admirable gravity. "_Her_ birth-place, and hence a sacred spot. She used to be called 'the maid of Sissiboo'. But, in choosing a place to live in, let me warn you against Sissiboo. Take some other place. You've been all over New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Take Petitcodiac, or Washe Aemoak, or Shubenacadie, or Memramcook, or Rechebucto, or Chiputnecticook, or the Kennebecasis Valley. At the same time, I have my preferences for Piserinco, or Quaco." At all this, Jack seemed for a time completely overwhelmed, and sat listening to Louie with a sort of imbecile smile. Her allusion to Miss Phillips evidently troubled him, and, as to her coming to Quebec, he did not know what to say. Louie twitted him for some time longer, but at length he got her away into a corner, where he began a conversation in a low but very earnest tone, which, however, was sufficiently audible to make his remarks understood by all in the room. And what was he saying? He was disclaiming all intentions with regard to Miss Phillips. And Louie was listening quietly! Perhaps believing him!! The scamp!!!