"It is rather absurd that we should be saying how pleased we are that Mr. Mackenzie thought of writing those letters, while in reality I am horribly conscious that I ought not to be here at all, and you are probably thinking that I am quite an amazing person," and Helen laughed light heartedly. "That is part of my thought," said Spencer. "Won't you tell me the remainder?" "May I?" "Please do. I am in chastened mood." "I wish I was skilled in the trick of words, then I might say something real cute. As it is, I can only supply a sort of condensed statement,--something about a nymph, a moonlit lake, the spirit of the glen,--nice catchy phrases every one,--with a line thrown in from Shelley about an 'orbed maiden with white fire laden.' Let me go back a hundred yards, Miss Wynton, and I shall return with the whole thing in order." "With such material I believe you would bring me a sonnet." "No. I hail from the wild and woolly West, where life itself is a poem; so I stick to prose. There is a queer sort of kink in human nature to account for that." "On the principle that a Londoner never hears the roar of London, I suppose?" "Exactly. An old lady I know once came across a remarkable instance of it. She watched a ship-wreck, the real article, with all the scenic accessories, and when a half drowned sailor was dragged ashore she asked him how he felt at that awful moment. And what do you think he said?" "Very wet," laughed Helen. "No, that is the other story. This man said he was very dry." "Ah, the one step from the sublime to the ridiculous, which reminds me that if I remain here much longer talking nonsense I shall lose the good opinion I am sure you have formed of me from Mr. Mackenzie's letter. Why, it must be after eleven o'clock! Are you going any farther, or will you walk with me to the hotel?" "If you will allow me----" "Indeed, I shall be very glad of your company. I came out to escape my own thoughts. Did you ever meet such an unsociable lot of people as our fellow boarders, Mr. Spencer? If it was not for my work, and the fact that I have taken my room for a month, I should hie me forthwith to the beaten track of the vulgar but good natured tourist." "Why not go? Let me help you to-morrow to map out a tour. Then I shall know precisely where to waylay you, for I feel the chill here too." "I wish I could fall in with the first part of your proposal, though the second rather suggests that you regard Mr. Mackenzie's letter of introduction as a letter of marque." "At any rate, I am an avowed pirate," he could not help retorting. "But to keep strictly to business, why not quit if you feel like wandering?" "Because I was sent here, on a journalistic mission which I understand less now than when I received it in London. Of course, I am delighted with the place. It is the people I--kick at? Is that a quite proper Americanism?" "It seems to fit the present case like a glove, or may I say, like a shoe?"