His face, however, was perfectly composed when the Brown Robin, very cool and elegant in appearance, entered the parlor. “How good of you, Papa Cary, to come and see me again,” she cried. “You may kiss me.” She offered her cheek to Mr. Cary, who hesitated a moment and then, as if he could not resist the temptation, awkwardly kissed her, to her great amusement. She sat down opposite him, saying: “I was afraid that you would be angry with me for playing that trick on you.” “Then you mean to give me back that money?” said Mr. Cary. “Oh, dear no,” she cried. “I couldn’t do that. You see, I have spent all that money. We had to move this morning, and then my brother, Harold, had some debts that I had to pay. New York is an awfully expensive place, and I want money. You have brought me some, haven’t you?” “I should suppose your husband would supply your needs?” said Mr. Cary. “When does he reach here from Chicago?” “I hope not soon, Papa Cary, for then I would have to stop seeing you. And I mean to see a good deal of you. Do you know what I am going to do this afternoon? I am going to give you a nice dinner. You gave me a nice one yesterday. Only you’ll pay for this one, just as you did for the one yesterday. That is, if you have brought me some money. Have you?” “Have I?” asked Mr. Cary. “Well, yes, I have brought you some. Here is a hundred dollars.” He handed the roll to her. “Only a hundred,” she said, as she took it. “That is not handsome, Papa Cary. I thought it would be five times as much. But I’ll take this, and you will have to give me more money five times as often, if you only give it in such little bits.” “I’ll give you a good deal more if you will do something for me I want you to.” “What is that?” “Give me that photograph plate and the pictures you have had printed.” The Brown Robin laid her shapely head back on the cushions of her chair and laughed long and heartily. Then she said: “Oh, that poor little trick! You want to bargain with me, Papa Cary. Now, what will you give for them?” “What would you have the heart to demand?” “Well, Papa Cary, I have such a soft heart that I am afraid I must let you put the figure on them.” “I will give you a thousand dollars for them.” “Have you the money here?” “No. I have no more than I gave you. But I would give it on delivery of the plate and pictures.” “And do you think I would give up the pleasure of seeing you for a thousand dollars?” “That isn’t the question.” “Oh, yes it is. Don’t you see that it is owing to my having those pictures that you are here to-day? If I hadn’t them, you wouldn’t be here now, would you?” “Yes, I think I should, if you had sent for me to come.” The Brown Robin threw her head to one side and eyed the elderly gentleman shrewdly for a while.