"No indeed!" replied Nattie, laughing at his incomprehensibility. "We don't need telephones. We can talk without--did you not know that? And what is better, no one but those who understand our language can know what we say!" "Exactly!" answered Quimby, relapsing again into wonder. "Exactly--on the wire!" "Yes, we talk in a language of dots and dashes, that even Miss Kling might listen to in vain. And do you know," she went on confidentially, "somehow, I am very much interested in my new friend. I wish I knew--its so awkward, as I said--but I really think it's a gentleman!" "Exactly--exactly so!" responded Quimby, somewhat dejectedly. And during the remainder of their walk he was very much harassed in his mind over this interest Nattie confessed in her new friend--"on the wire,"--who _would_ appear as a tight-rope performer to his perturbed imagination. And he felt in his inmost heart that it would be a great relief to his mind if this mysterious person should prove a lady, even though, if a gentleman, he _was_ many miles away. For Quimby, with all his obtusity, had an inkling of the power of mystery, and was already far enough on the road to love to be jealous. Of these thoughts Nattie was of course wholly unaware, and chatted gayly, now of the distant "C" and now of the coming Miss Archer, to her somewhat abstracted, but always devoted companion. CHAPTER III. VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE FRIENDS. With perhaps one or two less frowns than usual at the destiny that compelled her to forego any morning naps, and be up and stirring at the early hour of six o'clock, Nattie arose next morning, aware of a more than accustomed willingness to go to the office. And immediately on her arrival there, she opened the key, and said, without calling, just to ascertain if her far-away acquaintance would notice it,-- "G. M. (good morning) C!" Apparently "C" had his or her ears on the alert, for immediately came the response, "G. M., my dear!" A form of expression rather familiar for so short an acquaintance, that is, supposing "C" to be a gentleman. "But then, people talk for the sake of talking, and never say what they mean on the wire," thought Nattie. Besides, did not the distance in any case annul the familiarity? Therefore, without taking offense, even without comment, she asked: "Are we to get along to-day without quarreling?" "Oh! it is you, is it, 'N'?" responded "C," "I thought so, but wasn't quite sure. Yes, you, may 'break' at every word, and I will still be amiable." "I should be afraid to put you to the test," replied Nattie, with a laugh. "Do you then think me such a hopelessly ill-natured fellow?" inquired "C." "Fellow!" triumphantly repeated Nattie. "Be careful, or you will betray yourself!" "Ha, ha!" laughed "C." "Stupid enough of me, wasn't it? But it only proves the old adage about giving a man rope enough to hang himself."