"O. K. N. B m," she then said, and added, perhaps trying to drown the memory of her ludicrous error in politeness, "I hope another time I shall not cause you so much trouble." "C" at "X n" was evidently not to be exceeded in little speeches of this kind, for he--or she--responded immediately, "On the contrary, it was I who gave you trouble. I know I must certainly have done so, or you never could have effected such a transformation as you did. Imagine the feelings of the sender of that message, had he found a hearse awaiting his arrival instead of a horse!" Biting her lip with secret mortification, but determined to make the best of the matter outwardly, Nattie replied, "I suppose I never shall hear the last of that hearse! But at all events it took the surliness out of you." "Yes, when people come to a hearse they are not apt to have any more kinks in their disposition! I confess, though," "C" went on frankly, "I was unpardonably cross; not surly, that is out of my line, but cross. In truth, I was all out of sorts. Will you forgive me if I will never do so again?" "Certainly," Nattie replied readily. "I am sure we are far enough apart to get on without quarreling, if, as they say, distance lends enchantment!" "Particularly when I pride myself upon my sweet disposition!" said "C." At which Nattie smiled to herself, to the surprise of a passing gentleman, on whom her unconscious gaze rested, and who thought, of course, that she was smiling at him. Appearances are deceitful! "I fear you will have to prove your sweetness before I shall believe in it," Nattie responded to "C," all unaware of what she had done, or that the strange young gentleman went on his way with the firm resolve to pass by that office again and obtain another smile! "It shall be my sole aim hereafter," "C" replied; and then asked, "Have you a pleasant office there?" "I regret to say no." Then looking around, and describing what she saw--"a long, dark little room, into which the sun never shines, a crazy and a wooden chair, a high stool, desk, instruments--that is all--Oh! And me!" "Last but not least," said "C;" "but what a contrast to my office! Mine is all windows, and in cold days like this the wind whistles in until my very bones rattle! The outward view is fine. As I sit I see a stable, a carpenter's shop, the roof of the new Town Hall that has ruined the town, and--" "Excuse me,"--some one at another office on the line here broke in--and with more politeness than is sometimes shown in interrupting conversations on the wire--"I have a message to send," and forthwith began calling. At this Nattie resumed her interrupted occupation of bewailing her spoiled dress, but at the same time she had a feeling of pleased surprise at the affability of "C" at "X n." "I wonder," she thought, as she took up her book again, and tried to bury the remembrance of her accident therein, "I do wonder if this 'C' is _he_ or _she!_"