Cyn was the first to recover from the general petrifaction, and with the involuntary thought, "what an excellent stage situation!" came from behind the door, where Quimby's impetuous entrance had thrust her, saying, with as much ease as she could possibly gather together, "Don't be frightened at what you see, friend Quimby; we were only extemporizing a little feast, that is all. Will you join us?" But Quimby only stared harder than ever; he was evidently struck speechless. His companion, thus placed in the awkward position of an unintroduced intruder, withdrew his eyes from Nattie, took in the situation at a glance, and turning to Cyn, said, smiling, "I think we owe you an apology for our intrusion; my friend Quimby, on whom I called to day, in pity for my being a stranger in the city, kindly offered to introduce me to some friends of his. He informed me we were expected, but I fear we have made a mistake." At this Quimby recovered his voice. "No!" he cried, in stentorian tones, "it was not--I _cannot_ have made a mistake this time, you know! Cyn"--looking at her reproachfully--"you knew about it! I met you a short time ago, and asked you--and you said we might come, you know!" Half amazed and half amused, Cyn shook her head in denial, at which action Quimby started and turned pale. "Why I--I beg pardon--but in the hall! you said, 'certainly,' you know!" "Oh!" said Cyn, a light breaking in upon her. "I see, but I did not then understand you, I suppose;" rallying from her embarrassment, "my mind was so occupied with our feast, I was incapable of thinking of anything else; so please consider this an apology for the condition in which you find us, to yourself and your friend, whom, you will pardon me for reminding you, you have _not_ introduced," and Cyn looking laughingly at the stranger, who also laughed. "Oh! I--I beg pardon, I am sure, for--for all my stupidities. I--I am always doing something wrong, but I--I am used to it, you know," said the disconcerted Quimby; then wiping the perspiration from his forehead, he added clumsily, "my friend, Mr. Stanwood--Cyn--and Miss--Miss Rogers." Mr. Stanwood gayly shook hands with Cyn, whom Quimby had nervously forgotten to honor with a Miss, and then advanced to Nattie, who had not stirred from her position as screen for the gas stove, saying, "I am delighted to make your acquaintance, Miss Rogers." And as Nattie accepted his proffered hand, in an embarrassed way, not yet being able to rise to the situation, and observed the peculiarly roguish expression with which he regarded her, she suddenly became aware that she had seen him on some previous occasion, but where she was utterly at loss to remember. Cyn, too, was struck by something a little odd in his manner to Nattie, and glanced at him curiously, as she said in her most cordial tones, "And now, gentlemen, as we have exchanged apologies all around, please be seated."