Soon, however, she heard "X n" "call" once more, and this time she laid her book aside very readily. "You did not describe the principal part of your office--yourself!" "C" said, when she answered the "call." "How can I describe myself?" replied Nattie. "How can anyone--properly? One sees that same old face in the glass day after day, and becomes so used to it that it is almost impossible to notice even the changes in it; so I am sure I do not see how one can tell how it really does look--unless one's nose is broken--or one's eyes crossed--and mine are not--or one should not see a looking-glass for a year! I can only say I am very inky just now!" "Oh! that is too bad!" "C" said; then, with a laugh, "It has always been a source of great wonder to me how certain very plain people of my acquaintance could possibly think themselves handsome. But I see it all now! Can you not, however, leave the beauty out, and give me some sort of an idea-about yourself for my imagination to work upon?" "Certainly!" replied Nattie, with a mischievous twinkle in her eye that "C" knew not of. "Imagine, if you please, a tall young man, with--" "C" "broke" quickly, saying, "Oh, no! You cannot deceive me in that way! Under protest I accept the height, but spurn the sex!" "Why, you do not suppose I am a lady, do you?" queried Nattie. "I am quite positive you are. There is a certain difference in the 'sending,' of a lady and gentleman, that I have learned to distinguish. Can you truly say I am wrong?" Nattie evaded a direct reply, by saying, "People who think they know so much are often deceived; now I make no surmises about you, but ask, fairly and squarely, shall I call you Mr., Miss, or Mrs. 'C'?" "Call me neither. Call me plain 'C', or picture, if you like, in place of your sounder, a blonde, fairy-like girl talking to you, with pensive cheeks and sunny--" "Don't you believe a word of it!"--some one on the wire here broke in, wishing, probably, to have a finger in the pie; "picture a hippopotamus, an elephant, but picture no fairy!" "Judge not others by yourself, and learn to speak when spoken to!" "C" replied to the unknown; then "To N.--You know the more mystery there is about anything, the more interesting it becomes. Therefore, if I envelop myself in all the mystery possible, I will cherish hopes that you may dream of me!" "But I am quite sure you can, with propriety be called _Mr._ 'C '--plain, as you say, I doubt not," replied Nattie. "Now, as it is time for me to go home, I shall have to say good-night." "To be continued in our next?" queried "C." "If you are not in a cross mood," replied Nattie. "Now that is a very unkind suggestion, after my abject apology. But, although our acquaintance had a _grave re-hearse_-al, I trust it will have a happy ending!" Nattie frowned. "If you will promise never to say '_grave_,' '_hearse,_' or anything in the undertaking line, I will agree never to say 'cross!'" she said.