Nattie was again disturbed by the plural pronoun, and also angry at herself for observing it. "Isn't it?" Clem answered merrily; "what a lucky fellow I am! You see, not being at all acquainted in the city, I hunted up my old college friend Quimby, who asked me to call on some lady friends of his, mentioning no names, which of course I was only too glad to do! Imagine my surprise and delight when I discovered who those friends were! But I don't know as I should have dared to reveal myself, having been so often snubbed,"--With a roguish glance at Nattie-- "if that story had not been told and the mystery solved. Imagine my dismay, though, at being called an 'odious creature,' and the surprise with which I listened to my own description! So earnest were you, that I actually, for a moment, thought my hair must have turned red!" and he ran his fingers through his curly locks with a rueful face. The girls laughed, and Cyn exclaimed, "What a pity it is you tore up that picture, Nat!" "Yes," acquiesced Nattie, adding, in explanation, to Clem-- "You remember that pen and ink sketch? My first act of vengeance was to destroy it!" "Never mind, Jo will do another, will you not?" asked Clem, turning to that gentleman, who, upon being thus appealed to, arose, laid down the nutcracker he held, and said with the utmost solemnity, "Jo is ready to draw anything. _But_ Jo is aghast and horrified at being mixed even in the slightest degree with anything so near approaching the romantic, as the affair in question. What is the use of a fellow shaving off his hair, I would like to know, if such things as these will happen?" "It is no use fighting against Nature!" laughed Cyn. "Romance always has been since the world was, and always will be, I suppose. Your turn will come, Jo! I have no doubt we shall see you a long haired, cadaverous, sentimental artist yet!" "Never!" cried Jo heroically. "But you must confess that this affair is taking undue advantage of a fellow. A _wired_ romance is something entirely unexpected!" "And besides, viewed telegraphically, there is nothing at all romantic in the whole affair!" said Nattie, who, between her confusion at the turn the conversation had taken, and her alarm lest something should be said about that chubby Cupid--whom it will be remembered she had suppressed in her former description to "C "--was decidedly embarrassed. Before Jo could express his satisfaction at this statement, Clem exclaimed, reproachfully, "Oh! do not say that! not even to spare our friend's feelings can I deny the romance of our acquaintance." "I quite agree with you," said Cyn; "I really believe Nat is going over to Jo's ideas. Never mind! just wait until your turn comes, you unsentimental Jo." "Madam!" cried Jo, "when I find myself in the condition you describe, I will come and place the disposal of myself in your hands!" and he made her a profound bow.