market for what I have to offer to the world. Would you
be interested in a schedule of my accomplishments."

"Oh," she said, "I should be charmed, but as I am every moment expecting
the advent of my family, and as I am relied upon to locate them and tuck
them up, I'm afraid I shall not have time to hear it."

"No," he said, laughing, "it's quite too long."

She was silent for some moments, gazing down into the water, apparently
debating something in her mind, and quite unconscious of John's
scrutiny. Finally she turned to him with a little laugh. "You might
begin on your list, and if I am called away you can finish it at another
time."

"I hope you didn't think I was speaking in earnest," he said.

"No," she replied, "I did not think you really intended to unpack your
wares, but, speaking seriously--and at the risk, I fear, that you may
think me rather 'cheeky,' if I may be allowed that expression--I know a
good many men in America, and I think that without an exception they are
professional men or business men, or, being neither--and I know but few
such--have a competence or more; and I was wondering just now after what
you told me what a man like you would or could do if he were thrown upon
his own resources. I'm afraid that is rather frank for the acquaintance
of a day, isn't it?" she asked with a slight flush, "but it really is
not so personal as it may sound to you."

"My dear Miss Blake," he replied, "our acquaintance goes back at least
ten years. Please let that fact count for something in your mind. The
truth is, I have done some wondering along that same line myself without
coming to any satisfactory conclusion. I devoutly hope I may not be so
thrown absolutely, for the truth is I haven't a marketable commodity. 'A
little Latin, and less Greek,' German and French enough to read and
understand and talk--on the surface of things--and what mathematics,
history, et cetera, I have not forgotten. I know the piano well enough
to read and play an accompaniment after a fashion, and I have had some
good teaching for the voice, and some experience in singing, at home and
abroad. In fact, I come nearer to a market there, I think, than in any
other direction perhaps. I have given some time to fencing in various
schools, and before I left home Billy Williams would sometimes speak
encouragingly of my progress with the gloves. There! That is my list,
and not a dollar in it from beginning to end, I'm afraid."

"Who is B