Winthrop would not be denied. With a smile that showed his pleasure
at again seeing her, he advanced eagerly, with his hand outstretched.
"How are you?" he exclaimed. "Aren't you going to shake hands with me?"
he demanded. "With an old friend?"

Vera gave him her hand quickly, and then, seating herself at the table,
picked up the ivory pointer.

"I didn't know you were coming as an old friend," she murmured
embarrassedly. "You said you were coming to consult Vera, the medium."

"But you said that was the only way I could come," protested Winthrop.
"Don't you remember, you said--"

Vera interrupted him. She spoke distantly, formally. "What kind of a
reading do you want?" she asked. "A hand reading, or a crystal reading?"

Winthrop leaned forward in his chair, frankly smiling at her. He made
no attempt to conceal the pleasure the sight of her gave him. His manner
was that of a very old and dear friend, who, for the first time, had met
her after a separation of years.

"Don't want any kind of a reading," he declared. "I want a talking. You
don't seem to understand," he objected, "that I am making an afternoon
call." His good humor was unassailable. Looking up with a perplexed
frown, Vera met his eyes and saw that he was laughing at her. She threw
the ivory pointer down and, leaning back in her chair, smiled at him.

"I don't believe," she said doubtfully, "that I know much about
afternoon calls. What would I do, if we were on Fifth Avenue? Would I
give you tea?" she asked, "because," she added hastily, "there isn't any
tea."

"In that case, it is not etiquette to offer any," said Winthrop gravely.

"Then," said Vera, "I'm doing it right, so far?"

They both laughed; Vera because she still was in awe of him, and
Winthrop because he was happy.

"You're doing it charmingly," Winthrop assured her.

"Good!" exclaimed Vera. "Well, now," she inquired, "now we talk, don't
we?"

"Yes," assented Winthrop promptly, "we talk about you."

"No, I--I don't think we do," declared Vera, in haste. "I think we talk
about--Geneva." She turned to him with real interest. "Is the town much
changed?" she asked.

As though preparing for a long talk, Winthrop dropped his hat to the
floor and settled himself comfortably. "Well, it is, and it isn't," he
answered. "Haven't you been back lately?" he asked. Vera looked quickly
away from him.

"I have never been back!" she answered. There was a pause and when she
again turned her eye