me, yes, I suppose you are. What have
you got there that makes you cut all your friends?" He looks at
Roberts's open page. "Oh! _Popular Science Monthly._ Isn't Agnes a
little afraid of your turning out an agnostic? By-the-way, where _is_
Agnes?"

Roberts: "She left her purse at Stearns's, and she's gone back after
it. Where's Amy?"

Campbell: "Wherever she said she wouldn't be at the moment. I expected
to find her here with you and Agnes. What time did you say your train
started?"

Roberts. "At ten minutes to four. And, by-the-way--I'd almost
forgotten it--I must keep an eye out for the cook Agnes has been
engaging. She was to meet us here before half-past two, and I shall
have to receive her. You mustn't tell Amy; Agnes doesn't want her to
know she's been changing cooks; and I've got to be very vigilant not
to let her give us the slip, or you won't have any dinner to-night."

Campbell: "Is that so? Well, that interests _me._ Were you expecting
to find her in the _Pop. Sci._?"

Roberts: "Oh, I'd only been reading a minute when you came in."

Campbell: "I don't believe you know how long you'd been reading. Very
likely your cook's come and gone."

Roberts, with some alarm: "She couldn't. I'd only just opened the
book."

Campbell: "I dare say you _think_ so. But you'd better cast your eagle
eye over this assemblage now, and see if she isn't here; though
probably she's gone. What sort of looking woman is she?"

Roberts, staring at him in consternation: "Bless my soul! I don't
know! I never saw her!"

Campbell: "Never saw her?"

Roberts: "No; Agnes engaged her at the intelligence-office, and told
her we should meet her here, and she had to go back for her purse, and
left me to explain."

Campbell: "Ha, ha, ha! Ha, ha, ha! How did she expect you to recognize
her?"

Roberts: "I--I don't know, I'm sure. She--she was very anxious I
shouldn't let her get away."

Campbell, laughing: "You poor old fellow! What are you going to do?"

Roberts: "I'm sure I've no idea. Agnes--"

Campbell: "Agnes ought to have a keeper. You know what I've always
thought of _your_ presence of mind, Roberts; but Agnes--I'm really
surprised at Agnes. This is too good! I must tell Amy this. She'll
never get over this. Ah, ha, ha, ha!"

Roberts: "No, no! You mustn't, Willis. Agnes would be very much
provoked with me, if you told Amy she had been engaging a cook. She
expects to smuggle her into the house without Amy's knowing."

Cam