er anxiety to tell Cyn all that was in her mind, and
reflecting that he really was of no consequence--an argument not
flattering to its object, but one that he probably would have been first
to indorse had he known it--and, moreover, that he already knew the
prologue, disregarded his presence and said,

"The most incomprehensible thing has happened, Cyn! I cannot realize it
even now!"

Quimby quaked in his boots, and grew hot all over with the fear that she
was going to relate their last evening's adventure. Could it be
possible?

"I knew that something was the matter the moment you entered the room,"
said Cyn. "I cannot imagine, why you should look as if you were going
into the grave-digging business!"

"Ah, Cyn!" exclaimed Nattie, as if the words hurt her, "He--'C', called
on me to-day!"

Quimby gave a bounce, and then grew limp in all his joints.

"Is it possible? Personally?" questioned Cyn, with great interest and
animation; then glancing at Nattie's face, her tone changed as she
added, "He was not what you thought! I understand, poor Nat!"

Quimby straightened himself up. He fancied he saw a gleam of hope ahead.

"Far enough from what I thought!" replied Nattie, with a mixture of
pathos and disgust. "Why did he not remain invisible?" then, in a burst
of disappointment-- "Cyn, he is simply awful! All red hair and grease,
musk, cheap jewelry, and insolent assurance!"

Quimby glanced in the opposite glass, and his face brightened all over.
He felt like a new man!

"Oh, dear! Is it as bad as that?" said Cyn, looking dismayed. "He was so
entertaining on the wire, I can hardly believe it. Are you quite sure it
was 'C'?"

"I could not realize it myself, but it is a fact nevertheless," Nattie
answered sorrowfully, and then related what she termed the "disgusting
details." Cyn listened, vexed and sorry, for she too had become
interested in the invisible "C," but Quimby found it impossible to
restrain his joy at this complete overthrow of one whom he had ever
considered a formidable rival.

"It is no use to talk about romance in real life!" said the annoyed Cyn,
yielding to the conviction that the obnoxious visitor really was "C," as
Nattie concluded. "It is nice to read about and to enact on the stage,
but it's altogether too unreliable for our solid, every-day world. Well,
dear!" consolingly, "it's better to know the truth than to have gone on
blindly talking to so undesirable an acquaintance!"

"Where ig