_au revoir_!"
and, in parting, perceptibly held Nattie's hand longer than was
absolutely necessary, Quimby followed him with dejected mien, fully
aware that of all the mistakes he had ever made he committed the worst,
when he asked his old chum to call on some lady friends of his!

CHAPTER XI.

MISS KLING TELEGRAPHICALLY BAFFLED.

Miss Betsey Kling was quite uneasy in her mind about this time, not only
because the Torpedo refused to see himself in the light of that other
self, and fled whenever he saw her approaching, but also because some
subtle instinct told her, that under her very nose, was going on
something of which the details were unknown to her, and that listen as
she would, could not be ascertained. This good-looking young man, who
had so suddenly appeared on Mrs. Simonson's premises who and what was
he? From Mrs. Simonson she learned that he was an old friend of
Quimby's; that she believed he was also an old friend of Miss Archer's,
or Miss Rogers', or of both, and that his father was very wealthy,

"Humph!" said Miss Kling, with a suspicious sniffle. "Strange that he
should room with Quimby if his father is so wealthy? Why does he not
have a room of his own?"

"He and Quimby are such friends, you see!" Mrs. Simonson explained.

Miss Kling gave another sniffle, this time of contempt, at such a reason
being possible.

"Miss Rogers is in here about all her time when she isn't at the office,
is she not?" was the next question.

"She is very intimate with Miss Archer," Mrs. Simonson replied.

"And I suppose _he_ and that Quimby are in there with them every evening,
are they not?" pursued Miss Kling.

They called quite often, Mrs. Simonson acknowledged, as did Mr. Norton,
and Miss Fishblate.

"They seem to have good times, too," added kindly Mrs. Simonson. "Young
folks will be young folks, you know. And why not? Bless you! we never
can enjoy ourselves again as we do when young. There are too many cares
and worries when we get to our age."

Miss Kling rose stiffly; this allusion to "our age" disgusted and
offended her beyond pardon, and she flew into a spasm of sneezing.

"Well, I, for one, do not think such conduct is proper," she said, as
soon as possible. "I was brought up to understand that young ladies
should never receive the visits of gentlemen except in the presence of
older people!"

Mrs. Simonson only laughed a little forced laugh she had when she did
not know exactly what to