o
her. "But you may inform him I am delighted to make his acquaintance,
and hope he has curly hair, because it's so nice to pull!"

"With the hope of such a happy occurrence, I will hereafter do up my
hair in papers," "C" replied when Nattie had repeated this to him. "But
do not slight your other visitor."

"Shall I introduce you?" asked Nattie holding the key open, and turning
to Quimby, who had betrayed various symptoms of uneasiness while this
conversation was going on, and who now grasped his hat firmly, as if to
throw it at the little sounder that represented the offending "C," and
answered,

"Oh, no! I--really I--I beg pardon, but it's really no matter about
me--you know!"

"He says he is of no consequence," Nattie said to "C."

"He!" repeated "C," "a he, is it? Ought I to be jealous? Is it you, or
our black-eyed friend who is the attraction?"

Nattie replied only with a ha!

"Is he talking now?" asked Miss Archer, mindful of Nattie's smile, and
nodding towards the clattering sounder, at which Quimby was scowling.

"No, some other office is sending business now, so our conversation is
suspended," answered Nattie, as much to Quimby's relief as to Miss
Archer's regret.

"I shall improve the acquaintance, however," the latter said. "I am very
curious to know how he looks, aren't you?"

"Yes, but I do not suppose I ever shall," Nattie answered.

"Then you--I beg pardon, but you never expect to see him?" queried
Quimby, with great earnestness.

"In all probability we never shall meet. I think I should be dreadfully
embarrassed if we should," Nattie replied, as she handed the day's cash
to the boy who just then came after it. "Face to face we would really be
strangers to each other."

Quimby evinced more satisfaction at this than the occasion seemed to
warrant, as Nattie noticed, with some surprise, but several customers
claiming her attention, all at once, and all in a hurry, she was kept
too busy for some time, to think upon the cause.

As soon as she was at leisure, Miss Archer, with the remark that they
had made an unpardonably long call, arose to go.

But you must certainly come again, "Nattie said, cordially, already
feeling her to be an old friend.

"Indeed I shall," she answered, in the genial way peculiar to her. "You
have a double attraction here, you know. Can I say good-by to 'C?'"

"I fear not, as the wire is busy," replied Nattie. "But I will say it
for you as soon as possible."

"Y