ing of the card party, when he had become so fully
conscious of the condition of things inside his heart, Quimby had been
in a really pitiable state of unrest. Too bashful, or too deficient in
self-confidence to seek the society of her who was the cause of all his
uneasiness, as his inclinations directed, and not knowing how to make
himself as charming to her as she was to him, he wandered past the
building containing her, two or three times a day, sometimes receiving
the pleasure of a bow as he passed her window, but never before to-day
being able to raise the necessary courage to go in and speak.

Nattie, who could not but begin to surmise something of the state of his
feelings, but without dreaming of their intensity, now smiled on him,
and asked him inside the office. No man or woman can be quite
indifferent to one, whom they know has set them on a pedestal, apart
from the rest of the world.

"I--really I--I beg pardon, I'm sure," the agitated Quimby, trembling at
his own daring, responded to her invitation. "I--I was passing--quite
accidentally, you know,--thought I would just step in, you know. Really,
I--I must ask pardon for the liberty."

"We are too old acquaintances now for you to consider it a liberty,"
Nattie replied, and the words made his perturbed heart jump with joy.
"Business being quite dull to-day, I shall be glad to be entertained. Of
course," archly, "you came to entertain me?"

Poor Quimby was decidedly taken aback by this question.

"I--I--yes certainly--no--that is--I mean I am afraid I am not much of
an entertainer," he stammered, his hands flying to his necktie and
nervously untying it as he spoke. Certainly, the wear and tear on his
neckties and watch chain while he was in his present condition of love
must have been terrific.

"Aren't you?" queried Nattie without gainsaying his assertion.

"No--really you know I--I'm always making mistakes--but I'm used to it,
you know--and I am not--possibly I might be a trifle better than
nobody--but that's all."

And having given this honest, and certainly not conceited opinion of
himself, he entered the office, sat down, and proceeded to make
compasses of his legs.

"Have you seen Cyn to-day? she paid me a flying visit yesterday, and
talked a little to 'C,' but I haven't seen her since."

"She went away to sing out of town, let me see--I forget where, and she
will not return until to-morrow;" then, uneasily, "I--I beg pardon, but
you--you men