of you," Smith replied; "but it will be a
comparatively trifling amount, I'm afraid. The Guardian has just about
as much as it is willing to risk in the congested district of Boston,
and Silas Osgood and Company are under instructions to keep our
liability down to its present amount and take little new business."

"I congratulate you, Charlie," Helen said. "But why did you come here,
hoping to be unknown? Is it your beautiful lady? Is she some one you
shouldn't know?"

"Well, hardly that. She's not precisely an undesirable citizen--she's
all right enough--but you scarcely want to meet her, I'm afraid. You
see, Isabel went South and left me in the lurch, and I had to celebrate
somehow--hence Amye."

"Amye?" said Smith, with amusement.

"Yes. With an ultimate 'e.' Amye Sinclair on the program; Minnie
Schottman in the Hoboken family Bible. She's a nice girl but a trifle
unintellectual. She threw me a papier mache orchid once in Boston."

"Young man," said Miss Wardrop, speaking for the first time, "are you a
typical example of the young men of to-day?"

"I am," Wilkinson promptly answered. "I am energetic, entertaining, an
opportunist, a eudaimonist, and a baseball fan. Yes, I think I may
concede I am typical. Do you agree with me, Helen?"

"I always agree with you, Charlie," said the girl, with a smile. "What
possible good would it do me if I didn't?"

"Oh, you could--but you'll excuse me, I'm sure. I see the waiter is
preparing to serve my table with real food, which is something I have a
confessed predilection for. Good-by--I'm perfectly charmed to have
seen you all."

And Mr. Wilkinson returned to Amye and the Cotuits.

"Don't look so scandalized, Aunt Mary," said Helen to her relation.
"He is really much less abandoned than he would have people believe;
and I think Isabel will bring him out all right yet. I rather fancy
she has decided to."

"Isabel Hurd, you mean?" responded Miss Wardrop. "You don't mean to
say so! But, bless your heart, I'm not scandalized--I've heard boys
talk before. Still, if your friend Isabel knows what she is about, she
won't stay South too long; she'll come North and let Amye go back to
Hoboken."

"Probably she will. But I have not seen the three macaroons which I
won with such ease and finesse."

"Waiter," said Smith, disregarding the fact that they had not finished
the entree, "bring three macaroons--exactly three--right away."

An expression of sligh