to be a fact--and who wouldn't be a successful people? Would it not be
pleasant, my dear Miss Gorham--surely by this time I may say 'my dear
Miss Gorham'--to be able to talk with confidence and almost human
intelligence about the curious manners, customs, and costumes of foreign
lands? Why, of course it would--and how else can you obtain this ability
in so inexpensive, easy, and agreeable a way as by subscribing for a
set of the _Home Travellers' Volumes_?"

Mrs. Gorham and Alice greeted this climax with applause, but Allen
sternly checked them with upraised hand.

"No flowers, please, until after the contract is signed. I have already
learned, during my brief career as an agent, that no widows or orphan
children are fed or clothed by the empty, though well-meant, plaudits of
an enthusiastic populace. And now, my dear Miss Gorham--for you are
still very dear to me--this is the beautiful full Persian Levant
binding, hand-tooled in French gold, which I am permitted to offer you
at three times what it is worth. If you have more money than I think you
have, we will bind up a set specially for you for just that amount. If,
on the other hand, your financial resources have been overestimated here
is another binding at half the price which is exactly as good, but which
is prepared for just such an emergency. I leave it entirely to you to
say which of the three it shall be. Could any proposition be fairer or
more generous?"

"But suppose--" Alice began.

"I beg your pardon," Allen stopped her; "the patient in the
operating-chair is not allowed to suppose. Here is a little piece of
paper and an easy-flowing fountain-pen. This is where you place your
name and address for the delivery of the volumes."

"But that is a contract blank, Allen," remarked Mrs. Gorham.

"I know it is, but you have no right even to think such a thing. Alice
mustn't sign it right off or it won't be any practice. What do the
directions say?"

Mrs. Gorham turned again to the paper in her hand. "'If the prospective
customer should hesitate, withdraw the order form for a moment and
proceed.'"

"Please go on--that's as far as I've learned."

"'In the _Home Travellers' Volumes_ you have the opportunity to gain
that broader view of things which a knowledge of the world alone can
give you. Here you have all the pleasures and benefits of travel with
the trouble left out. Now I am sure you agree with me upon the great
value of travel--and agreeing on thi