r things to think about than puzzles.

She sighed. "Well, I'm the one that can feel for you, Dicky." Here the
sigh lifted and her laugh pealed like a chime of silver bells. "I guess
Brother Jack doesn't know as much about your affairs as he thinks, does
he--eh? Why, he told me you were more afraid of a girl than of a mad
dog."

And a slapping grip fell on my shoulder that made me tingle from head to
toe. And yet I wished she wouldn't do that; if she did it again, I
should just lose my head--I knew I should.

But here she rose, stretched her arms, and dropped into the wicker
arm-chair. She hitched it nearer to me.

"You see, it's like this," she began, assuming a confidential air. "You
know my sister's up at school at Cambridge, too."

"At Radcliffe College--yes." I nodded.

"Why, yes. Well, it's her room-mate!"

"Eh? I don't believe I--" I paused perplexedly.

"That's right--her room-mate, I tell you! And in a day or two she's
coming home with Sis for a visit. I want you to come up for a week
end--won't you--and look her over--I mean, see her and tell me what you
think of her. You'll go crazy about her--oh, I know you will!"

I entered a protest. "Oh, I say now, you know, there's only one girl I
ever saw I would care to look at twice."

She smiled adorably. "Oh, don't I know all about how you feel? But I
just want you to see this girl--she's the prettiest and swellest that's
been around Boston for many a day; and on Sunday morning she could give
the flag to all the Avenue. Why, Dicky, she's from China!"

"China!" I must have looked the scorn I felt. "Oh, come now, you don't
think a Chinese girl is--"

"Not Chinese, Dicky." In her eagerness, she moved so near, the silk of
her pajamas brushed my hand. "She's English. Her dad's the British
Governor General of Hong Kong--Colonel Francis Kirkland, you
know--beefy-looking old chap with white mutton chops--I saw his
picture."

Hong Kong! I wondered if she knew Mastermann, the chap who had sent me
the red pajamas. Why, dash it, of course she would; for this fellow
Mastermann was out there on government business, and he and the Governor
must be thrown together a good deal.

Her musical laugh broke in on my speculations. "But the funniest thing
is, Dicky, her name's the same as mine."

Her name! By Jove, and until this moment, I had not thought--

"Oh, I say," I exclaimed eagerly, "what _is_ your name, anyway?"

The lustrous eyes opened wide. "Why, you mean