norance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise," quoted Nattie, with a
shrug of her shoulders. "But--yes--I suppose I--ought to be glad I know
the worst."

"I--I beg pardon, but I--I think I hinted it might be as it has proved,
you know!" said Quimby, trying not to look triumphant, and failing
signally.

Not particularly pleased at having his superior discernment thus pointed
out, Nattie replied rather shortly,

"It was luck and chance anyway, and it was my luck to stumble on the
most disagreeable specimen in the business. That is all."

"Do you suppose he is aware of the impression he produced on you?" asked
Cyn.

"No, indeed!" Nattie replied scornfully. "Is there anything so blind as
vulgar, ignorant, self-conceit? I have no doubt he thinks I was
charmed!"

"Then how will you manage when he wants to talk on the wire again?"
asked Cyn.

"I shall have to make excuses until he takes the hint. Oh, dear!" said
Nattie with a sigh, "I believe it is impossible to get any comfort out
of this world!"

"Oh, no, it isn't!" said Cyn in her bright cheery manner. "The way to do
is not to allow ourselves to fret over what we cannot help. I am almost
as disappointed as you, dear, over this total collapse of what opened so
interestingly; but the curtain has fallen on the ignominious last act of
our little drama, so farewell--a long farewell to our wired romance!"

As Cyn spoke, the somewhat unmusical voice of Jo Norton was heard in the
hall, singing an air from a popular burlesque, followed by the
appearance among them of Jo himself. Of course the whole story had to be
related for his benefit, and very little sympathy did Nattie receive
from him.

"Let this teach you a lesson, young lady!" he said, with mock solemnity,
"namely, Attend to your business and let romance alone!"

"As you do!" said Cyn.

"As I do," he echoed, "and consequently be happy as I am! I tell you,
romance and sentiment and love, and all that bosh, are at the bottom of
two-thirds of all the misery in the world!"

Notwithstanding which sage remark, and the fact of the curtain having
fallen on the end, as Cyn said, for a moment yesterday was as if it had
never been, when Nattie entered her office the next morning and was
greeted with the familiar,

"B m--B m--B m--where is my little girl at B m, to say good-morning to
me?" and she made an involuntary movement towards the key to respond in
the usual way.

The remembrance of the actual state of things chec