ood genius of the little company. As he came to know her better during
the next few days, under the sharp spur of adversity, he realised more
and more how much goodness and strength of character lay hidden under
the rough exterior and the sharp tongue, and his liking changed into an
honest admiration. Mr. Smith was ponderous and egotistical to the last
degree, while Spotts seemed hail-fellow-well-met, the jolliest,
brightest, most good-looking and resourceful youth that Cecil had met
for many a long day. The other two men were the most reserved of the
company, saying little, and devoting themselves to their meal. But it
was to Miss Arminster that he found himself especially attracted. From
the first moment that he saw her she had exercised a fascination over
him, and even his desire for the success of his book gave way to his
anxiety for her comfort and happiness. She was by no means difficult to
approach; they soon were chatting gaily together, and by the time the
repast was finished were quite on the footing of old friends--so much
so, indeed, that Cecil ventured to ask her a question which had been
uppermost in his mind for some time.

"Why did Mr. Smith call you the Leopard when he introduced you to me at
the station?" he said.

"Oh," she answered, laughing, "that's generally the last bit of
information my friends get about me. It has terminated my acquaintance
with a lot of gentlemen. Do you think you'd better ask it, just when we
are beginning to know one another?"

"Are you another Lohengrin," he said, "and will a white swan come and
carry you off as soon as you've told me?"

"More probably a cable-car," she replied, "seeing we're in New York."

"Then I shall defer the evil day as long as possible," he answered.

"You seem to forget," she returned, "that I don't know as yet what our
business relations are to be."

"And you seem to forget," he replied, "that there are still some
strawberries left on that dish."

She sighed regretfully, saying:

"I'm afraid they must go till next time--if there's to be a next time."

Banborough vowed to himself that instead of confining the advertisement
of his book to the city alone, he would extend it to Harlem and
Brooklyn--yes, and to all New York State, if need be, rather than forego
the delight of her society.

"Isn't your father an English bishop?" continued Miss Arminster,
interrupting his reverie.

"Now how on earth did you know that?" exclaimed Cecil.

The