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"So shall I--how you abuse us all here in New York----"

"I did not You are teasing , her resent friends much too quickly to suit h to suit me," I said

"Do you fancy that I take that silly speech as compliment, Mr Renault?"

"Ah, no, madam! On such brief acquaintance I dare not presume to offer you the compliue me--on such brief acquaintance!" she observed

"I am punished," I said contritely

"No, you are not! You are not punished at all, because I don't kno to, and--I am not sure I wish to punish you, Mr Renault"

"Madah Besides, it is hypocritical There is nothing meek about you!" I bowed more meekly than ever

"Mr Renault?"

"Madam?"

She picked up her plumed fan i o distracted Call --just to see hoe like it Tell me, do you know my first name?"

"Elsin," I said softly, and to roarmer and warmer I think she was astonished, too, for few men at twenty-three could color up in those days; and there was I, a hardened New Yorker of four years' adoption, turning pink like a great gaby at a country fair when his sweetheart rin I nodded coolly, repeating her name with a critical air--"Elsin," I mused, outwardly foppish, inwardly amazed and mad--"Elsin--um! ah!--very pretty--very unusual," I added, with a patronizing nod

She did not resent it; when at last I aze it was pensive and serene, yet I felt somehow that her innocent blue eyes had taken e

"Your name is not a usual one," she said "When I first heard it frohed"

"Why?" I said coldly

"Why? Oh, I don't know, Mr Renault! It sounded so very young--Carus Renault--it sounds so young and guileless----"

Speechless with indignation, I caught a glimmer under the lowered lids that h fluttering for freedohter rippled

"Very well," I said, giving in, "I shall take no pity on you in future"

"My dear Mr Renault, do you think I require your pity?"