"Miss Blaine," she replied coldly.
"We've met before, haven't we?" he went on.
She colored under his close scrutiny. Why did he stare so? It made her very uncomfortable. If he did not cease looking at her, she would close her book and walk out. It was much against her will that she had come up, alone, to a man's apartment. But she could not afford to lose an opportunity of earning a little extra money. Answering his question, she said rather curtly:
"I believe I got a long distance for you the other day. I'm on the telephone desk, you know. Stenography is only a side issue."
He still gazed at her admiringly, quick to note her well-bred manner, her quiet aloofness, unusual in girls of her occupation.
"I remember," he nodded. "We had quite some difficulty in getting in touch with Washington."
"Yes—there was trouble on the wires."
"But we got it at last, didn't we?" he smiled, making an effort to break the ice and be friendly.
But Virginia intended to stick strictly to business. She must make it plain that hers was not a social call. Quickly changing the topic, she asked:
"Is the dictation ready?"