“I think he may be—for his 'Woman's Page.'”

“It is all wrong, you think?”

“What could a Yankee six-footer cousin of old Fisbee's know about currant jelly and work-baskets?”

“You know about currant jelly and work-baskets yourself?”

“Heaven defend the right, I do not!”

“You are sure he is six feet?”

“You should see his signature; that leaves no doubt. And, also, his ability denotes his stature.”

“You believe that ability is in proportion to height, do you not?” There was a dangerous luring in her tone.

His memory recalled to him that he was treading on undermined ground, so he hastened to say: “In inverse proportion.”

“Then your substitute is a failure. I see,” she said, slowly.