“It’s the human mind that is crazy, Ned, because it is wholly without any basis of principle,” returned Hitt with a sigh.
“Doctor Siler! I beg your pardon!”
“Eh? Why, Miss Carmen!” exclaimed that worthy person, looking up from the gutter, whither he had hastened after his silk hat which had been knocked off by the encounter with the young girl who had rounded the corner of Ninth street into Pennsylvania avenue and plunged full into him.
“Oh, I’m so sorry, Doctor! I was coming from the Smithsonian Institution, and I guess––”
“Don’t mention it, Miss Carmen. It’s a privilege to have my hat knocked off by such a radiant creature as you.”
“But it was so stupid of me! Dreaming again! And I want to offer my––”
“Look here, Miss Carmen, just offer yourself as my guest at luncheon, will you? That will not only make amends, but place me hopelessly in your debt.”
“Indeed I will!” exclaimed the girl heartily. “I was on my way to a restaurant.”
“Then come with me. I’ve got a little place around the corner here that would have made Epicurus sit up nights inditing odes to it.”