"Oh, yes!" Nattie replied. "I am very much indebted to Quimby for making us acquainted."
"Oh! really now, do you mean it?" exclaimed Quimby, with sudden delight. "I am so glad I've done something right at last, you know! Always doing something wrong, you know!" then hugging his hat to his breast, and speaking in a confidential whisper, he added, to the great amusement of the two girls, "I have a presentiment—a horrible presentiment—I'm always making mistakes, you see. I'm used to it, but I couldn't get used to that, you know—that some day I shall marry the wrong woman!"
So saying, and with a last glance of implacable dislike at the sounder,
Quimby bowed awkwardly, and departed with the laughing Miss Archer.
Soon after their departure, "C" asked,
"Has Black-Eyed Susan gone?"
"Yes," responded Nattie. "She left a good-by for you, and means to improve your acquaintance."
"Thrice happy I! But about this he? Who is this he? I want to know all about him. Is he a hated rival?"
"Ha! I never heard him say so, but I will ask him if you wish. He lives in the same building with me, and brought Miss Archer, a fellow-lodger, down to introduce her."
"Do you ever go to balls, concerts, theaters, or to ride with him?" asked "C," who seemed determined to make a thorough investigation of matters.
"Dear me! No! He never asked me!"