"Yes; you did not want me to accept Miss Archer's most kind invitation, and remain; now confess, did you?" he asked, laughing.
Nattie was rather embarrassed at this instance of the young gentleman's perceptive faculties, and not exactly able to refute the charge, was somewhat at loss how to reply.
"I—I do not get acquainted quite so easily as Cyn," she stammered.
"Except on the wire!" Cyn added.
"Except on the wire," repeated Nattie, with a smile; then meeting the curious glance of Mr. Stanwood, it suddenly flashed upon her that he was the same young gentleman who had called at the office, and inquired about the tariff to Washington, for the sole object of talking, as she then supposed.
"I have seen you before!" she exclaimed, on the impulse of the moment.
"That sounds like a novel! what is coming now?" ejaculated Jo, with his mouth full of pie.
Mr. Stanwood laughed very heartily at Nattie's exclamation, and asked in reply,
"Have you just discovered it? I recognized you the moment I entered the room to-day. That is one reason I was so anxious to remain. She snubbed me most outrageously," he added to Cyn, in explanation, "and simply because I tried to be agreeable to her one day at the office."
"But you had no business to be agreeable!" said Nattie, also laughing, and not at all displeased.