"Of course you had not," interrupted Jo.
"I never talk to strangers," concluded Nattie.
"Except, perhaps, on the wire, as you said just now!" he suggested.
"You have caught her now!" said Cyn gayly, as she peeled an orange. "But you will never do even that again, will you, Nat?"
"One such experience is quite enough for me," Nattie replied.
"Still, the next one might not have red hair, or smell of musk!" Jo remarked.
"He might be even worse, though!" interposed the penitent on the stool.
With a strangely puzzled look, Mr. Stanwood glanced from one to the other, observing which, Cyn said,
"You don't understand, of course. May I tell him, Nat?"
"Ah! well—yes!" Nattie replied with an air of vexed resignation. "I suppose I may as well make up my mind to be laughed at on account of that story forever and a day."