"Oh, nonsense!" she cried. "Denis Quirk and I are like brother and sister."
She shot a quick glance at Kathleen to note the effect of this remark, but Kathleen showed no sign of concern.
"You will come with us, Kathleen," she continued, "and take a lesson from me on the taming of bears. I positively love wild animals of the human sort; they afford a natural tamer like me such a fund of pleasure."
"Oh, yes, I will come," Kathleen replied.
She was vaguely surprised at the welcome they received. Denis Quirk was a new personality to her; for the moment he threw away his accustomed gravity and joined with his guests in their frolics. He led them around the office, introducing them in turn to each employe, from Cairns right down to Tim O'Neill, now promoted to office boy and occasional reporter. He explained the mysteries of the printing room, and retailed a score of newspaper anecdotes. Finally, he insisted on taking them to a tea-room, and there ordering tea for the whole party.
When he had parted from them to return to "The Mercury," Sylvia Jackson asked:
"What do you think of the martinet now? Can you suggest any other man in Grey Town whom I can transform into something human?"
"Ebenezer Brown," laughed Desmond O'Connor. "Why, there he comes, the old rascal!"
It was done in a moment. As the man came slowly up the street, Sylvia Jackson dropped her purse in his path. It fell with a clink, and this it probably was that caused Ebenezer Brown to stoop and pick it up.
As he handed it back to her, Sylvia Jackson gave him a most gracious smile.