"I know that bit," she intimated gently.
Philip apologised, and continued hurriedly:—
"Dear Sir—No, I expect you know that bit, too."
"That bit's all right," said Miss Jennings calmly. "I wasn't to know who you were writing to. It might have been your wife."
Philip, who had not hitherto realised that it was possible for a man to correspond with the wife of his bosom by means of a machine operated by a third party, apologised again, and added quite gratuitously that he was not married.
Miss Jennings, having secured the information she required, smiled forgivingly, and the dictation proceeded.
We are in receipt of your letter of October the fourteenth.
"They usually say 'esteemed communication,'" said Miss Jennings.
"Thank you," said Philip humbly. "Please correct it." Miss Jennings did so. Philip, regarding the curving neck and prettily coiled hair close beside him, found himself wondering why such a beautiful thing as a young girl should be compelled to work for a living.
Miss Jennings looked up, and caught his eye.