"'Choo Choo is the name of the city,' added her father, proudly; 'it's the terminus of the new trans-Siberian railway.'
"'It's on the Pong Ping,' said Daisy.
"'He's vice-consul,' added the professor, triumphantly.
"'He'll make a good one,' I observed. I knew Jack. I pitied his consul.
"So we chatted on about my old playmate, until Freda, the red-cheeked maid, brought coffee, and the professor lighted a cigar, with a little bow to his daughter.
"'Of course, you don't smoke,' she said to me, with a glimmer of malice in her eyes.
"'He mustn't,' interposed the professor, hastily; 'it will make his hand tremble.'
"'No, it won't,' said I, laughing; 'but my hand will shake if I don't smoke. Are you going to employ me as a draughtsman?'
"'You'll know to-morrow,' he chuckled, with a mysterious smile at his daughter. 'Daisy, give him my best cigars—put the box here on the table. We can't afford to have his hand tremble.'
"Miss Holroyd rose and crossed the hallway to her father's room, returning presently with a box of promising-looking cigars.