"Yours ever,
"Jack."
Knowing her as I do, I thought that this, if anything, would bring Phyllis to her senses. On the other hand, she appeared to look on it as a kind of challenge, and sent me the following reply:—
"Dear Jack,—
Thanks very much for your nice thought. But you must have mistaken the shop. I'll tell you why. Only this morning I was gazing at the very bracelet, when who should come up but ——. He's an awfully nice fellow, and very determined. When I told him what I was looking at, he actually suggested buying me the bracelet. Of course I said that no lady would dream of accepting a present like that, but he wouldn't hear of a refusal and simply pushed the darling thing into my hand. I am meeting him at the —— 's at luncheon on Friday. So sorry you won't be there.
"Yours ever,
"Phyllis."
In reply to which I wrote:—
"Dear Phyllis,—
You'd better marry ——.
"Jack."
Phyllis wrote back:—