Page:The Yellow Book - 08.djvu/218

unsatisfactory impression of the last quarter of an hour. And for the next two mornings he went to the City by train. But the third saw him again in Oxford Street shortly before nine o'clock, and he held a small and elegant umbrella in his hand, although it was a cloudless day, and there was hoar frost beneath the gravel on the wood pavement.

"How very odd that we should meet again," she exclaimed, blushing in spite of the self-possession on which she prided herself.

"Not so very odd," he replied; "I believe I am responsible for this meeting."

"I feel sure there is a suitable reply to that, but you mustn't expect me to make it. I am never any good at making suitable replies," said Jean; and she laughed as she had done the first time they met.

"I don't want suitable replies from you," he rejoined, just as lightly; "tell me what you really think instead."

"That it was quite charming of you to come this particular way to the City on this particular morning," said Jean demurely. "Now, do you know, I should have thought it was ever so much quicker to go along the Strand."

"On the contrary, I find it very much quicker when I come along Oxford Street."

"At all events, you know how to make suitable replies."

"Then you thought that was a suitable reply? Got you there, didn't I?" and he laughed, which pleased her immensely, although she pretended to be hurt.

"Isn't it queer how one can live two perfectly different lives at the same time?" she said irrelevantly.

"Two? I live half a dozen. But let's hear yours first."

"I was only thinking," continued Jean, "that if the mother ofmy