He himself, very timid and conscious of
his awkwardness, sat near, trying barrenly
to get some of his thoughts out of his brain
on to his tongue.

"Strange, isn't it," the woman broke in
on her own music, "that we have seen each
other so very often and never spoken? I've
often thought introductions were ridiculous.
Fancy seeing a person year in and year
out, and really knowing all about him, and
being perfectly acquainted with his name
-- at least his or her name, you know -- and
then never speaking! Some one comes
along, and says, 'Miss Le Baron, this is Mr.
Culross,' just as if one didn't know that all
the time! And there you are! You cease
to be dumb folks, and fall to talking, and
say a lot of things neither of you care about,
and after five or six weeks of time and sun-
dry meetings, get down to honestly saying
what you mean. I'm so glad we've got
through with that first stage, and can say
what we think and tell what we really like."

Then the playing began again, -- a harp-
like intermingling of soft sounds. Zoe Le
Baron's hands were very girlish. Every-
thing about her was unformed. Even her
mind was so. But all promised a full com-