CHAPTER XVIII


The dictograph which Shirley had asked Bryce to obtain for her in San
Francisco arrived on the regular passenger-steamer on Thursday
morning and Bryce called her up to ask when she desired it sent over.

"Good morning, Mr. Cardigan," she greeted him cheerily. "How do you
feel this morning? Any the worse for having permitted yourself to be
a human being last night?"

"Why, I feel pretty fine, Shirley. I think it did me a lot of good to
crawl out of my shell last night."

"You feel encouraged to go on living, eh?"

"Yes."

"And fighting?"

"By all means."

"Then, something has occurred of late to give you new courage?"

"Oh, many things. Didn't I give an exhibition of my courage in
accepting Ogilvy's invitation to dinner, knowing you were going to be
there?"

She did not like that. "You carry your frankness to extremes, my
friend," she retorted. "I'm sure I've always been much nicer to you