“Well, sir, what is it you brought me here to say to me?”

Mr. Tom laughed, and so did she.

“If it is anything about the gentlemen who are paying their addresses to me, you may as well begin at once, for that will save time, and really an introduction is not necessary.”

Mr. Easterfield’s admiration for this young lady, which had been steadily growing, was not decreased by this remark.  “This girl,” said he to himself, “deserves a nimble-witted husband.  Hemphill would never do for her.  It seems to me,” he said aloud, “that we are already well enough acquainted for me to proceed with the remarks which you have correctly assumed I came here to make.”

“Yes,” said she, “I have always thought that some people are born to become acquainted, and when they meet they instantly perceive the fact, and the thing is accomplished.  They can then proceed.”

“Very well,” said he, “we will proceed.”

“I suppose,” said Olive, “that Mrs. Easterfield has explained everything, and that you agree with her and with me that it is a sensible thing for a girl in my position to marry, and, having no one to attend wisely to such a matter for me, that I should endeavor to attend to it myself as wisely as I can.  Also, that a little bit of pique, caused by the fact that I am to have an old schoolfellow for a stepmother, is excusable.”

“And it is this pique which puts you in such a hurry?  I did not exactly understand that.”

“Yes, it does,” said she.  “I very much wish to announce my own engagement, if not my marriage, before any arrangements shall be made which may include me.  Do you think me wrong in this?”

“No, I don’t,” said Mr. Easterfield.  “If I were a girl in your place I think I would do the same thing myself.”

Olive’s face expressed her gratitude.  “And now,” said she, “what do you think of the young men?  I feel so well acquainted with you through Mrs. Easterfield that I shall give a great deal of weight to your opinion.  But first let me ask you one thing:  After what you have heard of me do you think I am a flirt?”

Mr. Tom knitted his brows a little, then he smiled, and then he looked out over the flower-beds without saying anything.

“Don’t be afraid to say so if you think so,” said she.  “You must be perfectly plain and frank with me, or our acquaintanceship will wither away.”

Under the influence of this threat he spoke.  “Well,” said he, “I should not feel warranted in calling you a flirt, but it does seem to me that you have been flirting.”

“I think you are wrong, Mr. Easterfield,” said Olive, speaking very gravely.  “I never saw any one of these young men before I came here except Mr. Hemphill, and he was an entirely different person when I knew him before, and I have given no one of them any special encouragement.  If Mr. Locker were not such an impetuous young man, I think the others would have been more deliberate, but as