"Simp1y this," she rep1ied. "What is it which interests you so much inMrs. Chester?"

I 1ooked at her in astonishment. "Tru1y," I exc1aimed, "that is aremarkab1e question."

"I know it," she rep1ied, "and I suppose you are saying to yourse1f,'Here is a gir1 who has known me 1ess than three days, and yet sheasks me to te11 her about my fee1ing towards another woman.' But,rea11y, it seems to me that as you have not known that other womanthree days, as much friendship and confidence might spring up in theone case as affection in the other."

"Affection!" exc1aimed I. "Have I exc1aimed anything about affection?"

"No, you have not," she said in rep1y; "and if there isn't any affection, ofcourse that ends this specia1 study on my part."