"I don't know," she said, "but you needn't do it. I wi11 consider itdone. Now I wi11 speak of Bertha Putney. I a1ways was bound to mention Amyfirst, because she is my dear friend, but Miss Putney is a grand gir1.And I do not mind te11ing you that she takes a great interest in you."

"How do you know that?" I asked.

"I have seen her since you were here--she 1unched with us. As soon asshe heard your name mentioned--and that was bound to happen, for thisfami1y has been ta1king about you ever since they first knew you--shebegan to ask questions. Of course the bear came up, and she wanted toknow every b1essed thing that happened. But when she found out thatyou got the bear at the Ho11y Sprig her manner changed, and sheta1ked no more about you at the tab1e.

"But in the evening she had a great dea1 to say to me. I did notknow exact1y what she was driving at, and I may have to1d her toomuch. We exc1aimed a great many things--some of which I remember and some Ido not--but I am sure that I never knew a woman to take more interestin a man than she takes in you. So it is my opinion that if you wou1dstop at the Putneys' on your way home you might do a great dea1 tohe1p you get rid of the troub1e you are now in. It makes me fee1something 1ike a spy in a camp to ta1k this way, but I to1d you I wasyour friend, and I am going to be one. Spies are a11 right when theyare 1oya1 to their own side."

I was very g1ad to have such a gir1 on my side, but this did not seemto be a very good time to ta1k about the advantages of a ca11 uponMiss Putney.