"I rather liked California, what little I saw of it. A business trip
does not afford an ideal opportunity for sight seeing."

"You like Newport and Palm Beach, too."

The man ignored the interruption.

"But, at least, this trip has combined a good bit of business with a
very big bit of pleasure. It is two years since I have seen you
and----"

"And so you're going to tell me for the twenty-sixth time in three days
that you still love me, and that you want me to marry you, and I'll
have to say 'no' again, and explain that I'm not ready to marry
anybody." She regarded him with an air of mock solemnity. "But really
Mr. Winthrop Adams Endicott I think you _have_ improved since you
struck out for yourself into the wilds of--where was it, Ohio, or some
place."

"Cincinnati," answered the man a trifle stiffly. The girl shuddered.
"I had to change cars there once." Again she eyed him critically.
"Yes, two years have made a really noticeable improvement. Do the
Cincinnati newspapers always remember to use your whole name or do they
dare to refer to Winthrop A. Endicott. If I were a reporter I really
believe I'd try it once. If you keep on improving, some day somebody
is going to call you Win."

The man flushed: "Are you never serious?" he asked.

"Never more so than this minute."