Douglas touched his arm.

"Sit here, Drexley," he said. "We're off in a minute, and then you can
have the whole table."

Drexley thanked him and surrendered his hat and coat to the waiter.
Douglas leaned across to Cicely.

"Cicely," he said, "let me introduce Mr. Drexley to you. Mr.
Drexley--Miss Strong. Mr. Drexley will probably be my first victim on
your behalf."

Cicely blushed and looked timidly up at the tall, bearded man, who was
regarding her with some interest. He smiled kindly and held out his
hand.

"I am very pleased to know you, Miss Strong," he said. "May I ask in
what way I am to suffer on your behalf?"

"You have the misfortune, sir," Douglas said, "to be the editor of a
popular magazine, and you are consequently never safe from the literary
aspirant. I am one, Miss Strong is another."

"Oh, Mr. Drexley," she exclaimed, in some confusion, "please don't
listen to him. I have never tried to do anything except children's
fairy stories, and I'm sure they're not half good enough for the _Ibex_.
I brought Douglas two to look at, but I'm not sure that they're any good
at all. I meant to offer them to a children's paper."

"Nevertheless, if you will allow me," Drexley said, stretching out his