"Good gracious!" thought Ralph. "She
takes things terribly in earnest."

"You look so serious, Miss Bertha," said he,
after a moment's pause. "I remember you as a
bright-eyed, flaxen-haired little girl, who threw
her German exercise-book to me across the yard,
and whose merry laughter still rings pleasantly
in my memory. I confess I don't find it quite
easy to identify this grave young lady with my
merry friend of three years ago."

"In other words, you are disappointed at not
finding me the same as I used to be."

"No, not exactly that; but--"

Ralph paused and looked puzzled. There
was something in the earnestness of her manner
which made a facetious compliment seem grossly
inappropriate, and in the moment no other
escape suggested itself.

"But what?" demanded Bertha, mercilessly.

"Have you ever lost an old friend?"
asked he, abruptly.

"Yes; how so?"