here you are. I ask you, is that fair and honorable?"

"Well, if it comes to that," she countered, "you promised that
you'd never speak to me if you saw me, and here you are telling me
that you don't want me around the place at all. It's very rude and
inhospitable, I consider."

"I can't help it," he said miserably. "I'm afraid."

"You don't look it. You look disagreeable."

"As long as you stayed where you belonged--Excuse me--I don't
mean to be impolite--but I--I--You see--as long as you were just
a voice, I could manage all right, but now that you are--er--er--
you--" His speech trailed off lamentably into meaningless
stutterings.

The girl turned amazed and amused eyes upon him.

"What on earth ails the poor man?" she inquired of all creation.

"I told you. I--I'm shy."

"Not really! I thought it was a joke."

"Qu'est-ce qu'il dit? Qu'est-ce qu'il dit?" demanded the yellow-
breasted inquisitor, from his flowery perch.

"What does he say? He says he's shy. Poor poo--er young, helpless
thing!" And her laughter put to shame a palm thrush who was giving