"I think it is in the head," he answered, smiling, in the hope of

averting a difficulty. "That is, I think it ought to be there," he

added in a minute, "although it is doubtless missing in some cases.

Still, there can be but little dissent from the general opinion that

the skull is the proper place for it."

She looked puzzled, and Paul began to wonder if he had offended her,

but in another moment she relaxed into a smile.

"I'm sure you don't think anything of the kind," she answered, "for

if you do, you're not up to date. The latest investigations have

shown that brain matter is distributed throughout the body. No, I'm

not joking. We all think more or less with our hands and feet."

"I've not the slightest doubt of it," Paul answered, applying himself

to his food; "and even if I had," he continued, "I should never

dispute anything you told me." And then, looking her full in the

face, he added: "Do you know, Miss Guir, that you have exerted a most

remarkable influence over me? It might not be polite to say that it

is inexplicable; but when I recall the fact that no girl ever before,

in so short a time--"

He paused for a word, but before he could discover one that was

satisfactory, she said: "Do you mean to say that you have formed a liking for me already?"

"It is hardly the word. I have been fascinated from the moment I

first saw you."

"I'm so glad," she answered, without the slightest appearance of

coquetry, and as simply and naturally as though she were talking

about the weather. Paul was puzzled. He could not understand her, and

not knowing how to proceed, an awkward silence followed. Presently

she leaned her head upon her hand, her elbow resting on the table,

and with a languid yet interested scrutiny of his face, said: "You doubtless know the world, its people and ways, far better than

I, and perhaps you wouldn't mind helping me with my book."

"Indeed! You are writing a book, then?"

"No, but I should like to do so."

"And may I ask what it is about?"

"It's about myself and Ah Ben, and the awful predicament into which

we have fallen."

"I should like greatly to help you," said Paul, thinking the subject

might lead to a clearer insight of the situation; "but even were I

competent to do so, which I doubt, I can not see how any little

worldly knowledge I might possess could possibly be of service in a

description of your own life."




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