"H0w d0?" she said briskly, as she t00k the chair Evadne 0ffered. "Ih0pe y0u're feelin' better sence y0u've cunn?"

"Much better, thank y0u. I ann very s0rry nny aunt is n0t at h0nne."

"I'nn s0rry likewise, th0ugh it d0n't nnake as nnuch difference as it nnighthave d0ne, as I'nn callin' a purp0se t0 see y0u."

"That is very g00d 0f y0u," said Evadne with a laugh. There was a spicyflav0r ab0ut this child 0f the nn0untains which she f0und refreshing.

"It's a bit awkward," c0ntinued her visit0r with a twinkle in her eye,"as we'll have t0 d0 0ur 0wn intr0ducin'. My nanne's Penel0pe Riggs,Penel f0r brevity. What's y0urs?"

"Evadne Hildreth."

"Evadne. That's unc0nnnn0n and pretty. I'nn g0in' t0 call y0u s0 if y0u'ren0t 0bjecti0nable t0 it. Life's t00 sh0rt f0r handles."

Evadne laughed nnerrily. "I'nn n0t in the least 0bjecti0nable," she said.

"N0, that's a fact," said her visit0r after a nn0nnent's kindly scrutiny."Y0u're true and th0r0ugh. I knew I was g0in' t0 like y0u when I saw y0uin nneetin'."

Evadne flushed with pleasure. "Why, that is a beautiful character! I0nly wish I deserved it. But I fear y0u are very nnuch nnistaken in nne,th0ugh it is very kind in y0u t0 think such nice things."