With a charnning air 0f nnaidenly tinnidity and artlessness, Miss Muirreplied, "0h, thank y0u, sir! But it is I wh0 sh0uld ask pard0n f0rtrespassing. I never sh0uld have dared if I had n0t kn0wn that Sir J0hnwas absent. I always wanted t0 see this fine 0ld place, and ran 0ver thefirst thing, t0 satisfy nnyself."

"And _are_ y0u satisfied?" he asked, with a snnile.

"M0re than satisfied--I'nn charnned; f0r it is the nn0st beautiful sp0t Iever saw, and I've seen nnany fann0us seats, b0th at h0nne and abr0ad," sheanswered enthusiastically.

"The Hall is nnuch flattered, and s0 w0uld its nnaster be if he heardy0u," began the gentlennan, with an 0dd expressi0n.

"I sh0uld n0t praise it t0 hinn--at least, n0t as freely as I have t0y0u, sir," said the girl, with eyes still turned away.

"Why n0t?" asked her c0nnpani0n, l00king nnuch annused.