Page:A Literary Courtship (1893).pdf/108

 fragmentary as they were. I rather hoped he would tell me some more sometime. I never pry into other people's affairs however, but John says that is the very reason they all want to tell me their secrets. John has noticed it, and he once said some very kind things about it. John is such a good fellow! He would give the very Devil his dues!

The tennis was pretty fair, though Ned started me off with some young ladies and so I didn't go it quite so hard as I should have liked to.

When I got home I found John reading a New York paper in the office.

"How was the business talk?" I asked, as we stepped out into the deserted piazza. It was the dark end of twilight, and a few scattered stars were pricking through.

"First rate," said he.

"Did you get any light on the great subject?"

"Not a ray."

"Did you discuss the poems?