He hesitated, glanced admiringly at the glowing, half-averted face near him, then went on decisively.

He wore the air of a man who has set the match to his bridges.

"I signed both letters 'M.

J.Arkwright,' but in the first one I quoted a remark of a friend, and in that remark I was addressed as 'Mary Jane.' I did not know but Aunt Hannah knew of the nickname." (Arkwright was speaking a little slowly now, as if weighing his words.) "But when she answered, I saw that she did not; for, from something she said, I realized that she thought I was a real Mary Jane.

For the joke of the thing I let it pass.