_Why_ did you do it ?" "How do you know ?" Azalea turned an astonished face to her inquisitor.
"I recognised the typing.

How do you know how to use the machine so well?
Were you ever a stenographer ?" "No; I don't know shorthand at all.

And I didn't--" "Stop, I say, Azalea! I _know_ you wrote that! Now, tell me why! I can't imagine any reason for it." The girl was stubbornly silent "Unless you tell me why you did it, I shall be compelled to think there is some wrong reason--" "Oh, no, there isn't!" "Then,--come now, Zaly,--'fess up.

Was it for a joke on me ?" "Yes, yes, that was it!" "No, that _wasn't_ it, and you only grasped at my suggestion to evade the real truth! Now, you must tell me.

Out with it!" "Well--you see, Cousin William, you are always asking me why I don't get letters from my father, and--as I didn't get any, I manufactured one to--to satisfy you.