day, are
eager to congratulate you on your wonderful symphony."

"Yes." Arlt's tone was scarcely ingratiating, as he stirred his tea
violently.

"Yes, it was beautiful, so sweet and harmonious. Really, you are quite
taking the city by storm. You must be very busy to do so much writing.
Don't you get very tired?"

"Sometimes." Arlt emptied his cup at a gulp.

"Oh, you must! But it is worth tiring one's poor head, to achieve such
splendid results. But don't you ever rest? All winter long, I have been
hoping you would find time to drop in on me, some Thursday."

"Thank you." Arlt attacked his extra lump of sugar with his spoon.
Eluding his touch, it flew across the room and landed at Bobby's feet.
Stooping down, Bobby rescued it and gravely handed it back to Arlt.

"Try it again, old man," he said encouragingly. "You'll get the proper
range in time."

But Mrs. Lloyd Avalons returned to the charge.

"Well, as long as you won't come to me, I must seize my chance here, if
Miss Van Osdel will excuse me. We are getting up a concert for the
benefit of the Allied Day Nurseries, Mr. Arlt. It is to be very select
indeed, only artists of established reputation are to be invited to take
part, and we shall keep the price of the tickets up high enough to shut
out any undesirable people who might otherwise come. We are counting on
you for two numbers."

"But I cannot play."

"In other words, Mrs. Avalons," Bobby remarked: "you'll have to discount
Arlt."

"But we must have him," Mrs. Lloyd Avalons said, in real dismay. "We
never thought of his refusing."

Arlt shook his head in grim silence.

Mrs. Lloyd Avalons took refuge in cajolery.

"Oh, but you must! We can't spare you, Mr. Arlt. If you don't care for
the charity, you'll do it for me; won't you?"

Deliberately Arlt packed the sugar and the spoon into his cup, and set
the cup down on the table. Then he turned to face Mrs. Lloyd Avalons
squarely.

"On the contrary, that is the very reason I cannot do it, Mrs. Lloyd
Avalons. When Miss Gannion introduced me to you as Mr. Thayer's
accompanist and a pianist who needed engagements, you wished to refuse
me a place on your programme. Now that others have been good enough to
listen to me, you can make room for two numbers by me. I am very sorry;
but I shall be unable to accept your invitation."

There was no underlying rancor in the slow, deliberate syllables; they
were merely the statement of an indisputable fact. Most