of the immigrant deck--where the
carpenter's saw played an interlude to her every verse--pierced her
heart at each throb of her pulse and of the boat's pulse and at every
glimpse of the scowling twins, dimly visible to her just beyond the
footlights. Silence fell once more as she moved a step forward with a
light in her eyes, a life in her poise, that made her a pure joy, albeit
an instinct warned her that her tide was at the flood and she must make
her exit on this wave. So with a light toss as if to say, "Positively
last appearance," she sang:

"Den d'rattlesnake and de antidote,
De rattlesnake and de antidote,
De rattlesnake and de antidote,
De rangitang and de billy-goat.
Do you belong----?"

The applause was as lively as ever and increased with each step of her
bowing retreat. Near the stateroom door, chancing to look across the
cabin to the one opposite, she saw within two or three of the amateurs
clapping and the actor approvingly waving her off. Then finding herself
alone she threw open the rear door and was in Mrs. Gilmore's embrace.
"How's Basile?" she demanded--"and the bishop--and Marburg's mother? All
this time----"

"My dear, you've sung only six minutes."

"It seems a week," she laughed. Hugh appeared in the outer door. She
listened to the insistent applause. "I can't go back, Mrs. Gilmore. I
don't need to, do I?"

"No.... Let go of me, dear!" The applause ceased. The curtain was about
to "rise." The servant who was to draw the near half of it reached in
from the cabin and closed their door. "No, dear, you won't sing again
till after this act, anyhow."

"Oh, not even then! I just must stay with Basile. I've sung all the
verses but one, you know."

"We've got some more new ones," replied the lady, smiling to Hugh, who
was moving to let her pass out.

"Got them!" cried the girl. She turned to Hugh. "They've made them!
Didn't you know Mr. and Mrs. Gilmore made every line I've sung? Oh, Mr.
Hugh, what can't genius do?"

Hugh solemnly dissented. "Those lines," he said, "could never have been
made by mere genius!"

She stared at him a moment and then at Mrs. Gilmore, who was escaping by
the outer door and who replied: "My dear, every line made for you has
been made by Mr. Hugh." She vanished while the two stood dumbly face to
face, but on second thought was back again just in time to see and hear
Ramsey say, still gazing:

"Well, of--all--things! You! That frigh