didactic tone he had fallen
into. But Krafft had turned, and was gazing at him, considering him
attentively for the first time. When Maurice ceased to speak, he nodded
a hasty assent: "Yes, yes, it is quite true. Go on." And as the former,
having nothing more to say, was mute, he added: "You are like some one
I once knew. He was a great musician. I saw him die; he died by inches;
it lasted for months; he could neither die nor live."

"Why do you brood over these things, if you find them so awful? Are you
not afraid your nerves will go through with you, and make you do
something foolish?" asked Maurice, and was himself astonished at his
boldness.

"Of course I am. My life is a perpetual struggle against suicide,"
answered Krafft.

In the distance, a church-clock struck a quarter to twelve, and it was
on Maurice's tongue to suggest that they should move homewards, when,
with one of his unexpected transitions, Krafft turned to him and said
in a low voice: "What do you say? Shall you and I be friends?"

Maurice hesitated, in some embarrassment. "Why yes, I should be very
glad."

"And you will let me say 'DU' to you?"

"Certainly. If you are sure you won't regret it in the morning."

Krafft stretched out his hand. As Maurice held in his the fine, slim
fingers, which seemed mere skin and muscle, a hitherto unknown feeling
of kindliness came over him for the young man at his side. At this
moment, he had the lively sensation that he was the stronger and wiser
of the two, and that it was even a little beneath him to take the other
too seriously.

"You think so poorly of me then? You think no good thing can come out
of me?" asked Krafft, and there was an appealing note in his voice,
which, but a short time back, had been so overbearing.

Had Maurice known him better, he would have promptly retorted: "Don't
be a fool." As it was, he laughed. "Who am I to sit in judgment? The
only thing I do know is, that if I had your talent--no, a quarter of
it--I should pull myself together and astonish the world."

"It sounds so easy; but I have too many doubts of myself," said Krafft,
and laid his hand on Maurice's shoulder. "And I have never had anyone
to keep me up to the mark--till now. I have always needed some one like
you. You are strong and sympathetic; and one has the feeling that you
understand."

Maurice was far from certain that he did. However, he answered in a
frank way, doing his best to keep down the sentimental to