he place had the native sombreness and intensity. So that
our friend did not mind being alone.

The third day, however, Francis called on him. There was a tap at the
bedroom door, and the young man entered, all eyes of curiosity.

"Oh, there you ARE!" he cried, flinging his hand and twisting his waist
and then laying his hand on his breast. "Such a LONG way up to you! But
miles--! Well, how are you? Are you quite all right here? You are?
I'm so glad--we've been so rushed, seeing people that we haven't had a
MINUTE. But not a MINUTE! People! People! People! Isn't it amazing how
many there are, and how many one knows, and gets to know! But amazing!
Endless acquaintances!--Oh, and such quaint people here! so ODD! So MORE
than odd! Oh, extraordinary--!" Francis chuckled to himself over the
extraordinariness. Then he seated himself gracefully at Aaron's table.
"Oh, MUSIC! What? Corelli! So interesting! So very CLEVER, these people,
weren't they!--Corelli and the younger Scarlatti and all that crowd."
Here he closed the score again. "But now--LOOK! Do you want to know
anybody here, or don't you? I've told them about you, and of course
they're dying to meet you and hear you play. But I thought it best not
to mention anything about--about your being hard-up, and all that. I
said you were just here on a visit. You see with this kind of people I'm
sure it's much the best not to let them start off by thinking you will
need them at all--or that you MIGHT need them. Why give yourself away,
anyhow? Just meet them and take them for what they're worth--and then
you can see. If they like to give you an engagement to play at some
show or other--well, you can decide when the time comes whether you
will accept. Much better that these kind of people shouldn't get it into
their heads at once that they can hire your services. It doesn't do.
They haven't enough discrimination for that. Much best make rather
a favour of it, than sort of ask them to hire you.--Don't you agree?
Perhaps I'm wrong."

Aaron sat and listened and wondered at the wisdom and the genuine
kindness of the young _beau_. And more still, he wondered at the
profound social disillusionment. This handsome collie dog was something
of a social wolf, half showing his fangs at the moment. But with genuine
kindheartedness for another wolf. Aaron was touched.

"Yes, I think that's the best way," he said.

"You do! Yes, so do I. Oh, they are such queer people! Why is it, do
you th