whispered. "We'll need it tomorrow. What time is
your school out?"

"At three o'clock."

"I can come at four?"

"You don't have to work tomorrow?"

He hesitated a moment.

"No, I'm on a vacation till after Christmas. They're putting through my
new patent."

He followed her inside the door and held her hand in the shadows of the
hall.

"All right, at four," she said.

"I'll be here."

He stooped and kissed her, turned and passed quickly out.

She stood for a moment in the shadows and listened to the throb of the
car until it melted into the roar of the city's life, her heart beating
with a joy so new it was pain.

CHAPTER VII. A VAIN APPEAL

A week passed on the wings of magic.

Every day at four o'clock the car was waiting at her door. The drab
interior of the school-room had lost its terror. No annoyance could
break the spell that reigned within. Her patience was inexhaustible, her
temper serene.

Walking with swift step down the Avenue to her home she wondered vaguely
how she could have been lonely in all the music and the wonder of New
York's marvelous life. The windows of the stores were already crowded
with Christmas cheer, and busy thousands passed through their doors.
Each man or woman was a swift messenger of love. Somewhere in the
shadows of the city's labyrinth a human heart would beat with quickened
joy for every step that pressed about these crowded counters. Love had
given new eyes to see, new ears to hear and a new heart to feel the joys
and sorrows of life.

She hadn't given her consent yet. She was still asking her silly heart
to be sure of herself. Of her lover, the depth and tenderness, the
strength and madness of his love, there could be no doubt. Each day he
had given new tokens.

For Saturday afternoon she had told him not to bring the car.

When they reached Fifth Avenue, across the Square, he stopped abruptly
and faced her with a curious, uneasy look:

"Say, tell me why you wanted to walk?"

"I had a good reason," she said evasively.

"Yes, but why? It's a sin to lay that car up a day like this. Look
here----"

He stopped and tried to gulp down his fears.

"Look here--you're not going to throw me down after leading me to the
very top of the roof, are you?"

She looked up with tender assurance.

"Not today----"

"Then why hoof it? Let me run round to the garage and shoot her out. You
can wait for me at the Waldorf. I've always wanted to push my buzz-wagon