ersonal
relation."

Hilda studied the droop of the Professor's head intently. "You didn't
altogether like that? You felt it wasn't wholly fair to him?"

Wilson shook himself and readjusted his glasses. "Oh, fair enough. More
than fair. Of course, I always felt that my image of him was just a
little different from hers. No relation is so complete that it can
hold absolutely all of a person. And I liked him just as he was; his
deviations, too; the places where he didn't square."

Hilda considered vaguely. "Has she grown much older?" she asked at last.

"Yes, and no. In a tragic way she is even handsomer. But colder. Cold
for everything but him. `Forget thyself to marble'; I kept thinking of
that. Her happiness was a happiness a deux, not apart from the world,
but actually against it. And now her grief is like that. She saves
herself for it and doesn't even go through the form of seeing people
much. I'm sorry. It would be better for her, and might be so good for
them, if she could let other people in."

"Perhaps she's afraid of letting him out a little, of sharing him with
somebody."

Wilson put down his cup and looked up with vague alarm. "Dear me, it
takes a woman to think of that, now! I don't, you know, think we ought
to be hard on her. More, even, than the rest of us she didn't choose her
destiny. She underwent it. And it has left her chilled. As to her not
wishing to take the world into her confidence--well, it is a pretty
brutal and stupid world, after all, you know."

Hilda leaned forward. "Yes, I know, I know. Only I can't help being glad
that there was something for him even in stupid and vulgar people. My
little Marie worshiped him. When she is dusting I always know when she
has come to his picture."

Wilson nodded. "Oh, yes! He left an echo. The ripples go on in all of
us. He belonged to the people who make the play, and most of us are only
onlookers at the best. We shouldn't wonder too much at Mrs. Alexander.
She must feel how useless it would be to stir about, that she may as
well sit still; that nothing can happen to her after Bartley."

"Yes," said Hilda softly, "nothing can happen to one after Bartley."

They both sat looking into the fire.

*****

THE BARREL ORGAN by Alfred Noyes

There's a barrel-organ caroling across a golden street,
In the City as the sun sinks low;
And the music's not immortal; but the world has made it sweet
And fu