s--as Vivaldi for instance--is really lost in the great
crowd of strings."

"Agreed."

Presently they came to the campus gates and found their way to a small
cafe. Seated at a tiny marble table, they had a delightful
tete-a-tete, and found much to agree upon regarding both the
performance, and the subject of music in general. Though he had not
quite her madness for Liszt, he agreed with Gretchen's assessment of
the "Transcendental Etudes"--divinely inspired, and, like much of
Liszt's work, nearly beyond the reach of mortals.

Gretchen was on her second coffee and feeling rather giddy. She could
hardly hold her cup steady, and she finally set it down with a laugh.

"Do you play an instrument, Professor?" she asked, pushing her cup away
with one hand.

"Well, I would not so much call it playing the instrument," he
answered, "as playing _at_ the instrument."

"I see," she laughed. "Rather the way I play _at_ the viola--though I
daresay you speak of Liszt's writing as if you have some experience
with it."

The professor seemed rather at a loss for an instant. He glanced away
over Gretchen's shoulder, but recalled himself quickly and lifted his
cup to his lips, meeting her eyes again. "I do admit I have _tried_."
He set his cup down while reaching into his vest pocket, as if
searching for something. "But really," he continued, "I haven't the
technique. How about yourself, Miss Haviland? I take it you do rather
well yourself, upon the viola."

Gretchen blushed, realizing that she must have sounded boastful just
then. The professor seemed not to have taken it in stride--she
realized that this must have accounted for his momentary loss for
words. "Well," she said then, settling herself forward upon her chair.
"At one time--when I was quite young, you understand--I fancied I would
perform upon the instrument. But..."

"Ah." Professor Bridwell smiled. "Then, other interests swept you
away, no doubt. But still you play?" He had pulled a silver cigarette
case from his vest pocket, and he turned it over in his fingers.

"Oh, indeed." Gretchen sighed deeply. "I suppose, with all modesty
set aside, I was adequate on the instrument--but adequacy in a
performer is hardly to be tolerated..." Before he could reply, she
rushed onward, feeling her face flush. "I certainly do not practice
with any regularity of late!"

Professor Bridwell laughed. "I daresay--at our time of life--leisure
hours seem so unobt