y as you are in heart.
You'll be but forty-two next birthday and yet seem to delight in
pretending you're such an old fellow. Please stay young, Dave, for the
sake of all who love you."

Yes, there was a bit of moisture in her eyes as she spoke. She was so
near me that I was conscious of her fragrance; I felt that I was within
the aura of her sweetness, and my heart was thumping. But she turned
away again, after one more reassured glance at my tie. She began to draw
on a long pair of white gloves, as I went back to my room for a few
sprays of lily of the valley I had procured for her, which she pinned to
her waist. Then she sat down in a chair that looked poorly fitted to
bear so charming a burden.

"I needn't be there before nine, David," she told me, "and so there
isn't the slightest hurry. Frieda is going home to put on her best and
we'll stop for her in the cab."

So the painter of goddesses and nymphs waddled off, hurriedly, and
clattered down the stairs. Frances leaned over Baby Paul's crib, for the
longest time, after which she gave Eulalie ever so many instructions as
to her charge, while I contemplated her, my nerves all aquiver with
thoughts of the coming ordeal.

"You--you look ever so calm, Frances," I told her. "Does--doesn't the
idea of standing up there and singing to all those people make you
nervous?"

"Not a bit, Dave," she answered, gaily. "But if a little bit of stage
fright should come I shall look at you and pretend to myself that I'm
just singing for you, and then everything will be all right. It will
seem as if we were alone here, and the others won't matter. I feel like
singing this very minute and giving you a tiny concert of your own, but
it might waken Baby."

She was undeniably happy. With the poor, little, husky voice she had
felt a cripple, but the restored organ had changed her in everything but
beauty and kindness. She was confident now; the world was opening to her
again. She would be able to keep Baby Paul from all suffering such as
poverty might have brought, and it gave her an outlook upon the future,
wider and more secure.

"I do hope I shall succeed," she said again. "I never had dreamed that a
woman could accept all that I have taken from you, Dave. If this means
that I shall have gained my independence, I shall be happy indeed, but I
will always remember that the time I leaned upon you was made sweet and
hopeful by your consideration and friendship. Come, David, it is