t a figure stood there, a little way out from the wall. As
well as he could see, it was a young boy.

"That was beautiful, mother. You can't think how you've improved at it
this week."

"Any mistakes?"

"The harlequin and columbine seemed a little stiff; but that's the
hardest of all, I know."

"Never mind; they've got to be perfect. We'll try them again."

She was about to drop the corner of the sheet when the listener sprang
out toward the window, leaping with bare feet over the graves and
waving his flageolet madly.

"Ah, no--no, madame!" he cried. "Wait one moment, the tiniest, and I
shall inspire you!"

"Whoever is that?" cried the voice at the window, rising almost to a
scream.

The youth beneath the wall faced round on the intruder. He had turned
white and wanted to run, but mastered his voice to inquire gruffly:

"Who the devil are you?"

"I? I am an artist, and as such I salute madame and monsieur, her son.
She is greater artist than I, but I shall help her. Her harlequin and
columbine shall dance better this time. Why? Because they shall dance
to my music, the music that I shall make, here, on this spot, under the
stars. I shall play as if possessed--I feel that. I bet you. It is
because I have found an artist--an artist in Gantick!
O--my--good--Lor!"

He had pulled off his greasy hat, and stood bowing and smiling, showing
his white teeth, and holding up his flageolet for the woman to see and
convince herself.

"That's all very well," said the boy: "but my mother doesn't want it
known yet that she practices, at these shadows."

"Ha? It is perhaps forbidden by law."

"Since you have found us out, sir," said the woman, "I will tell you
why we are behaving like this, and trust you to tell nobody. I have
been left a widow, in great poverty and with this one son, who must be
educated as well as his father was. Six months ago, when sadly
perplexed, I found out by chance that this small gift of mine might
earn me a good income at a--a music hall. Richard, of course, doesn't
like my performing at such places, but agrees with me that he must be
educated. So we are hiding it from everybody in the village, because
we have always been respected here; and, as soon as I have practiced
enough, we mean to travel up to London. Of course I shall change my
name, and nobody will----"

But the flageolet-player sat suddenly down upon a grave and broke into
hysterical laughter.

"Oh--oh--oh!