r true mates.

"I find it daily more of a burden to carry this secret in my heart, when
knowledge of it would lighten my wife's unhappiness. Shall we not
confess the situation, and discuss plans for separation? I owe this girl
who bears my name more than I can ever pay. I would not do anything to
hurt her pride. Tell me what you think about it, dear one?

"YOUR JARVIS."

"JARVIS DEAR: Again I must seem to oppose you. Please let us keep our
secrets to ourselves until our meeting. Suppose that something should
happen even yet? Suppose we should not wish to take this step when the
time comes? I do not want you to hurt your wife. I respect and love you
for your sense of obligation to her. How can she help loving you,
my Jarvis?

"When the day comes for me to prove my devotion, may you say about me
that you owe me more than you can ever pay.

"I live only for the completion of the play.

"YOUR LOVE."

XXV

Bambi felt the renewed vigour with which Jarvis attacked the final
problems of their task. He was working toward the goal of his
affections, a meeting with his lady. She, too, felt the strain of the
situation, and keyed herself up to a final burst of speed. The middle of
February came, bringing the day which ended their labours.

"Well, I believe that is the best we can do with it," Jarvis said.

"Yes, our best best. For my part, I feel quite fatuously satisfied. I
think it is perfectly charming."

"I hope the author will be pleased," he said earnestly.

"I'm much more concerned with Mr. Frohman's satisfaction. If he likes
it, hang the author!"

"But I want to please her more than I can say."

"You have a great interest in that woman, Jarvis. What is it about her
that has caught your attention?"

"It is difficult to say. As I have grown into her book, so that it has
become a part of my thought, I have been more and more absorbed in the
personality of the woman."

"You told me the heroine was like me--once."

"Did I?" in surprise.

"You've changed your mind, evidently?"

"No-o. Her brilliance is like you."

"But not her other qualities?"

"She seems softer, more appealingly feminine to me, than you do. You
have so much more executive ability----"

"You think I'm not feminine?"

"I didn't say that," he evaded.

"Why do you insist upon thinking the author and heroine to be one
person?"

"Just a fancy, I suppos