bi went about the house a thin, white-faced, little ghost,
with never a song or a smile.

"Fo' Gawd, Perfessor, it makes me cry to look at Miss Bambi, an' I don'
dare ask her what's de mattah."

"I think we must just let her alone, Ardelia. She'll work this thing out
for herself." But he, too, was alarmed at the change in her.

The more she thought of how she had thrown away Jarvis's love, the more
she lacerated herself with reproaches. Her fatal love of play-acting had
brought her sorrow this time. How could she have done it? Why didn't she
see that Jarvis would never understand what made her do it, that he
would resent it.

Some days she was in a fury at him for not understanding her. Other days
she wanted him so that she could scarcely refrain from taking a train to
New York and looking for him. In her sane moments she knew that the only
thing she could do now was to wait.

Richard Strong came down to dine and spend the night, and one thing he
said added to her misery.

"Jarvis stayed in town, didn't he?" he remarked.

"Yes."

"Looking after things there, I suppose? I passed him on the street
yesterday, but he didn't see me."

"You passed him yesterday?" breathlessly.

"Yes. The opening and the strain of the rehearsal knocked him out,
didn't it? He looked as gaunt as a monk."

"Jarvis takes things very seriously."

"By the way, how did he take your joke?"

She looked directly at him and answered frankly: "He didn't think it was
funny at all."

"Oh, that's a pity."

"I'm through with jokes, Richard, through with them for all time," she
said, her lips quivering.

"Oh, no--try one on me, I'd like it," he laughed to cover her emotion,
and changed the subject quickly.

When he returned to town he called up the Frohman offices, asking for
Jarvis's address. He was still at the National Arts Club, they assured
him. So that evening he presented himself there unannounced. He found
Jarvis alone in the reading-room, a book open before sightless eyes. He
rose to greet Strong, with evident reluctance.

"I'm glad to find you, Jocelyn. I have something particular to say to
you."

"So? Sit down, won't you?"

"I've just come back from Sunnyside, where I spent the night. I wanted
to settle the details of your wife's next serial."

"Yes."

"Have you seen her since the opening night?"

"No."

"I think she is either very ill, or very unhappy, possibly both. She
seems such a frail little thing that one dre