"Init？"Fredstartedup。"MyGod，haven’tyouseenherthisblessednight？——whenshe’dhavekickedanyothermandowntheelevatorshaft，ifIknowher。Leavemesomething；atleastwhatIcanpaymyfivebucksfor。"
　　"Seemstomeyougetagooddealforyourfivebucks，"
　　saidArchieruefully。"Andthat，afterall，iswhatshecaresabout，——whatpeopleget。"
　　Fredlitacigarette，tookapuffortwo，andthenthrewitaway。Hewasloungingbackinhischair，andhisfacewaspaleanddrawnhardbythatmoodofintenseconcentrationwhichlurksunderthesunnyshallowsofthevineyard。Inhisvoicetherewasalongerperspectivethanusual，aslightremoteness。"Yousee，Archie，it’sallverysimple，anatu—
　　raldevelopment。It’sexactlywhatMahlersaidbackthereinthebeginning，whenshesangWOGLINDE。It’stheidea，thebasicidea，pulsingbehindeverybarshesings。Shesimplifiesacharacterdowntothemusicalideait’sbuilton，andmakeseverythingconformtothat。Thepeoplewhochatteraboutherbeingagreatactressdon’tseemtogetthenotionofwhereSHEgetsthenotion。Itallgoesbacktoheroriginalendowment，hertremendousmusicaltalent。
　　Insteadofinventingalotofbusinessandexpedientstosuggestcharacter，sheknowsthethingattheroot，andletsthemusicalpatterntakecareofher。Thescorepoursherintoallthoselovelypostures，makesthelightandshadowgooverherface，liftsheranddropsher。Sheliesonit，the
　　waysheusedtolieontheRhinemusic。Talkaboutrhythm！"
　　Thedoctorfrowneddubiouslyasathirdbottlemadeitsappearanceabovethecloth。"Aren’tyougoinginratherstrong？"
　　Fredlaughed。"No，I’mbecomingtoosober。Youseethisisbreakfastnow；kindofweddingbreakfast。Ifeelratherweddingish。Idon’tmind。Youknow，"hewentonasthewinegurgledout，"Iwasthinkingto—nightwhentheysprungtheweddingmusic，howanyfoolcanhavethatstuffplayedoverhimwhenhewalksuptheaislewithsomedough—facedlittlehussywho’shookedhim。Butitisn’teveryfellowwhocansee——well，whatwesawto—
　　night。Therearecompensationsinlife，Dr。HowardArchie，thoughtheycomeindisguise。Didyounoticeherwhenshecamedownthestairs？Wonderwhereshegetsthatbright—
　　and—morningstarlook？Carriestothelastrowofthefamilycircle。Imovedaboutalloverthehouse。I’lltellyouasecret，Archie：thatcarryingpowerwasoneofthefirstthingsthatputmewise。NoticeditdownthereinArizona，intheopen。That，Isaid，belongsonlytothebigones。"Fredgotupandbegantomoverhythmicallyabouttheroom，hishandsinhispockets。Thedoctorwasaston—
　　ishedathiseaseandsteadiness，fortherewereslightlapsesinhisspeech。"Yousee，Archie，ELSAisn’tapartthat’sparticularlysuitedtoThea’svoiceatall，asIseehervoice。
　　It’sover—lyricalforher。Shemakesit，butthere’snothinginitthatfitsherlikeaglove，except，maybe，thatlongduetinthethirdact。There，ofcourse，"——heheldouthishandsasifheweremeasuringsomething，——"weknowexactlywhereweare。Butwaituntiltheygiveherachanceatsomethingthatliesproperlyinhervoice，andyou’llseemerosierthanIamto—night。"
　　Archiesmoothedthetableclothwithhishand。"IamsureIdon’twanttoseeyouanyrosier，Fred。"
　　Ottenburgthrewbackhisheadandlaughed。"It’sen—
　　thusiasm，doctor。It’snotthewine。I’vegotasmuchin—
　　flatedasthisforadozentrashythings：brewers’dinnersandpoliticalorgies。You，too，haveyourextravagances，Archie。AndwhatIlikebestinyouisthisparticularenthusiasm，whichisnotatallpracticalorsensible，whichisdownrightQuixotic。Youarenotaltogetherwhatyouseem，andyouhaveyourreservations。Livingamongthewolves，youhavenotbecomeone。LUPIBUSVIVENDINON
　　LUPUSSUM。"
　　Thedoctorseemedembarrassed。"Iwasjustthinkinghowtiredshelooked，pluckedofallherfinefeathers，whilewegetallthefun。Insteadofsittingherecarousing，weoughttogosolemnlytobed。"
　　"Igetyouridea。"Ottenburgcrossedtothewindowandthrewitopen。"Finenightoutside；ahagofamoonjustsetting。Itbeginstosmelllikemorning。Afterall，Archie，thinkofthelonelyandrathersolemnhourswe’vespentwaitingforallthis，whileshe’sbeen——reveling。"
　　Archieliftedhisbrows。"Isomehowdidn’tgettheideato—nightthatsherevelsmuch。"
　　"Idon’tmeanthissortofthing。"Fredturnedtowardthelightandstoodwithhisbacktothewindow。"That，"
　　withanodtowardthewine—cooler，"isonlyacheapimita—
　　tion，thatanypoorstiff—fingeredfoolcanbuyandfeelhisshellgrowthinner。Buttakeitfromme，nomatterwhatshepays，orhowmuchshemayseefittolieaboutit，thereal，themasterrevelishers。"Heleanedbackagainstthewindowsillandcrossedhisarms。"Anybodywithallthatvoiceandallthattalentandallthatbeauty，hasherhour。
　　Herhour，"hewentondeliberately，"whenshecansay，’thereitis，atlast，WIEIMTRAUMICH——
　　"`AsinmydreamIdreamedit，Asinmywillitwas。’"
　　Hestoodsilentamoment，twistingtheflowerfromhiscoatbythestemandstaringattheblankwallwithhag—
　　gardabstraction。"EvenIcansayto—night，Archie，"hebroughtoutslowly，"`AsinmydreamIdreamedit，Asinmywillitwas。’
　　Now，doctor，youmayleaveme。I’mbeautifullydrunk，butnotwithanythingthatevergrewinFrance。"
　　Thedoctorrose。Fredtossedhisfloweroutofthewin—
　　dowbehindhimandcametowardthedoor。"Isay，"hecalled，"haveyouadatewithanybody？"
　　Thedoctorpaused，hishandontheknob。"WithThea，youmean？Yes。I’mtogotoheratfourthisafternoon——
　　ifyouhaven’tparalyzedme。"
　　"Well，youwon’teatme，willyou，ifIbreakinandsendupmycard？She’llprobablyturnmedowncold，butthatwon’thurtmyfeelings。Ifsheducksme，youtellherforme，thattospitemenowshe’dhavetocutoffmorethanshecanspare。Good—night，Archie。"
　　VI
　　ITwaslateonthemorningafterthenightshesangELSA，whenTheaKronborgstirreduneasilyinherbed。Theroomwasdarkenedbytwosetsofwindowshades，andthedayoutsidewasthickandcloudy。Sheturnedandtriedtorecaptureunconsciousness，knowingthatshewouldnotbeabletodoso。Shedreadedwakingstaleanddisap—
　　pointedafteragreateffort。Thefirstthingthatcamewasalwaysthesenseofthefutilityofsuchendeavor，andoftheabsurdityoftryingtoohard。Uptoacertainpoint，sayeightydegrees，artisticendeavorcouldbefatandcomfortable，methodicalandprudent。Butifyouwentfurtherthanthat，ifyoudrewyourselfuptowardninetydegrees，youpartedwithyourdefensesandleftyourselfexposedtomischance。Thelegendwasthatinthoseupperreachesyoumightbedivine；butyouweremuchlikeliertoberidiculous。Yourpublicwantedjustabouteightydegrees；ifyougaveitmoreitblewitsnoseandputacrimpinyou。Inthemorning，especially，itseemedtoherveryprobablethatwhateverstruggledabovethegoodaveragewasnotquitesound。Certainlyverylittleofthatsuperfluousardor，whichcostsodear，evergotacrossthefootlights。Thesemisgivingswaitedtopounceuponherwhenshewakened。Theyhoveredaboutherbedlikevultures。
　　Shereachedunderherpillowforherhandkerchief，with—
　　outopeninghereyes。Shehadashadowymemorythattherewastobesomethingunusual，thatthisdayheldmoredisquietingpossibilitiesthandayscommonlyheld。Therewassomethingshedreaded；whatwasit？Oh，yes，Dr。
　　Archiewastocomeatfour。
　　ArealitylikeDr。Archie，pokingupoutofthepast，re—
　　mindedoneofdisappointmentsandlosses，ofafreedomthatwasnomore：remindedherofblue，goldenmorningslongago，whensheusedtowakenwithaburstofjoyatrecoveringherpreciousselfandherpreciousworld；whensheneverlayonherpillowsateleveno’clocklikesome—
　　thingthewaveshadwashedup。Afterall，whyhadhecome？Ithadbeensolong，andsomuchhadhappened。
　　Thethingsshehadlost，hewouldmissreadilyenough。
　　Whatshehadgained，hewouldscarcelyperceive。He，andallthatherecalled，livedforherasmemories。Insleep，andinhoursofillnessorexhaustion，shewentbacktothemandheldthemtoherheart。Buttheywerebetterasmemories。Theyhadnothingtodowiththestrugglethatmadeupheractuallife。Shefeltdrearilythatshewasnotflexibleenoughtobethepersonheroldfriendexpectedhertobe，thepersonsheherselfwishedtobewithhim。
　　Theareachedforthebellandrangtwice，——asignaltohermaidtoorderherbreakfast。Sheroseandranupthewindowshadesandturnedonthewaterinherbathroom，glancingintothemirrorapprehensivelyasshepassedit。
　　Herbathusuallycheeredher，evenonlowmorningslikethis。Herwhitebathroom，almostaslargeashersleeping—
　　room，sheregardedasarefuge。Whensheturnedthekeybehindher，sheleftcareandvexationontheothersideofthedoor。Neitherhermaidnorthemanagementnorherlettersnorheraccompanistcouldgetathernow。
　　Whenshepinnedherbraidsaboutherhead，droppedhernightgownandsteppedouttobeginherSwedishmove—
　　ments，shewasanaturalcreatureagain，anditwassothatshelikedherselfbest。Sheslidintothetubwithanticipa—
　　tionandsplashedandtumbledaboutagooddeal。What—
　　everelseshehurried，sheneverhurriedherbath。Sheusedherbrushesandspongesandsoapsliketoys，fairlyplayinginthewater。Herownbodywasalwaysacheer—
　　ingsighttoher。Whenshewascareworn，whenhermind
　　feltoldandtired，thefreshnessofherphysicalself，herlong，firmlines，thesmoothnessofherskin，reassuredher。
　　Thismorning，becauseofawakenedmemories，shelookedatherselfmorecarefullythanusual，andwasnotdiscour—
　　aged。Whileshewasinthetubshebegantowhistlesoftlythetenoraria，"AH！FUYEZ，DOUCEIMAGE，"somehowappropriatetothebath。Afteranoisymomentunderthecoldshower，shesteppedoutontherugflushedandglow—
　　ing，threwherarmsaboveherhead，androseonhertoes，keepingtheelevationaslongasshecould。Whenshedroppedbackonherheelsandbegantorubherselfwiththetowels，shetookuptheariaagain，andfeltquiteinthehumorforseeingDr。Archie。Aftershehadreturnedtoherbed，themaidbroughtherlettersandthemorningpaperswithherbreakfast。
　　"TelephoneMr。Landryandaskhimifhecancomeathalf—pastthree，Theresa，andorderteatobebroughtupatfive。"
　　WhenHowardArchiewasadmittedtoThea’sapart—
　　mentthatafternoon，hewasshownintothemusic—roombackofthelittlereceptionroom。Theawassittinginadavenportbehindthepiano，talkingtoayoungmanwhomshelaterintroducedasherfriendMr。Landry。Assherose，andcametomeethim，Archiefeltadeeprelief，asuddenthankfulness。Shenolongerlookedclippedandplucked，ordazedandfleeing。
　　Dr。Archieneglectedtotakeaccountoftheyoungmantowhomhewaspresented。HekeptThea’shandsandheldherwherehemether，takinginthelight，livelysweepofherhair，hercleargreeneyesandherthroatthatcameupstronganddazzlinglywhitefromhergreenvelvetgown。
　　Thechinwasaslovelyasever，thecheeksassmooth。
　　Allthelinesoflastnighthaddisappeared。Onlyattheoutercornersofhereyes，betweentheeyeandthetemple，werethefaintestindicationsofafutureattack——mere
　　kittenscratchesthatplayfullyhintedwhereonedaythecatwouldclawher。Hestudiedherwithoutanyembar—
　　rassment。Lastnighteverythinghadbeenawkward；butnow，asheheldherhands，akindofharmonycamebetweenthem，areestablishmentofconfidence。
　　"Afterall，Thea，——inspiteofall，Istillknowyou，"hemurmured。
　　Shetookhisarmandledhimuptotheyoungmanwhowasstandingbesidethepiano。"Mr。Landryknowsallaboutyou，Dr。Archie。Hehasknownaboutyouformanyyears。"Whilethetwomenshookhandsshestoodbetweenthem，drawingthemtogetherbyherpresenceandherglances。"WhenIfirstwenttoGermany，Landrywasstudyingthere。HeusedtobegoodenoughtoworkwithmewhenIcouldnotaffordtohaveanaccompanistformorethantwohoursaday。Wegotintothewayofwork—
　　ingtogether。Heisasinger，too，andhashisowncareertolookafter，buthestillmanagestogivemesometime。I
　　wantyoutobefriends。"Shesmiledfromonetotheother。
　　Therooms，Archienoticed，fulloflastnight’sflowers，werefurnishedinlightcolors，thehotelbleaknessofthemalittlesoftenedbyamagnificentSteinwaypiano，whitebookshelvesfullofbooksandscores，somedrawingsofballetdancers，andtheverydeepsofabehindthepiano。
　　"Ofcourse，"Archieaskedapologetically，"youhaveseenthepapers？"
　　"Verycordial，aren’tthey？TheyevidentlydidnotexpectasmuchasIdid。ELSAisnotreallyinmyvoice。
　　Icansingthemusic，butIhavetogoafterit。"
　　"Thatisexactly，"thedoctorcameoutboldly，"whatFredOttenburgsaidthismorning。"
　　Theyhadremainedstanding，thethreeofthem，bythepiano，wherethegrayafternoonlightwasstrongest。Theaturnedtothedoctorwithinterest。"IsFredintown？
　　Theywerefromhim，then——someflowersthatcamelast
　　nightwithoutacard。"Sheindicatedthewhitelilacsonthewindowsill。"Yes，hewouldknow，certainly，"shesaidthoughtfully。"Whydon’twesitdown？Therewillbesometeaforyouinaminute，Landry。He’sverydepend—
　　entuponit，"disapprovinglytoArchie。"Nowtellme，Doctor，didyoureallyhaveagoodtimelastnight，orwereyouuncomfortable？DidyoufeelasifIweretryingtoholdmyhatonbymyeyebrows？"
　　Hesmiled。"Ihadallkindsofatime。ButIhadnofeel—
　　ingofthatsort。Icouldn’tbequitesurethatitwasyouatall。ThatwaswhyIcameupherelastnight。IfeltasifI’dlostyou。"
　　Sheleanedtowardhimandbrushedhissleevereassur—
　　ingly。"ThenIdidn’tgiveyouanimpressionofpainfulstruggle？LandrywassingingatWeberandFields’lastnight。Hedidn’tgetinuntiltheperformancewashalfover。ButIseetheTRIBUNEmanfeltthatIwasworkingprettyhard。Didyouseethatnotice，Oliver？"
　　Dr。Archielookedcloselyatthered—headedyoungmanforthefirsttime，andmethislivelybrowneyes，fullofadroll，confidingsortofhumor。Mr。Landrywasnotpre—
　　possessing。Hewasundersizedandclumsilymade，withared，shinyfaceandasharplittlenosethatlookedasifithadbeenwhittledoutofwoodandwasalwaysintheair，onthescentofsomething。Yetitwasthisqueerlittlebeak，withhiseyes，thatmadehiscountenanceanythingofafaceatall。Fromadistancehelookedlikethegrocery—
　　man’sdeliveryboyinasmalltown。Hisdressseemedanacknowledgmentofhisgrotesqueness：ashortcoat，likealittleboys’roundabout，andavestfantasticallyspriggedanddotted，overalavendershirt。
　　Atthesoundofamuffledbuzz，Mr。Landrysprangup。
　　"MayIanswerthetelephoneforyou？"Hewenttothewriting—tableandtookupthereceiver。"Mr。Ottenburgisdownstairs，"hesaid，turningtoTheaandholdingthemouthpieceagainsthiscoat。
　　"Tellhimtocomeup，"sherepliedwithouthesitation。
　　"Howlongareyougoingtobeintown，Dr。Archie？"
　　"Oh，severalweeks，ifyou’llletmestay。Iwon’thangaroundandbeaburdentoyou，butIwanttotrytogeteducateduptoyou，thoughIexpectit’slatetobegin。"
　　Thearoseandtouchedhimlightlyontheshoulder。
　　"Well，you’llneverbeanyyounger，willyou？"
　　"I’mnotsosureaboutthat，"thedoctorrepliedgal—
　　lantly。
　　ThemaidappearedatthedoorandannouncedMr。Fred—
　　erickOttenburg。Fredcamein，verymuchgotup，thedoctorreflected，ashewatchedhimbendingoverThea’shand。Hewasstillpaleandlookedsomewhatchastened，andthelockofhairthathungdownoverhisforeheadwasdistinctlymoist。Buthisblackafternooncoat，hisgraytieandgaiterswereofacorrectnessthatDr。Archiecouldneverattainforalltheeffortsofhisfaithfulslave，VanDeusen，theDenverhaberdasher。Tobeproperlyuptothosetricks，thedoctorsupposed，youhadtolearnthemyoung。IfheweretobuyasilkhatthatwasthetwinofOttenburg’s，itwouldbeshaggyinaweek，andhecouldnevercarryitasFredheldhis。
　　OttenburghadgreetedTheainGerman，andassherepliedinthesamelanguage，ArchiejoinedMr。Landryatthewindow。"YouknowMr。Ottenburg，hetellsme？"
　　Mr。Landry’seyestwinkled。"Yes，Iregularlyfollowhimabout，whenhe’sintown。Iwould，evenifhedidn’tsendmesuchwonderfulChristmaspresents：Russianvodkabythehalf—dozen！"
　　Theacalledtothem，"Come，Mr。Ottenburgiscallingonallofus。Here’sthetea。"
　　Themaidopenedthedoorandtwowaitersfromdown—
　　stairsappearedwithcoveredtrays。Thetea—tablewasintheparlor。TheadrewOttenburgwithherandwenttoinspectit。"Where’stherum？Oh，yes，inthatthing！
　　Everythingseemstobehere，butsendupsomecurrant
　　preservesandcreamcheeseforMr。Ottenburg。Andinaboutfifteenminutes，bringsomefreshtoast。That’sall，thankyou。"
　　Forthenextfewminutestherewasaclatterofteacupsandresponsesaboutsugar。"Landryalwaystakesrum。
　　I’mgladtherestofyoudon’t。I’msureit’sbad。"Theapouredtheteastandingandgotthroughwithitasquicklyaspossible，asifitwerearefreshmentsnatchedbetweentrains。Thetea—tableandthelittleroominwhichitstoodseemedtobeoutofscalewithherlongstep，herlongreach，andtheenergyofhermovements。Dr。Archie，standingnearher，waspleasantlyawareoftheanimationofherfigure。Undertheclingingvelvet，herbodyseemedin—
　　dependentandunsubdued。
　　Theydrifted，withtheirplatesandcups，backtothemusic—room。WhenTheafollowedthem，Ottenburgputdownhisteasuddenly。"Aren’tyoutakinganything？
　　Pleaseletme。"Hestartedbacktothetable。
　　"No，thankyou，nothing。I’mgoingtorunoverthatariaforyoupresently，toconvinceyouthatIcandoit。
　　Howdidtheduetgo，withSchlag？"
　　ShewasstandinginthedoorwayandFredcameuptoher："Thatyou’llneverdoanybetter。You’veworkedyourvoiceintoitperfectly。EveryNUANCE——wonder—
　　ful！"
　　"Thinkso？"Shegavehimasidelongglanceandspokewithacertaingruffshynesswhichdidnotdeceiveanybody，andwasnotmeanttodeceive。Thetonewasequivalentto"Keepitup。Ilikeit，butI’mawkwardwithit。"
　　Fredheldherbythedooranddidkeepitup，furiously，forfullfiveminutes。Shetookitwithsomeconfusion，seem—
　　ingallthewhiletobehesitating，tobearrestedinhercourseandtryingtopasshim。Butshedidnotreallytrytopass，andhercolordeepened。FredspokeinGerman，andArchiecaughtfromheranoccasionalJA？SO？mut—
　　teredratherthanspoken。
　　WhentheyrejoinedLandryandDr。Archie，Fredtookuphisteaagain。"Iseeyou’resingingVENUSSaturdaynight。WilltheyneverletyouhaveachanceatELIZABETH？"
　　Sheshruggedhershoulders。"Nothere。Therearesomanysingershere，andtheytryusoutinsuchastingyway。
　　Thinkofit，lastyearIcameoverinOctober，anditwasthefirstofDecemberbeforeIwentonatall！I’moftensorryIleftDresden。"
　　"Still，"Fredargued，"Dresdenislimited。"
　　"Justso，andI’vebeguntosighforthoseverylimita—
　　tions。InNewYorkeverythingisimpersonal。Youraudi—
　　enceneverknowsitsownmind，anditsmindisnevertwicethesame。I’drathersingwherethepeoplearepig—headedandthrowcarrotsatyouifyoudon’tdoitthewaytheylikeit。Thehousehereissplendid，andthenightaudi—
　　encesareexciting。Ihatethematinees；likesingingataKAFFEKLATSCH。"Sheroseandturnedonthelights。
　　"Ah！"Fredexclaimed，"whydoyoudothat？Thatisasignalthatteaisover。"Hegotupanddrewouthisgloves。
　　"Notatall。ShallyoubehereSaturdaynight？"Shesatdownonthepianobenchandleanedherelbowbackonthekeyboard。"NeckersingsELIZABETH。MakeDr。Archiego。Everythingshesingsisworthhearing。"
　　"Butshe’sfailingso。ThelasttimeIheardhershehadnovoiceatall。SheISapoorvocalist！"
　　Theacuthimoff。"She’sagreatartist，whethershe’sinvoiceornot，andshe’stheonlyonehere。Ifyouwantabigvoice，youcantakemyORTRUDEoflastnight；that’sbigenough，andvulgarenough。"
　　Fredlaughedandturnedaway，thistimewithdecision。
　　"Idon’twanther！"heprotestedenergetically。"Ionlywantedtogetariseoutofyou。IlikeNecker’sELIZABETH
　　wellenough。IlikeyourVENUSwellenough，too。"
　　"It’sabeautifulpart，andit’softendreadfullysung。
　　It’sveryhardtosing，ofcourse。"
　　Ottenburgbentoverthehandsheheldouttohim。"Foranuninvitedguest，I’vefaredverywell。Youwerenicetoletmecomeup。I’dhavebeenterriblycutupifyou’dsentmeaway。MayI？"Hekissedherhandlightlyandbackedtowardthedoor，stillsmiling，andpromisingtokeepaneyeonArchie。"Hecan’tbetrustedatall，Thea。
　　OneofthewaitersatMartin’sworkedaTourainianhareoffonhimatluncheonyesterday，forseventwenty—five。"
　　Theabrokeintoalaugh，thedeeponeherecognized。
　　"Didhehavearibbonon，thishare？Didtheybringhiminagiltcage？"
　　"No，"——Archiespokeupforhimself，——"theybroughthiminabrownsauce，whichwasverygood。Hedidn’ttasteverydifferentfromanyrabbit。"
　　"Probablycamefromapush—cartontheEastSide。"
　　Thealookedatheroldfriendcommiseratingly。"Yes，DO
　　keepaneyeonhim，Fred。Ihadnoidea，"shakingherhead。"Yes，I’llbeobligedtoyou。"
　　"Countonme！"Theireyesmetinagaysmile，andFredbowedhimselfout。
　　VII
　　ONSaturdaynightDr。ArchiewentwithFredOtten—
　　burgtohear"Tannhauser。"TheahadarehearsalonSundayafternoon，butasshewasnotonthebillagainuntilWednesday，shepromisedtodinewithArchieandOttenburgonMonday，iftheycouldmakethedinnerearly。
　　AtalittleaftereightonMondayevening，thethreefriendsreturnedtoThea’sapartmentandseatedthem—
　　selvesforanhourofquiettalk。
　　"I’msorrywecouldn’thavehadLandrywithusto—
　　night，"Theasaid，"buthe’sonatWeberandFields’everynightnow。Yououghttohearhim，Dr。Archie。HeoftensingstheoldScotchairsyouusedtolove。"
　　"Whynotgodownthisevening？"Fredsuggestedhope—
　　fully，glancingathiswatch。"Thatis，ifyou’dliketogo。
　　Icantelephoneandfindwhattimehecomeson。"
　　Theahesitated。"No，Ithinknot。ItookalongwalkthisafternoonandI’mrathertired。IthinkIcangettosleepearlyandbesomuchahead。Idon’tmeanatonce，however，"seeingDr。Archie’sdisappointedlook。"Ial—
　　waysliketohearLandry，"sheadded。"Heneverhadmuchvoice，andit’sworn，butthere’sasweetnessaboutit，andhesingswithsuchtaste。"
　　"Yes，doesn’the？MayI？"Fredtookouthiscigarettecase。"Itreallydoesn’tbotheryourthroat？"
　　"Alittledoesn’t。Butcigarsmokedoes。PoorDr。
　　Archie！Canyoudowithoneofthose？"
　　"I’mlearningtolikethem，"thedoctordeclared，takingonefromthecaseFredprofferedhim。
　　"Landry’stheonlyfellowIknowinthiscountrywhocandothatsortofthing，"Fredwenton。"Likethebest
　　Englishballadsingers。Hecansingevenpopularstuffbyhigherlights，asitwere。"