BAMBI by Marjorie Benton Cooke Illustrated by Mary Greene Blumenschein Originally Published in 1914 DEDICATION TO BAMBI With thanks to her for being Herself! M. B. C. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS She saw Jarvis before the curtain, making a first-night speech. Bambi fluttered the joy-bringing letter above her head and circled thebreakfast-room in a whirl of happiness. "Good evening, Mrs. New York, and all you people out there! We're here, Jarvis and I. " "Well, believe me, that high-brow stuff is on the toboggan. " "Tell your husband to put you in a play, and I'll put it on. " "Muchobliged, I'll tell him. Good morning. " Her tale had the place of honour and was illustrated by James MontgomeryFlagg, the supreme desire of every young writer. "Softlings! Poor softlings!" Jarvis muttered, Bambi's words coming backto him. "I have got to do something violent, Ardelia. I am going to jerk thestems off of berries, chop the pits out of cherries, and skin peaches. " He taught himself to abandon his old introspective habits during thesedays on the box. BAMBI I "Professor James Parkhurst, I consider you a colossal failure as aneducator, " said Francesca, his daughter, known to friend and family asBambina, or Bambi for short. Professor Parkhurst lifted a startled face from his newspaper andsurveyed his only child across the breakfast table. "My dear, what causes this sweeping assertion of my incompetence?" "I do! I do! Just what did you expect me to do when I grew up?" "Why, to be happy. " "That's the profession you intended me for? Who's to pay the piper? It'sexpensive to be happy and also unlucrative. " "I have always expected to support you until your husband claimed thatprivilege. " "Suppose I want a husband who can't support me?" "Dear me, that would be unfortunate. It is the first duty of a husbandto support his wife. " "Old-fashioned husbands, yes--but not modern ones. Lots of men marry tobe supported nowadays. How on earth could I support the man I love?" "You are not without talents, my dear. " "Talents? You almost said accomplishments! If you were not living in thePliocene age, Professor James Parkhurst, you would know thataccomplishments are a curse--accomplishment is the only thing thatcounts. I can sing a little, play the piano a little, auction bridge agood deal; I can cook, and sew fancy things. The only thing I can dowell is to dance, and no real man wants to be supported by hiswife's toes. " The Professor smiled mirthlessly. "Is this a general discussion, or areyou leading to a specific point, Bambi?" he inquired. "It's a specific charge of incompetence against you and me. Why didn'tyou teach me something? You know more about mathematics than the man whoinvented them, and I am not even sure that two and two make four. " "You're young yet, my dear; you can learn. What is it you want tostudy?" "Success, and how to get it. " "Success, in the general sense of the word, has never seemed veryimportant to me. To do your work well----" "Yes, I know. It is the fact that you have not thought success importantthat hampers me so in the choice of a husband. " "Bambina, that is the second time a husband has been mentioned in thisdiscussion. Have you some individual under consideration?" "I have. I have practically decided on him. " "You don't tell me! Do I know the young man?" "Oh, yes--Jarvis Jocelyn. " "He has proposed to you?" "Oh, no. He doesn't know anything about it. I have just decided on him. " "But, my dear, he is penniless. " "That's why I reproach you that you haven't brought me up to supportJarvis in a luxury he will have to get used to. " "But why have you settled on this youth? I seem to recall a great manyyoung men who are always about. I presume they admire you. Certainlythis dreamer is the most ineligible of them all. " "Oh, that--yes. That's why I must take him. He'll starve to death unlesssome one takes him on, and looks after him. " "Isn't there some asylum, perhaps?" Bambi's laugh rang out like a chime. "A home for geniuses. There's an idea! No, Professor Parkhurst, Societydoes not yet provide for that particular brand of incompetents. " "It seems as if you were going rather far in your quixotism to marryhim. " Again the girl laughed. "I total him up like this: fine family, good blood, decent habits, handsome, healthy, poetic. He might even be affectionate. His one faultis that he is not adjusted to modern commercial standards. He cannotmake money, or he will not--it comes to the same thing. " "I am unable to see why you are elected to take care of him. He must fithis time, or perish. You don't happen to be in love with him, do you?" "No, I--I think not. He interests me more than anybody. I suppose I amfond of him rather. " "Have you any reason for thinking him in love with you?" "Mercy, no! He hardly knows I'm alive. He uses me for a conversationalblotting-pad. That's my only use in his eyes. " "He's so very impractical. " "I am used to impractical men. I have taken care of you since I was fiveyears old. " "Yes, my dear. But I am not trying to feed the world bread when itdemands cheese. " "No, you are distinctly practical. You are only trying to prove a fourthdimension, when three have sufficed the world up to date. " "Yes, but----" "No buts. If it had not been for me you would have gone naked and beenarrested, or have forgotten to eat and starved to death. " "Now, my dear Bambi, I protest----" "It will do you no good. Don't I remember how you started off to meetyour nine o'clock class clad in your pyjamas?" "Oh, my child!" "Don't talk to me about impracticality. It's my birthright. " "Well, I can prove to you----" "I never believe anything you have to prove. If I can't see it, firstthing, without any process, it isn't true. " "But if you represent yourself as Y, and Jarvis as X, an unknownquantity----" "Professor Parkhurst, stop there! There's nothing so unreliable asfigures, and everybody but a mathematician knows that. Figures lie rightto your face. " "Bambina, if you could coin your conversation----" Professor Parkhurstbegan. "I am sorry to find you unreasonable about Jarvis, Professor. " He gazed at her, in his absent-minded, startled way. He had neverunderstood her since she was first put into his hands, aged six months, a fluffy bundle of motherless babyhood. She never ceased to startle him. She was an enigma beyond any puzzle in mathematics he had ever broughthis mind to bear upon. "How old are you, Bambina?" "Shame on you, and you a mathematician. If James is forty-five, andBambina is two thirds of half his age, how old is Bambi? I'm nineteen. " His startled gaze deepened. "Oh, you cannot be!" he objected. "There you are. I told you figures lie. It says so in the family Bible, but maybe I'm only two. " "Nineteen years old! Dearie me!" "You see I'm quite old enough to know my own mind. Have you a nineo'clock class this morning?" "I have. " "Well, hasten, Professor, or you'll get a tardy mark. It's ten minutesof nine now. " He jumped up from his chair and started for the door. "Don't you want this notebook?" she called, taking up the pad beside hisplate. "Yes, oh, yes, those are my notes. Where have I laid my glasses? Quick, my dear! I must not be late. " "On your head, " said she. She followed him to the hall, reminded him of his hat, his umbrella, restored the notebook, and finally saw him off, his thin back, with itsscholarly stoop, disappearing down the street. Bambina went back to the breakfast table, and took up the paper. Sheread all the want "ads" headed "female. " "Nothing promising here, " she said. "I wonder if I could bring myself toteach little kids one, two, and one, two, three, in a select dancingclass? I'd loathe it. " A ponderous black woman appeared in the door and filled it. "Is you froo?" "Yes, go ahead, Ardelia. " "Hab the Perfessor gone already?" "Yes, he's gone. " "Well, he suttinly did tell me to remin' him of suthin' this mohnin', and I cain't des perzactly bemember what it was. " "Was it important?" "Yassum. Seemed lak I bemember he tell me it was impo'tant. " "Serves him right for not telling me. " "It suttinly am queer the way he can't bemember. Seem lak his haid sofull of figgers, or what you call them, ain' no room for nuthin' else. " "You and father get zero in memory--that's sure. " "I ain't got no trubble dat way, Miss Bambi. I bemember everything, 'cepting wot you tell me to bemember. " The dining-room door flew open at this point, and a handsome youth, withhis hair upstanding, and his clothes in a wrinkle, appeared on thethreshold. Bambi rose and started for him. "Jarvis!" she exclaimed. "What has happened? Where have you been?" "Sleeping in the garden. " "Dat's it--dat's it! Dat was wat I was to remin' the Perfessor of, dat aman was sleepin' in the garden. " "Sleeping in our garden? But why?" "Because of the filthy commercialism of this age! Here I am, at theclimax of my big play, a revolutionary play, I tell you, teeming withnew and vital ideas, for a people on the down-slide, and a landlady, apuny, insignificant ant of a female, interrupts me to demand money, andwhen I assure her, most politely, that I have none, she puts me out, actually puts me out!" Bambi choked back a laugh. "Why didn't you come here?" "I did. Your father refused to see me; he was working at his crazyfigures. I burst in, and demanded you, but he couldn't remember whereyou had gone. " "What a pity! Well----" "I told him I would wait in the garden. If necessary, I would sleepthere. " "Yas'm, yas'm, dat's when he called me in, to tell me to bemin' him. " "That will do, Ardelia. " "Yassum, " said the handmaiden, and withdrew. "Now, go on. " "I was full of my big act, so I walked and walked for hours. Then I laydown in the summer-house, and I must have gone to sleep. " "Go up and take a bath, and come down to some breakfast. I will sendArdelia to get some of father's things for you if you need them. " "All right, but don't delay with breakfast. If I don't get this actdown, I may lose it. That fiend, in female guise, held my paper. " "Go on! Get ready!" He plunged out, and Bambi went to send Ardelia to him, while she cookedhis eggs and fried his bacon. As she worked, she smiled, out of sheeramusement. In due course of time, he appeared, freshened up, and with renewedeagerness to be at work. He scarcely noticed Bambina as she served hisbreakfast. He ate as if he were starved. "I suppose the landlady held your clothes?" "I don't know. I didn't ask. It was unimportant. " "How much do you owe her?" He looked at her in surprise. "I have no idea. " "Have you any money at all?" "Certainly not. I'd have given it to her if I had, so she wouldn'tinterrupt me. " "What are you going to do?" "Oh, I don't know. I can't think about it now. I am full of this bigidea. It's a dramatization of the Brotherhood of Man, of a sublime, socialistic world----" "Has it occurred to you, ever, Jarvis, that the world isn't ready forthe Brotherhood of Man yet? It's just out of the tent stage, where Waris the whole duty of Man. " "But it must be ready, " he urged, seriously, "for I am here with mymessage. " She smiled at him as one would at a conceited child. "Poor old Jarvis, strayed out of Elysian fields! Were you thinking ofsleeping in the summer-house permanently?" "Oh, it doesn't matter; only the play matters. Give me some paper, Bambi, and let me get to work. " She rose and went to stand before him. "Would you mind looking at me?" He turned his eyes on her. "Not just your eyes, Jarvis. Look at me with your mind. " "What's the matter with you?" he asked, slightly irritated. "Do you like my looks?" "I've never noticed them. " "That's what I'm asking you to do. Look me over. " He stared at her. "Yes, you're pretty--you're very pretty. Some people might call youbeautiful. " "Don't overdo it, Jarvis! Have you ever noticed my disposition?" "No--yes. Well, I know you're patient, and you must be good-natured. " "I am. I am also healthy and cheerful. " "I don't doubt it. Where is the paper?" She put her hands on his shoulders and shook him gently. "Jarvis, I want you to give me your full attention for five minutes. " "What ails you to-day, Bambi?" "The only thing I lack is a useful education, so that I am not sure Ican make a very big living just at first, unless I dance on the stage. " "What are you driving at?" "Would you have any special objection to marrying me, Jarvis?" "Marrying you? Are you crazy?" "Obviously. Have you?" "Certainly I won't marry you. I am too busy. You disappoint me, Bambi;you do, indeed. I always thought you were such a sensible girl----" "Father can help out a little, at first, but I may as well tell you, hedoesn't approve of you as a son-in-law. " "I don't approve of him, impractical dreamer! Where is that paper?" "You've got to be taken care of until you get an awful tumble. Then youwill wake up and do big things, but in the meantime you must eat. " "You talk nonsense, and you're interrupting me. If I don't get at thatscene----" "Will you marry me? I can't take care of you if you don't, because theneighbours will talk. " "I won't marry you. I don't love you. " "No more do I love you. That's got nothing to do with it. Here's one offather's empty notebooks. Say yes, and you can have it. " His eyes fairly glistened as they fell on the book. "For heaven's sake, don't torture me. Give me the book and have it yourown way, whatever it is you want. " She laughed, gave him the book, and he was at the table instantly, sweeping back the dishes with a ruthless hand. "No, no, into the study you go, while I make a descent on your landlady, rescue your clothes, and get the license and the minister, myliege lord. " She settled him at his desk, where he was immediately lost to hissurroundings. Bambi slipped out noiselessly, dressed for the street, humming a littlesong, and presently departed. Meanwhile, his first recitations being over, the Professor returned fortwo hours' research in his study, to find Jarvis ensconced there, oblivious to the outside world. "Go away, go away!" he shouted toProfessor Parkhurst. "I'll trouble you to get out of my study, " said the Professor. "You'll get your filthy money in due time, my good woman, so go away!"cried Jarvis. "Whom are you addressing? Good woman, indeed!" At this moment Bambi returned, and sensed the situation. "Oh, I didn't expect you back, Father Professor. This is Jarvis. You seehe's come. He has no objection at all to my marrying him, so I got aminister. " "A minister? You got him?" "Yes, you see Jarvis is busy. There is no need of our waiting, so we aregoing to be married in half an hour or so. " "To-day? Here?" "Yes, right here, as soon as Jarvis finishes this scene. " "Is he going to occupy my library permanently?" wailed the Professor. "No, no. I'll fix him a place on the top floor. " "He's not at all my choice, " said Professor Parkhurst firmly, gazing atthe unconscious Jocelyn. "You can see by the way he tosses paper aboutthat he is neither methodical nor orderly. " "Those are husband traits that I can do without, thank you. " Ardelia appeared. "'Scuse me, but yo' all expectin' the preacher up here? He say MissBambi tol' him to cum here at eleben o'clock. " "Yes, show him right in here. " "Yassum. " Ardelia reappeared with the Reverend Dr. Short at her heels. Bambigreeted him, and Professor Parkhurst shook hands absently. Bambi went tolean over Jarvis. He suddenly threw down his pen, stretched himself, and groaned. "Now, if I can just get the last act outlined----" "Jarvis, just a minute, please. " He suddenly looked at her, and at the other two. "This is Reverend Dr. Short, Mr. Jarvis Jocelyn. " "I have nothing to say to orthodoxy, " Jarvis began, but Bambiinterrupted him. "Doctor Short has come to marry us. Stand up here for a few moments, andthen you can go on with your third act. " She laid her hand on his arm, and drew him to his feet. "The shortest possible service, please, Doctor Short. Jarvis is so busyto-day. " Doctor Short looked from the strange pair to Professor Parkhurst, wholooked back at him. "You are sure this is all right?" he questioned. "Do tell him to be quick, Bambi. If it's about that landlady I cannot----" "'Sh! Go ahead, Doctor Short. " Doctor Short read the service, and between the three of them theyinduced Jarvis to make the proper responses. He seemed utterly unawareof what was going on about him, and at the end of a brief service, whenBambi's hand was taken from his arm, he sat down to work at once. Bambiled the other two men from the room. "He acted as if he were drunk, or drugged, but he isn't. He's just fullof an idea, " she smilingly explained. "Have you known this young man long?" Doctor Short asked the Professor. "Have we, my dear?" "We have known him fifteen years, " she answered. "Well, of course that makes a difference, " murmured the reverendgentleman. "I wish you every happiness, Mrs. Jocelyn, " he added, andtook his departure. "How soon can you get him out of my study?" asked the Professor, lookingat his watch. "I have only one hour left before lunch. " "Felicitate me, Professor, felicitate me on my marriage. " "I hope you will be happy, my dear, but I doubt it. His lack ofconsideration in taking my study----" Bambina looked at him, and began to laugh. Peal followed peal oflaughter until tears stood in her eyes. "I'll go rescue the study, Herr Professor. Oh, this is too rich! BernardShaw ought to know about me, " she laughed, as she tripped upstairs. So it was that Bambina acquired a husband. II Two days later Jarvis, shaved, properly dressed, and apparently sane, appeared on the piazza, where Bambi and the Professor were at lunch. Hehesitated on the threshold until they both turned toward him. "Good morning, " he ventured. "Good morning, Jarvis, " said Bambi gayly. "Morning, " tersely, from the head of the house. "Might I ask how long I have been sojourning on the top floor of thishouse, and how I got there?" "Do you mean to say you don't know?" "Haven't an idea. I have a faint recollection of a big disturbance, andthen peace, heavenly peace, with black coffee every once in a while, andbig ideas flowing like Niagara. " Bambina's eyes shone at him, but her father looked troubled. "You know what the big disturbance was, don't you?" he asked. "It seems to me I wanted paper--that somebody was taking my thingsaway----" "You'd better tell him, Francesca; he doesn't remember, so I don't thinkit can be legal. " Jarvis looked from one to the other. "What's all this? I don't seem to get you. " Bambi's laugh bubbled over. "You get me, all right. " "For goodness' sake, talk sense. " "You came here, three days ago, in a trance, and announced that you hadbeen bounced from the boarding-house, and that you needed paper to blotup the big ideas--the Niagara ideas----" "Did I?" "So I took you in, redeemed your clothes for you----" "It was you who planted me upstairs in that heavenly quiet place, andbrought black coffee?" She nodded. "God bless you for it. " "I did something else, too. " "Did you? What?" "I married you. " He looked at her, dazed, and then at the Professor. "What's the joke?" he asked. "There is no joke, " said the Professor sternly. "She did it. I tried tostop her, but she never listens to me. " "Do you mean, Bambi----" he began. "I mean you told me to go ahead, so I got a license and a minister, andmarried you. " "But where was I when you did it?" "You were there, I thought, but it didn't seem to take. Can't youremember anything at all about it, Jarvis?" "Not a thing. Word of honour! How long have we been married?" "Three days. You couldn't come out of the play, so I dragged youupstairs, fed you at stated periods, and let you alone. " He looked at her as if for the first time. "Why, Bambi, " he said, "you are a wonderful person. " "I have known it all along, " she replied, sweetly. "But why, in God's name, did you do it?" "That's what I say, " interpolated the Professor. "Oh, it just came to me when I saw you needed looking after----" "Don't you believe it. She intended to do it all along, " said herfather, grimly. "I tried to dissuade her. I told her you were a dreamer, penniless, and always would be, but she wouldn't listen to mypractical talk. " "I seem to get a pretty definite idea of your opinion of me, sir. Whydidn't you wake me up, so I could prevent this catastrophe?" "I supposed you were awake. I didn't know you worked in a catalepticfit. " "Catastrophe!" echoed Bambina. "Certainly. Why don't you look at it in a practical way, as your fathersays? I never had any money. I probably never will. I hate the stuff. It's the curse of the age. " "I know all that. " "You will be wanting food and clothes no doubt, and you will expect meto provide them. " "Oh, never! You don't think I would take such an advantage of you, Jarvis, as to marry you when you were in a work fit and then expect youto support me?" The Professor shook his head in despair, and arose. "It's beyond me, all this modern madness. I wash my hands of the wholeaffair. " "That's right, Professor Parkhurst. I married him, you know; youdidn't. " "Well, keep him out of my study, " he warned. Then he gathered up his scattered belongings, and turned his absent gazeon Bambi. "What is it I want? Oh, yes. Call Ardelia. " Bambi rang, and Ardelia answered the summons. "Ardelia, did I ask you to remind me of anything this morning?" She scratched her head in deep thought. "No, sah, not's as I recolleck. It was yistiddy you tol' me to remin'you, and I done forgot what it was. " "Ardelia, you are not entirely reliable, " he remarked, as he passed her. "No, sah. I ain't jes' what you call----" she muttered, following him out. Bambi brought up the rear, chuckling over this daily controversy, whichnever failed to amuse her. When the front door slammed, she came back to where Jarvis sat, hisuntouched luncheon before him. He watched her closely as she flashedinto the room, like some swift, vivid bird perching opposite him. "I spoiled your luncheon, " she laughed. "Bambi, why did you do this thing?" "Good heavens, I don't know. I did it because I'm I, I suppose. " "You wanted to marry me?" he persisted. "I thought I ought to. Somebody had to look after you, and I am used tolooking after father. I like helpless men. " "So you were sorry for me? It was pity----" "Rubbish. I believe in you. If you have a chance to work out yoursalvation you will be a big man. If you are hectored to death, you willkill yourself, or compromise, and that will be the end of you. " "You see that--you understand----" He pushed back his chair and came to her. "You think that little you can stand between me and these things that Imust compromise with?" She nodded at him, brightly. He leaned over, took her two small hands, and leaned his face against them. "Thank you, " he said, simply; "but I won't have it. " "Why not?" "Because I am not worth it. You saw me in a work fit. I'm a devil. I'mlike one possessed. I swear and rave if I am interrupted. I can't eatnor sleep till I get the madness out of me. I am not human. I am notnormal. I am not fit to live with. " "Very well, we will build a cage at the top of the house, and when youfeel a fit coming on you can go up there. I'll slip you food through awire door so you can't bite me, and I'll exhibit you for a fee as thewildest genius in captivity. " "Bambi, be serious. This is no joke. This is awful!" "You consider it awful to be married to me?" "I am not thinking of myself. I am thinking of you. You have gotyourself into a pretty mess, and I've got to get you out of it. " "How?" "I'll divorce you. " "You've got no grounds. I've been a kind, dutiful wife to you. I haven'tbeen near you since I married you, except to give you food. " "How do you expect we are to live? Nobody wants my plays. " "How do you know? You never try to sell them. You told me so yourself. You feel so superior to managers and audiences that you neveroffer them. " "I know. I occasionally go to the theatre, by mistake, and I see whatthey want. " "That's no criterion. We won't condemn even a Broadway manager until heproves himself such a dummy as not to want your plays. " "Broadway? Think of a play of mine on Broadway! Think of the fat swinewho waddle into those theatres!" "My dear, there are men of brains writing for the theatre to-day who donot scorn those swine. " "Men of brains? Who, who, I ask you?" "Bernard Shaw. " "Showman, trickster. " "Barrie. " "Well, maybe. " "Pinero?" "Pinero knows his trade, " he admitted. "Galsworthy, Brieux. " "Galsworthy is a pamphleteer. Brieux is no artist. He is a surgeon. Theyhave nothing to say to Broadway. Broadway swallows the pills they offerbecause of their names, but they might just as well give them the sugardrip they want, for all the good it does. " "Well, they get heard, anyhow. What's the use of writing a play if itisn't acted? Of course we'll sell your plays. " "But if we don't, where will you be?" "Oh, I'll be all right. I mean to support myself, anyhow, and you, too, if the plays don't go. " He laughed. "You are an amusing mite. Queer I never noticed you before. " "You'll like me, if you continue to be aware of me. I'm nice, " shelaughed up at him, and he smiled back. "How do you intend to make this fortune, may I ask?" "I haven't decided yet. Of course I can dance. If worst came to worst, Ican make a big salary dancing. " "Dancing?" he exploded. "Yes, didn't you ever hear of it? With the feet, you know, and the body, and the eyes, and the arms. So!" She twirled about him in a circle, like a gay little figurine. Hewatched her, fascinated. "You can dance, can't you?" "I can. At times I am quite inspired. Now, if you and the Professor willbe sensible, and let me go to New York and take a job, I could supportus all in luxury. You could write and he could figure. " "I don't see that it is any business of ours what you do, but Icertainly won't let you support me. " "Do you really mean it isn't your business?" "Why should it be?" "Well, if I am your wife, and his daughter, some people would think thatit was distantly related to your business. " "Why New York? Why not here?" "In this town they think I am crazy now. But if I burst out as aprofessional dancer----Wow!" "That's so. It's a mean little town, but it's quiet. That's why I stay. It's quiet. " "You wouldn't mind my being away, if I went to New York, would you?" "Oh, no. I'd be busy. " "That's good. I really think you are almost ideal. " "Ideal?" "As a husband. They are usually so exacting and interfering. " "I've not decided yet to be your husband. " "But you are it. " "Suppose you should fall in love with somebody else?" "I'm much more apt to fall in love with you. " "Heaven forbid!" he exclaimed, and came to her side quickly. "Bambi, promise me that no matter what happens you will not do that. You willnot fall in love with me. " She looked at him a minute, and then laughed contagiously. "I am serious about this. My work is everything to me. Nothing mattersbut just that, and it might be a dreadful interruption if you fell inlove with me. " "I don't see why, unless you fell in love with me. " "No danger of that, " said he, and at her laugh turned to her again. "Ifever you see any signs of my being such a fool as that, you warn me, will you?" "And what will you do then?" "I'll run away. I will go to the ends of the earth. That particularmadness is death to creative genius. " "All right. I'll warn you. " "I've got to begin to polish my first draft to-day, so I'll go upstairsand get at it. " "Will you be gone two days this trip?" He turned to smile at her. "Some people would think you were eccentric, " he said. "They might, " she responded. "I am almost sane when I polish, " he laughed. "It's only when I createthat I am crazy. " "It's all right then, is it? We go on?" "Go on?" "Being married?" "Well, I have no objection, if you insist, but you'd better think overwhat I told you. I think you have made a mistake; and you shall neversupport me. " "I never think over my mistakes, " said Bambi. "I just live up to them. " "I agree with your father that you risk a good deal. " "Risks are exciting. " "If you don't like it, you can divorce me the next time I am in a workfit. I'll never know it, so it will be painless. " "Jarvis, that's unfair. " He came back quickly. "That was intended for humour, " he explained. "I so diagnosed it, " she flashed back at him. He looked down at her diminutive figure with its well-shaped, patricianhead, its sensitive mouth, its wide-set, shining eyes. "Star-shine, " he smiled. She poked him with a sharp "What?" "You don't think I ought to--to--kiss you, possibly, do you?" "Mercy, no!" "Good! I was afraid you might expect something of me. " "Oh, no. Think what you have done for the girl, " she quoted, and heheard her laugh down the hall and out into the garden. He took a step asif to follow her. Then, with a shake of his shoulders, he climbed thestairs to his new workshop with a smile on his lips. III The Professor was working in his garden. It was one of his fewrelaxations, and he took it as seriously as a problem. He had greatsuccess with flowers, owing to what he called his system. He wasmethodical as a machine in everything he did, so the plants were fedwith the regularity of hospital patients, and flourished accordingly. To-day he was in pursuit of slugs. He followed up one row, and down thenext, slaying with the ruthlessness of fate. The general effect of his garden was rather striking. He laid out eachbed in the shape of an arithmetical figure. The pansy beds were infigure eights, the nasturtiums were pruned and ordered into stubbyfigure ones, while the asters and fall flowers ranged from foursto twenties. The Professor carried his arithmetical sense to extremes. He insistedthat figures had personality, just as people have, and it was afavourite method of his to nickname his friends and pupils according toa numeral. He was watching the death-throes of a slug, with scientificindifference, as his son-in-law approached him, carrying awide-brimmed hat. "Professor Parkhurst, your daughter desires you to put on your hat. Youforgot it. " "Oh, yes. Thank you!" "I should like the opportunity of a few words with you, sir, if you canspare the time. " "Well, I cannot. My time is very precious. If you desire to walk alongwith me while I destroy these slugs, I will listen to what you say. " He pursued his course, and Jarvis, perforce, followed. "I have been in your house for a week, now, Professor Parkhurst, and Ihave merely encountered you at meals. " "Often enough, " said the Professor, making a sudden turn that almostupset Jarvis. "I go fifty steps up, and fifty steps back, " he explained, and Jarvis stared at him open-mouthed. "You count your steps?" he repeated. "Certainly, no matter what I do, I count. When I eat, when I sleep, walk, talk, think, I always count. " "How awful! A human metronome. I must make a note of that. " And Jarvistook out a notebook to make an entry. "You have the notebook habit?" snorted the Professor. "Yes, I can't afford to waste ideas, suggestions, thoughts. " "Bah! A most offensive habit. " "I gather, from your general attitude, " Jarvis began again, "that youdislike me. " "I neither like nor dislike you. I don't know you. " "You never will know me, at this rate. " "I am not sure that I care to. " "Why not? What have you against me?" "You are not practical. " "Do you consider yourself practical?" "I do. I am the acme of practical. I am mathematical. " He slew another bug. "How can you do that?" cried Jarvis, his concern in his face. "That slughas a right to life. Why don't you get the point of view of the slug?" "He kills my roses, " justified the Professor. "He's a murderer. Societyhas a right to extinguish him. " "The old fallacy, a tooth for a tooth?" "You'd sacrifice my roses to save this insect?" "I'd teach the rose to take care of itself. " "You're crazy, " he snapped, and walked on, Jarvis at his heels. "I didn't come to quarrel with you about our views of gardening, or oflife. I realize that we have no common ground. You are of the Past, andI am of the Future. " "There is nobody more modern than I am!" cried the Professor. "Rubbish! No modern wastes his life in rows of inanimate numerals. Weget out and work at humanity and its problems. " "What are the problems of humanity?" "Food, employment, education, health. " "All of them mathematical. Economics is mathematical. " "Well, I wish instead of teaching a few thousand students higher algebrathat you had taught your own daughter a little common sense. " "Common sense is not taught. It is a gift of the gods, like genius, "said the Professor. Jarvis glanced at him quickly, and took out the notebook. "Put that thing away!" shouted the Professor. "I will not be annotated. " Jarvis meekly returned it to his pocket, but as the Professorright-about faced, he exploded: "For heaven's sake, sit down and listen to me! This mathematicalprogression makes me crazy. " "I have just so many rows to do, " the Professor replied, as he marchedalong. "Do I understand you to criticise my daughter's education?" "I don't know anything about her education. I didn't know she had one, "said Jarvis, "but this whim of hers, in marrying me, is very trying tome. It is most upsetting. " "Have it annulled. It can't possibly be legal. " "She won't hear of it. She desires to be married to me. " The Professor rose and faced him. "Then you may as well resign yourself. I have lived with her nineteenyears and I know. " "But it is absurd that a child like that should always have her own way. You have spoiled her. " Even the Professor's bent back showed pity. "You have a great deal to learn, young man. " "Can't you persuade her to divorce me?" "I cannot. I tried to persuade her to do that before she married you. " "I suppose you think I ought to make a living for her?" "At the risk of being called a back number, I do. " "Just when I am beginning to count. " "Count? Count what?" "Count as a creative artist. " "Just what is it you do, Jocelyn?" "I try to express the Philosophy of Modernism through the medium of theDrama. " "Who buys it?" "Nobody. " "How are you beginning to count, then?" "Oh, not in the market-place. In my own soul. " "Forty-nine, fifty, " said the Professor. "Turn here. In your own soul, you say?" He glanced at the youth beside him. "Bambi has sold herbirthright for a mess of pottage, " he muttered. "That's just the question. Whose duty is it to provide the pottage?" "Maybe you think it's mine?" "Why shouldn't Science support Art?" "Humph! Why not let Bambi support you? She says she wants to. " "I am willing she should support herself, but not me. " "So the only question is, will I support you?" "Exactly. With Bambi off your hands, you will have no otherresponsibility, and you could not do a bigger thing for the world thanto help me to instruct and inspire it. " "Aristophanes!" exclaimed the Professor. "You are unique! You are numbertwenty-three. " "Why twenty-three?" "Because that is neither much nor little. " "Your daughter thinks my plays will sell, but I tell you frankly I doubtit. " "How can you instruct and inspire if nobody listens?" "They must listen in the end, else why am I here?" The Professor relinquished his chase, to stare again. "You are at leastsincere in your belief in yourself--twenty-three. I'd like to hear someof these great ideas of yours. " "Very well. I am going to read a play to your daughter this evening. Ifyou care to come, you may listen. Then you will see that it would payyou to stake me for a couple of years. " "I'll come and listen. " "If you decide to undertake me, I insist that you shall not continuethis scornful avoidance of me. If we three are to live together, we mustlive in harmony, which is necessary to my work. " "Whose favour is this, yours or mine?" "Favour? Good heavens! you don't think it is a favour to give me foodand a roof for two years, do you? I thought it was an opportunityfor you. " The Professor, not easily moved to mirth, did an imitation of laughter, holding both his sides. Jarvis turned his charming, boyish smile uponhim, and walked up the path to the house. Strange what things amusedBambi and her parent! That night, after dinner, Bambi arranged the electric reading light inthe screened porch, drew a big chair beside it, placed the Professor'sfavourite chaise-lounge near by, and got him into it. Then she went insearch of her performer. She looked all over the house for him, tofinally discover him on the top floor in hiding. "Come on! I've got everything all ready, even the Professor. " "I am terrified, " Jarvis admitted. "Suppose you should not understandwhat I have written? Suppose you thought it was all rubbish?" "If I think so, I will say so. Isn't that the idea? You are trying it onthe dog to see if it goes?" "If you think it is rubbish, don't say anything. " "How silly! If you are spending your time on trash, you ought to knowit, and get over it, and begin to write sense. " "I feel like one of the Professor's slugs, " he muttered. "Better try us on the simplest one. " "Well, I will read you 'Success. '" She ran downstairs, and he followed, to the piazza. There was no sign of the Professor. "Ardelia, " called Bambi, "where is the Professor?" "I don't know, ma'am. I seen him headed for the garden. " "Professor Parkhurst, come in here!" Bambi called. "We are to hearJarvis's play. " "Oh, that is it. I couldn't remember why I was placed in that chair, andArdelia couldn't remember. So it occurred to me that I had forgotten mytrowel, " he said. He put the trowel, absent-mindedly, in the tea basket, and took the seat arranged for Jarvis. "Here, you sit in your regular seat, " Bambi objected, hauling him up. "That isn't wise, my dear. I am sure to go to sleep. " "We'll see that you don't, " she laughed. "I've never heard a play read aloud that I can remember, " said theProfessor. "You will probably be very irritating, then. Don't interrupt me. If youfumble things, or make a noise, I'll stop. " "That knowledge helps some, " retorted the Professor, with a twinkle. "IfI can't stand it, I'll whistle. " "Be quiet, " said his daughter. "Go ahead, Jarvis. " "What is this play supposed to be about?" Professor Parkhurst inquired. "The title is 'Success. ' It is about a woman who sold herself forsuccess, and paid with her soul. " "Is it a comedy?" "Good Lord, no! I don't try to make people laugh. I make them think. " "Go ahead. " "Don't interrupt again, father. " Jarvis began to read, nervously at first, then with greater confidence. He read intelligently, but without dramatic value, and Bambi longed toseize the manuscript and do it herself. Once, during the first act, theProfessor cleared his throat. "Don't do that!" said Jarvis, without pausing for the Professor's hastyapology. The play told the story of a woman whose God was Success. She sacrificedeverything to him. First her mother and father were offered up, that shemight have a career. Then her lover. She married a man she did not love, that she might mount one step higher, and finally she sacrificed herchild to her devouring ambition. When she reached the goal she hadvisioned from the first, she was no longer a human being, with powers ofenjoyment or suffering. She was, instead, a monster, incapable ofappreciating what she had won, and in despair she killed herself. There were big scenes, some bold, telling strokes, in Jarvis's handlingof his theme. Again, it was utterly lacking in drama. The author stoppedthe action and took to the pulpit. At the end of the first act he stopped and looked at the faces of hisaudience. The Professor was awake and deeply puzzled. This strange youngman was holding up to his view a perfectly strange anomaly which hecalled a woman. The Professor had never dreamed of such a hybrid. Hecouldn't grasp it. He gasped at Jarvis's audacity. Bambi sat curled up in the end of a wicker couch, her feet drawn underher, like a Chinese idol, every nerve attuned to attention. He noticedhow, without words, she seemed to emanate responsiveness andunderstanding. "Well?" he said. "Let's wait until you have finished to discuss it, " she said. "Is it any good?" "In spots it's great. In other spots it is incredibly rotten. " "My child, " protested the Professor. "Go on!" she ordered. The second act began well, mounted halfway to its climax, and fell flat. Some of the lines, embodying the new individualistic philosophy ofwoman, roused the Professor to protest. "Rubbish, sir!" he cried. "Impossible rubbish! No woman ever thoughtsuch things. " "Take your nose out of your calculus, and look about you, Professor, "retorted Jarvis. "You haven't looked around since the stone age. " Bambi gurgled with laughter, then looked serious. "He's fallen on an idea just the same, Jarvis. Your woman isn'tconvincing. " "But she's true, " he protested. "We don't care a fig whether she's true, unless she's true to us, " sheanswered him. "Go on with your last act. " "You don't like it--what's the use?" "Don't be silly. I am deeply interested. Go on!" He began a little hopelessly, feeling the atmosphere, by that subtlesense that makes the creative artist like a sensitive plant where hiswork is at stake. The third act failed to ascend, or to resolve thesituation. He merely carried it as far as it interested him, and thendropped it. As he closed the manuscript Bambi reached out her handfor it. "Give it to me, in my hand!" she ordered. He obeyed, questioningly. "I feel as if it was such a big thing, mangled and bleeding. I want tohold it and help it. " "Mangled?" "Yes. Don't you feel it? She isn't a woman! She's a monster. You don'tbelieve her. You won't believe her, because you hate her. " "But she's true. She lives to-day. She is the woman of now, " herepeated. "No, no, no! Woman may approximate this, but she doesn't reason it out. Let her be fine, and big, and righteously ambitious. Make us sympathizewith her. " "But I am preaching against her. " "All the better. Make her a tragedy. Show the futility of it all. Shedidn't kill herself. You killed her. " "Do you write plays?" he asked her. "No, but I feel drama. This is big, but it is all man psychology. Youdon't know your woman. " "I should hope not, " said the Professor. "You needn't tell me there aresuch women in the world. She is worse than Lucretia Borgia. " "Of course she is in the world, Father Professor. You haven't looked ata woman since mother died, nineteen years ago, so you are not strictlyup-to-date. " "I have hundreds of young women in my classes. " "Learning Euclid, " interpolated Jarvis. "Well, Euclid is more desirable than what your heroine learned andtaught. " "Not at all. She learned life. " The Professor turned to Bambi. "Have you any ideas in common with this person, my dear?" "Oh, yes, some. All of us are freebooters in this generation. " "Why have you never spoken to me of them?" "Oh, Professor, I never bother you with ideas. Jarvis, I think if you doit over, you could sell it. " "I hate doing things over--the spontaneity all gone. " "Well, you've got to do it over, that's all. You've murdered that woman, and it is wicked. She must be resuscitated and given another chance. " "Will you help me?" She looked at him with a quick flash of pleasure. "Oh, I would so love to. I can't help you build it, but I can tell youwhat I feel is wrong. " "We will begin to-morrow. " "Are all your works as extreme as this?" queried the Professor. "They are all cross-sections of life, which is extreme, " replied Jarvis. "You young people read riddles into life. It is as simple as two plustwo is four. " "There you are--two plus two does not necessarily make four. It makesfive or forty. It depends on the symbols. Nothing in the world is exact, or final. Everything is changeable, fluidic. That's the whole fabric ofmodern thought. " The Professor's horrified glance was turned upon them. "Oh, dear, oh, dear, there you go, upsetting everything. You are a pairof maniacs, both of you. You ought to be shut away from people, withyour wild ideas. " He rushed out into his garden, sure of its calm, its mathematicalexactness. He was really disturbed by the ultra-modern theories theseardent young iconoclasts forced him to consider. "Poor Father Professor, " laughed Bambi, at his retreat. "Why do you let him stay back there in the Middle Ages?" "He's happier there. It's peaceful. Modern times distress him so when heremembers them. " "I suppose you are not an average family, are you?" he asked. "I suppose not, " she admitted. "You are irritating, but interesting. " "I warn you to let father alone. He's too old to be hauled up-to-date. Just consider him an interesting survival and let him be. " "I'll let him be. I'll put him in a play. He's good copy. " "He'll never know himself, so it won't matter. " They talked late about Jarvis's work, his methods of writing, the lengthof time it took him to conceive and work out a play. It all fascinatedBambi. She felt that a wonderful interest had come into her life. A newthing was to be created, each day, under her roof, near her. She was tohave part in it, help in its shaping to perfection. She gloated over thedays to come, and a warm rush of gratitude to Jarvis for bringing herthis sense of his need of her made her burst out: "Oh, life is such fun!" He looked at her closely. "You are a queer little mite, " said he. "The mite is mightier than the sword, " she laughed, starting for thegarden. "You go to bed, so you can get an early start on that play. I'llround up the Professor. He's forgotten to bring himself in. " He obeyed without objection. He felt, all at once, like a ship at anchorafter long years of floating aimlessly, but, manlike, he took his goodfortune as his just right, and it never occurred to him to thank Bambifor his new sense of peace and well-being. IV The marriage of Jarvis and Bambi furnished the town with a ten days'topic of conversation, a fact to which they were perfectly indifferent. Then it was accepted, as any other wonder, such as a comet passing, oran airship disaster. In the meantime the strangely assorted trio fell into a more or lesscomfortable relationship. Jarvis and the Professor almost came to blows, but for the most part the diplomatic Bambi kept peace. Both men appealedto her for everything and she took care of them like babies. She calledthem the "Heavenly Twins" and found endless amusement in theirdependence on her. Sometimes she did not see Jarvis for days. His studyand bedroom were on the top floor, and when he was in a work fit heforgot to come to meals. She let him alone, only seeing that he ate whatshe sent up to him. Sometimes his light burned all night. She would goto the foot of the stairs and listen to him reading scenes aloud in theearly dawn, but she never interfered with him in any way. He plungedinto the remaking of "Success" with characteristic abandon. He destroyedthe old version entirely, and began on a new one. When he had theframework completed, he summoned Bambi for a private view. She condemnedcertain parts, praised others, flashed new thoughts upon him, forced himto new viewpoints. He raved at her, defended his ideas, refuted herarguments, and invariably accepted every contribution. When he came toan impasse, he howled through the house for her, like a lost childwailing for its mother. These daily councils of war, his incessant need of her, interfered withher plan of a career as a danseuse. She found that her days wereresolving themselves into two portions--times when Jarvis needed her, and times when he did not. The hours they devoted together to his workconstituted the core of her day, her happy time. She considered Jarvisas impersonally as she did the typewriter. It was the sense of beingneeded, of helping in his work, that filled her with such new zest. Butthe hours hung heavy between the third-floor summons, and one day, asshe lay in the hammock, a book in her hand, it came to her that shemight try it herself. She might put down her thoughts, her dreams, herambitions, and make a story of them. Thought and action were one withBambi. In five minutes' time she had pencil and paper, and had set forthon her new adventure. For the next few days she was so absorbed in her experiment that shealmost neglected the "Heavenly Twins. " The Professor commented on herabstraction, and Ardelia complained that "everybody in dis heah house iscrazy, all of them studyin' and writin'; yo' cain't even sing ahallelujah but somebody is a shoutin', 'Sh!'" Only Jarvis failed to note any change. It was too much to expect thatthe great Jocelyn could concentrate on any but his own mental attitudes. Like most facile people, Bambi was bored with her masterpiece at the endof a week, and abandoned it without a sigh. She decided that literaturewas not to be enriched by her. In fact, she never gave a thought to herfirst-born child until a month after its birth, when a New York magazinefell into her hands offering a prize of $500 for a short story. She tookout her manuscript and read it over with a sense of surprise. Shemarched off to a stenographer, had it typed, and sent it to the contest, using a pen name as a signature, and then she promptly forgot about it. Six weeks more of hard labour brought "Success" almost to completion. Bambi was absorbed in the play. It was undoubtedly much better; herhopes were high that it would get a production. If only Jarvis could getto New York with it and show it to the managers; but that meant money, and they had none. Her busy brain spent hours scheming, but nolight came. Then out of the blue fell a shining bolt! A long envelope, with amagazine imprint on it, came with her morning's mail and nearly ended ayoung and useful life. The editor begged to inform her that thecommittee of judges had awarded her the short-story prize, that her talewould be published in the forth-coming issue, and she would please findcheck enclosed. Had she any other manuscript that they might see? Wouldshe honour them with a visit the next time she came to New York? Theywould like to talk over a series of stories similar to the prize winner. The Professor and Jarvis had both departed to their lairs, or they wouldhave witnessed the best pas seul of Bambi's life. She fluttered thejoy-bringing letter above her head, and circled the breakfast room in awhirl of happiness. Ardelia entered as she reached her climax. [Illustration: BAMBI FLUTTERED THE JOY-BRINGING LETTER ABOVE HER HEADAND CIRCLED THE BREAKFAST-ROOM IN A WHIRL OF HAPPINESS. ] "Mah good Lud, Miss Bambi, yo' sho' can dance better'n Jezebel! I 'lowthe debil do git into yo', the way yo' all dance! Go 'way frum me! Don'yo' drag me into no cunjer dance. " "Ardelia, the gods do provide!" cried Bambi. "Such unutterably crazygood luck--to think of my getting it!" "Did yo' get a lottery prize, Miss Bambi?" "That's just what I got--a lottery prize. " "Foh the Lud's sake! What you gwine to do with it?" "I am going to take Jarvis Jocelyn to New York, and between us we aregoing to harness Fame and drive her home. " "Well, I don' know who Fame is, but if she's a hoss, wher' yo' goin' tokeep her when yo' get her? We ain't got no barn for her. " Bambi laughed. "We'll stable her all right, Ardelia, if we can catch her. This is asecret between you and me. Don't you breathe it to a soul that I havewon anything. " "No, ma'am; yo' kin trust me to the death. " "I'll bring you a present from New York if you won't tell. " She rushed off to her own room, to look over her clothes and plan. Having married Jarvis out of hand, she would now take him on amoneymoon; they would seek their fortune instead of love. He wouldpeddle his play; she would honour the publisher with a visit. She huggedherself with joy over the prospect. She worked out various schemes bywhich she could break it to Jarvis and the Professor that she had moneyenough for a trip to New York, without saying how she got it. Fortunately, they were not of an inquiring mind, so she hoped that shecould convince them without much difficulty. She tried out a scene ortwo just to prove how she would do it. At luncheon she paved the way. "How much more work is there on the play, Jarvis?" "I ought to finish it this week, " he answered. "It is good, too. It is afirst-rate play. " "You ought to go to New York with it, and see the managers, " she said. "Ugh!" "Well, it's got to be done. You can't teach school unless you havepupils. " "I am not a pedant, " he protested. "You're a reformer, and you've got to get something to reform. " "The work itself satisfies me. " "It doesn't satisfy me. You have got to produce and learn before youwill grow. " "You're a wise body for such a small package. " "That's the way wisdom comes. " "Perhaps, O sibyl, you will read the future and tell me how I am tofinance a trip to New York. " "Oh, the money will be provided, " airily. "Yes, I suppose it will. It always is when actual need demands it, buthow?" "Never mind how. Just rest in the assurance that it will. " He looked at her, smiling. "Do you know I sometimes suspect that Fate had a hand in bringing ustogether? We are so alike. " "We are so alike we're different, " she amended, laughing. She waited until next day to explode her bomb. "I think if you finish up the play this week, Jarvis, we can have ittyped early next week, and get off to New York on Friday or Saturday. " He stared at her. "On foot?" he inquired. "Oh, no. I find I have the money. " "You find you have it! You had that much and didn't know it?" heexploded so loudly that the Professor came to, and paid attention. "I am careless about these things, " Bambi murmured. "What's all this?" queried the Professor. "What I can't see is that if you had money enough to pay up my boardbill, why you married me, " continued Jarvis. "Just one of my whims. I am so whimsical, " retorted Bambi. "Would you mind telling me?" begged the Professor. "She's got money enough to take us to New York, " repeated Jarvis. "Thank you. I don't wish to go to that terrible place. Of all thedistressing, improbable places, New York is the worst, " repliedProfessor Parkhurst. "Be calm, Professor. I was not planning to take you, " soothed hisdaughter. "But what is to be done with me?" he inquired, anxiously. "You are to be left the one sole duty of Ardelia, to be overfed andpampered until you aren't fit to live with. " "But you can't go off alone with Jarvis. " "Why not? I am married to him. " "Yes, I suppose you are, but you seem so unmarried, " he objected. "We will have to practise up a few married poses, Jarvis. You must notact so interested in me. Father says we don't act married. " "I am not in the least interested in you, " Jarvis defended himself, valiantly. "There, father, could anything be more husband-like?" "Where did you get the money, Jarvis?" the Professor asked. "I didn't get it. She got it. " "Why, my dear, " protested her father, "where did you get any money?" "I have turned lady burglar. " "What?" "Cheer up. It's butter-'n'-eggs money. " "Butter-'n'-eggs money?" repeated Jarvis. "Certainly. The downtrodden farmer's wife always gives up herbutter-'n'-eggs money to save the family fortunes, or build a new barn. " "What are you talking about?" interrupted the Professor. "I don't know why the fact that I have a little money saved up shouldstart a riot in this family. I have to go to New York on business, andas Jarvis has to go to see managers about 'Success, ' I merely proposedthat we go together. " "What business have you in New York, my dear?" "My own, Professor darling. " "Excuse me, " he hastened to add. "Certainly, " she replied, blithely. "I hate New York, " said Jarvis. "How long do you suppose we will have tostay?" "I adore New York, and we will stay as long as the money holds out. " "Would you mind stating, in round figures, how much you have?" theProfessor remarked. "I would. I detest figures, round or oblong. I have enough. " "I hope you won't get there, and then call on me for a supply, as youusually do, my dear. I am a little short this spring. " "You two have no confidence in me. If you will just put your trust inBambi, I'll mend the fortunes of this family so you will never be ableto find the patch. " The two men laughed in spite of themselves, and the matter was dropped, but Bambi herself took the manuscript of "Success" to the stenographer, with strict orders as to a time limit; she led Jarvis, protesting, to atailor's, to order a suit of clothes; she restocked him in collars, shirts, and ties. In fact, she handled the situation like a diplomat, buying the railroad tickets with a thrill of anticipation. Jarvis made no protest at all, until the night before they were tostart. He came to her and offered her a little black notebook. "What is this?" "I want you to put down every cent we spend. This is a loan, youunderstand. " "It's a gift from the gods. Go offer libations. I don't want your olddebit and credit book. " He laid his hand on her shoulder, and looked into her shining eyes. "Good little fairy, " he said, "I want to put some gold dust in the pot, too. " "Wait until we get to the end of the rainbow. " "Just keep a record for me. My mind is such a sieve, " he said, offeringthe spurned black book. "All right. Give me the Black Maria. I will ride your figures in it. " "That was a pun. You ought to be spanked. " "Oh, Jarvis, isn't it fun?" she cried to him. "Is it? I feel that turning salesman and approaching a manager is likemarching to the block. " "Poor old dreamer! Suppose you stay home, and let me peddle the play. " "Not much. I will shoulder my own pack. " "I feel like a Crusader myself. I'd rather be _me_ than anybody onearth. " "The most extraordinary thing about you is your rapture, " he commented, seriously. She ran away, singing "Then Longen folke to go on Pilgrimauges. " The next day they set forth on their journey. Bambi left lists all overthe house as reminders for the Professor. Ardelia had orders enough tomanoeuvre an army. The Professor went to the station with them, andabsent-mindedly kissed Jarvis good-bye, which infuriated his victim andnearly sent Bambi into hysterics. As the train pulled out, she leanedfrom the window and called, "Go home, now, Professor!" and with amechanical jerk he turned and started off in the direction indicated. "I never leave him with any comfort, " she admitted to Jarvis. "He is soapt to mislay himself. " "He always makes me think of a mechanical toy, ever since he told methat he always counted whatever he did. I am sure that you wind him up, like a watch, every night. " "Poor old dear! Funny I should have chosen him for a father, isn't it?" "I think your choice of relations is distinctly queer. " "My queer relations! That's a good title. Everybody would understand itat once. " "Thank heaven, I haven't any, queer, or otherwise. " "Didn't you ever have any?" "No. " "Just growed?" He nodded. "I remember a funny old man you lived with, when I first knew you. Wasn't he a relative?" "No, he found me some place. What's the difference? Do you care?" "No, I'm glad. I am sure I couldn't abide 'in-laws. '" Over the luncheon table he suddenly looked at her, as if for the firsttime. He noticed that all the eyes in the crowded diner were upon her. "What's the matter?" she asked, intercepting his glance. "Do people always stare at you?" he inquired. She swept the car with an indifferent glance. "I don't know. I never noticed. " "It's queer for us to be going off like this, " he said, in a startledtone. "It seems perfectly natural to me. Are you embarrassed?" she asked, suddenly aware of a new quality in him. "No, certainly not, " he defended himself. It was five o'clock when they drew into Grand Central Station, a timewhen the whole duty of man seems to be to get out of New York and intothe suburbs. An army of ants ran through the great blue-vaulted rotunda, streaming into the narrow tunnels, where the steel horses were puffingand steaming. The sense of rushing waters was upon Jarvis. He halted, stunned and helpless. "Isn't it great? All the tribes of Shem, Ham, and Japhet, " cried Bambi, at his elbow. She piloted him through--big, powerful, bewildered Jarvis. Many a hurrying suburbanite slowed up enough to look after them, thetall, blond giant, and a little girl with shining eyes. "Where are we going?" Jarvis asked, with child-like confidence that shewould know. [Illustration: "GOOD EVENING, MRS. NEW YORK, AND ALL YOU PEOPLE OUTTHERE! WE'RE HERE, JARVIS AND I. "] "Gramercy Park. We'll put up at a club. We'll act rich and take a taxi. " She ordered the driver to go down the avenue slowly, and as he joltedaround the crowded corner of Forty-second Street, on to the smoothasphalt, Bambi leaned forward eagerly. "Good evening, home of the books, " she nodded to the Library. "Goodevening, Mrs. New York, and all you people there! We're here, Jarvisand I. " She turned and caught his rare smile. "You're happy, aren't you?" he remarked. "Perfectly. I feel as if I were breathing electricity. Don't you likeall these people?" "No, I feel that there are too many of them. There should be half asmany, and better done. Until we learn not to breed like rabbits, we willnever accomplish a creditable race. " "Such good-looking rabbits though, Jarvis. " "Yes. Sleek and empty-headed. " "All hopping uptown, to nibble something, " she chuckled. "Life is such foolishness, " he said, in disgust. "Oh, no. Life is such ecstasy, " she threw back at him, as the cab drewup to the clubhouse door. V Bambi was out of bed and at her window the next morning early. Her roomfaced on Gramercy Park, and the early morning sun fell across the littlesquare so sacred to the memory of past glories, and bathed the trees intheir new green drapery with a soft, impressionistic colour. Her eyesswept around the square, hastening over the great white apartmentbuildings, our modern atrocities, to linger over the old houses, whichher swift imagination peopled with the fashion and pomp of another day. "Spring in the city!" breathed Bambi. "Spring in New York!" She was tempted to run to Jarvis's door and tap him awake, to drink itin too, but she remembered that Jarvis did not care for the flesh-pots, so she enjoyed her early hour alone. It was very quiet in the Park; onlyan occasional milk wagon rattled down the street. There is a sort ofhush that comes at that hour, even in New York. The early traffic is outof the way. The day's work is not yet begun. There comes a pause beforethe opening gun is fired in the warfare of the day. Many a gay-hearted girl has sat, as Bambi sat, looking off over thehousetops in this "City of Beautiful Nonsense, " dreaming her dreams ofconquest and success. Youth makes no compromise with life. It demandsall, passionately; loses all, or wins, with anguish of spirit. So it waswith Bambi, the high-handed, imperious little mite. She willed Fame andFortune for Jarvis and herself in full measure. She wanted to count inthis great maelstrom of a city. She wanted two pedestals--one for Jarvisand one for herself--to lift them above the crowd. If all the youngthings who think such thoughts as these, in hall bedrooms and atticchambers, could mount their visioned pedestals, the traffic police wouldbe powerless, and all the road to Albany lined like a Hall of Fame. But, fortunately, our practical heroine took no account of failure. Sheplanned a campaign for Jarvis. She would go first to Belasco with hisplay. Mr. Belasco would receive him at once, recognize a master mind, and accept the play after an immediate hearing. Of course Jarvis wouldinsist on reading his play aloud, so that Mr. Belasco might get thepoints clearly. He would come away with a thousand dollars advanceroyalty in his pocket, and then would come the delicious excitement ofrehearsals, in which she would help. She saw Jarvis before the curtainmaking a first-night's speech. A brilliant series of pictures followed, with the Jarvis Jocelyns as central figures, surrounded by the wealthand brains of New York, London, Paris! While Jarvis was mounting like a meteor, she was making a reputation asa writer. When her place in the literary ranks was so assured that the_Saturday Evening Post_ accepted her stories without so much as readingthem; when everybody was asking "Who is this brilliant writer?--thiscombination of O. Henry, Edith Wharton, and W. D. Howells?" then, andonly then, would she come out from behind her _nom-de-plume_ and assumeher position as Mrs. Jarvis Jocelyn, wife of the famous playwright. So absorbed was she in her moving pictures that Jarvis's rap sounded toher like a cannon shot. "Yes? Who is it?" she called. "Jarvis, " he answered. "Are you ready for breakfast?" "Just a minute, " she prevaricated. "Wait for me in the library. " She plunged into her tub and donned her clothes in record time. Fortunately, Jarvis did not fret over her tardiness. He was lost in anarticle on the drama in a current magazine. "Good morrow, my liege lord, " quoth Bambi, radiant, fresh, bewitching. "This man has no standards at all, " he replied, out of the magazine. She quietly closed it and took it from him. "I prefer to test the breakfast standards of this club, " she laughed. "Did you sleep?" she added. "I always sleep. " "Let's play to-day, " she added, over the coffee cups. "Play?" "Yes. We've never been anywhere together before. I've put aside anappropriation for amusement. I say we draw on that to-day. " "All right. Where shall we go?" "Let's go on top of the stage to Claremont for lunch, and then we mightsee some pictures this afternoon, dine here, and the theatre to-night. " "Had it all thought out, did you?" "What would you plan?" she inquired. "We will do my way to-morrow, and your way to-day, " he said. "All right. I promise to enjoy your way if you will promise to enjoymine, not just endure it scornfully. " "You must think I'm a boor. " "No. But I think that until you learn that an artist cannot afford toscorn any phase of life that is human, you will never do great work. " He looked at her keenly. "Fifth Avenue isn't human. It's an imitation, " he objected. "You're very young, Jarvis, " she commented. "Upon my soul, " he laughed, so spontaneously that an old fogy at thenext table said audibly to his waitress, "Bride and groom, " and for somereason Bambi resented it with a flare of colour. "It's true, " she continued; "until you realize that Fifth Avenue and theBowery are as inevitable as the two ends of the teeter-totter, you won'tsee the picture true. " "Sometimes you show a most surprising poise, " he granted her. "But ofcourse you are not the stuff of which creative artists are made. " She chuckled, and patted her bag where the bill fold lay, with its crisphundreds due to some imitation of creative impulse. "Just where, and in what, am I lacking?" she asked, most humbly. "A creative artist would not care a fig for truth. He creates animpression of truth out of a lie if necessary. " "But I am in the direct line from Ananias, " she protested. "I inheritcreative talent of that brand. " So they laughed and chattered, in the first real companionship they hadever known. True to the plan, they ascended the stage at Eighteenth Street, Bambi ina flutter of happiness. As the panorama of that most fascinating highwayunrolled before them, she constantly touched this and that and the otherobject with the wand of her vivid imagination. Jarvis watched her withamused astonishment, for the first time really thoroughly aware of her. Again he noticed that wherever she was she was a lodestone for all eyes. He decided that it was not beauty, in the strictest sense of the word, but a sort of radiance which emanated from her like an aura. Twenty-third Street cut across their path with its teeming throngs. Madison Square lay smiling in the sunshine like a happy courtesan, withno hint of its real use as Wayside Inn for all the old, the poor, thederelict, whose tired feet could find refuge there. The vista of theavenue lay ahead. "It's like a necklace of sparkling pearls, " Bambi said, with incessantcraning of her neck. "I feel like standing up and singing 'The Song ofthe Bazaars. ' There isn't a stuff, nor a silk, nor a gem from Araby toSamarkand that isn't here. " "It bewitches you, doesn't it?" Jarvis commented. "Think of the wonder of it! Camel trains, and caravans, merchant shipson all the seas, trains, and electric trucks, all bringing the booty ofthe world to this great, shining bazaar for you and me. It's thrilling. " "So it is, " he agreed. "I hope you mark the proportion of shops formen--dresses, hats, jewels, furs, motor clothes, tea rooms, candy shops, corsetières, florists, bootmakers, all for women. Motor cars are full ofwomen. Are there no men in this menagerie?" "No. They are all cliff-dwellers downtown. They probably wear loincloths of a fashionable cut, " she laughed back at him. "They all look just alike--so many manikins on parade. I suppose thereare distinctions in class. There must be some shopgirls in this crowd. Can you distinguish them?" he asked. "Oh, yes. Not by cut, for the general line is the same for 'Judy O'Gradyand the Captain's Lady, ' but there is a subtle difference to thefeminine eye. " "But you don't look like all the rest of them. " "No, alas, I look distinctly suburban. All I need is a package to makethe disguise complete. Oh, Jarvis, do let's hurry and make much redgold, so I can look like these finished things that trip upFifth Avenue. " "You want to be like them--like those dolls?" he scorned, with amagnificent gesture. "Yes. I'd like to be so putrid with wealth that I could have rows ofwardrobe trunks, with full sets of clothes for every me. " "How many of you are there?" "Oh, lots. I've never counted myself. Some days I'd dress up like aBroadway siren, some days I'd be a Fifth Avenue lady, or a suburbanite, or a reformer, or a ballet dancer, or a visitor from Boston. " "What would I be doing while you were all these?" "Oh, you'd be married to all of us. We'd keep you busy. " "The idea is appalling. A harem of misfits. " "We'd be good for your character. " "And death to my work. " "You'd know more about life when you had taken a course of us. " "Too much knowledge is a dangerous thing, " he remarked. "Shall we getoff and go into the Library?" "Not to-day. That's part of your day. I want just people and things inmine. " "What are you to-day?" he inquired. "An houri, a soulless houri, " she retorted. As they approached the University Club, Jarvis recognized it with scorn. "Monument to the stupidity of modern education, probably full thisminute of provincials from Harvard and Yale, all smugly resting in theassurance that they are men of culture. " "I adore the way you demolish worlds, " Bambi sparkled up at him. "Another monument, " he remarked, indicating a new church lifting itsspires among the money-changers' booths. "_Hic jacet, _ education and religion. Look at that slim white ladycalled the Plaza. " "You ought to name her 'Miss New York. '" "Good, Jarvis. In time you will learn to play with me. " He frowned slightly. "I know, " she added, "I am scheduled under _Interruptions_ in thatfamous notebook. Unless you play with me occasionally I shall becomeactively interruptive. " "You are as clever as a squirrel, " he said. "Always hiding things andfinding them. " "_Hic jacet_ Bambi, along with the other self-important, moderninstitutions, " she sighed humbly. They rattled across the Circle and up Broadway. Bambi was silent, boredwith its stupidity. It was not until they turned on to Riverside Drivethat her enthusiasm bubbled up again. "Don't you love rivers?" she exclaimed, as the Hudson sparkled at themin the sun. "I've never known any, " he replied. "Oh, Mr. Hudson, Mr. Jocelyn, " she said, instantly. "I thought, ofcourse, you had met. " "You absurdity!" laughed Jarvis. "What is it that you love aboutrivers?" "Oh, their subtlety, I suppose. They look and act so aimless, and theyare going somewhere all the time. They are lazy and useful and--wet. Ilike them. " "Is there anything in the universe you don't like?" Jarvis inquired. "Yes, but I can't think what it is just now, " she answered, and sang"Ships of mine are floating--will they all come home?" so zestfully thatan old gentleman in the front seat turned, with a smiling "I hope so, my dear!" She nodded back at him gayly, to Jarvis's annoyance. As they approachedGrant's Tomb, she glanced at him suspiciously. When they got safely by, she sighed with content. "If you had said anything bromidic about Grant's Tomb, Jarvis Jocelyn, Ishould have thrown myself off the top of the stage to certain death. " "At times you underestimate me, " he replied. At Claremont, Bambi ordered a most enticing repast, and they were verygay. Everybody seemed gay, too. The sun shone, the early spring air wassoft, and a certain gala "stolen sweets" air of Claremont made it seemtheir most intimate meal. Everybody smiled at Bambi and she smiled back. "Nice sort of hookey place, isn't it?" she commented. "Do you know the man at the next table?" "Which one?" "The fat one, who is staring so. " "Oh, no. I thought you meant the one who lifts his glass to me everytime he drinks. " Jarvis pushed back his chair furiously. "I will smash his head, " he said, rising. "Jarvis! Sit down! You silly thing! He's only in fun. It's the spirit ofthe place. " "I won't have you toasted by strange men, " he thundered. "All right. I'll make a face at him next time, " she said, soothingly;but somewhere, down in the depths of her being, where her cave ancestorlurked, she was pleased. As they finished their coffee, Bambi picked upthe check, which the waiter laid beside Jarvis's plate. "Do you mind my paying it? Would you rather do it?" "Certainly not. It's your money. Why should I pretend about it?" She could have hugged him for it. Instead, she overfed the waiter. "It's too heavenly, out of doors, for pictures, after all, " she said, asthey came out on to the drive. "What shall we do?" "Let's get that double-decker again, and ride until we come to the endof the world. " "Righto. Here it comes, now. " Downtown they went, to Washington Square, where they dismounted, towander off at random. All at once they were in another world. It waslike an Alice in Wonderland adventure. They stepped out of the quiet ofthe green, shady quadrangle into a narrow street, swarming with life. Innumerable children, everywhere, shrieking and running at games. Fatmothers and babies along the curb, bargaining with pushcart men. Awheezing hurdy-gurdy, with every other note gone to the limbo of lostchords, rasped and leaked jerky tunes. All the shops had foreign nameson the windows--not even an "English spoken here" sign. The fresh windblew down the dirty street, and peppered everything with dust. Newspapers increased their circulation in a most irritating manner underfoot. The place was hideous, lifting its raucous cry to the fairspring sky. Jarvis looked at Bambi, silenced, for once. Her face registered a loudprotest. "Well?" he challenged her. "Oh, I hate ugliness so. It's like pain. Is it very weak of me to hateugliness?" she begged. "It's very natural, and no doubt weak. " "I wouldn't mind the thought of poverty so much--not hunger, nor thirst, nor cold--but dirt and hideousness--they are too terrible. " "This is life in the raw. You like it dressed for Fifth Avenue better, "he taunted. "Do you prefer this?" "Infinitely. " She looked about again, with a sense of having missed his point. "Because it's fight, hand-to-throat fight?" "Yes. You can teach these people. They don't know anything. They aredumb beasts. You can give them tongue. It's too late to teach yourUpper End. " A woman passed close, with a baby, covered with great sores. Bambicaught at Jarvis's sleeve and tottered a step. "I feel a little sick, " she faltered. He caught her hand through his arm, and hurried her quickly back the waythey had come. As they mounted the stage, he looked at her white face. "We will have to expurgate life for you, Miss Mite. " "No, no. I want it all. I must get hardened. " Back at the club, she hurried into her hot bath, with a vague hope ofwashing off all traces of that awful street. But their talk at dinnerwas desultory and rather serious. Jarvis talked for the most part, elaborating schemes of social reform and the handling of ourimmigrant brothers. They started off to the theatre, with no definite plan. Bambi's spiritsrose to the lights of Broadway, like a trout to a silver shiner. Thereis a hectic joyousness on Broadway, a personification of the "Eat, drinkand be merry, for to-morrow we die" spirit which warms you, likechampagne, or chills you, like the icy hand of despair, according toyour mood. Bambi skipped along beside Jarvis, twittering gayly. "People are happy, aren't they?" "Surface veneer. " "Jarvis, you old bogie-man, hiding in the dark, to jump out and say'Boo!'" "That's my work--booing frauds. Let's go in here, " he added. "'Damaged Goods, '" Bambi read on the theatre poster. "Do you knowanything about it?" "I've read it. It is not amusing, " he added. She followed him without replying. The theatre was packed with a motleyaudience of unrelated people. Professors and their wives, reformers, writers, mothers with adolescent sons, mothers with youngdaughters--what, in Broadway parlance, is called a "high-brow"audience--a striking group of people gathered together to mark a daringexperiment of our audacious times; a surgical clinic on a social sore, up to this moment hidden, neglected, whispered about. Bambi came to it with an open mind. She had heard of Brieux, hisdramatic tracts, but she had not seen the text of this play, nor was sheprepared for it. The first act horrified her into silence during thewhole intermission. The second act racked her with sobs, and the lastact piled up the agony to the breaking point. They made their way out tothe street, part of that quiet audience which scarcely spoke, so deepwas the impression of the play. Broadway glared and grinned and gambolled, goat-like. Bambi clung toJarvis tightly. He looked down at her swollen face, red eyes, andbewildered mouth without a word. He put her into a taxicab and got inafter her. In silence she looked out at the glittering white way. "The veneer is all rubbed off. I can see only bones, " she said, andcaught her breath in a sob. Jarvis awkwardly took her hand and patted it. "I am sorry we went to that play to-night. You must not feel things so, "he added. "Didn't you feel it?" "I felt it, didactically, but not dramatically. It's a big sermon and apoor play. " "I feel as if I had had an appendicitis operation, and I am glad it isover. " "I must meet young Richard Bennett. He has contributed to the big issuesof the day. He's a fine actor. He must be an intelligent man. " For the rest of the way they drove in silence. "Tired?" Jarvis asked as they neared the club. She looked so little and crumpled, with all the shine drowned in hereyes. "Life has beaten me raw to-day, " she answered him, with a shadowy smile. VI Bambi announced the next morning that she had to have an entire day inwhich to get over "Damaged Goods. " Jarvis was nothing loath to put offthe evil hour when he was to start on his manager-hunt. So they agreedon one more day of freedom. The clouds threatened, so they looked over the papers for anannouncement of picture exhibitions, concerts, and lectures. The choicewas bewildering. They finally decided on a morning lecture, at BerkeleyLyceum, entitled "The Religion of the Democrat. " They made their way tothe little theatre, in a leisurely manner, to find the street blockedwith motor cars, the sidewalk and foyer crowded with fashionable women, fully half an hour before the lecture was announced. Distracted usherstried to find places for the endless stream of ardent culturites, untileven the stage was invaded and packed in solid rows. "This is astonishing, " said Jarvis. "What on earth do these fine birdscare for democracy?" "Must be the lecturer, " said wise Bambi. "Humph! A little mental pap before they run on to lunch. " The cackle and babble ceased suddenly as the chairman and lecturerappeared. After a few announcements, the leading man was introduced. Bambi was right. It was the man. You felt personality in the slow way heswept the audience with his eyes, in the charming, friendly smile, inthe humour of his face. The women fairly purred. Jarvis grunted impatiently, and Bambi felt a sense of guilt for herready response to this man, who had not yet spoken. Then he began, in agood, resonant voice, to hook this lecture to the one of theweek before. "Oh, it's a course, " Bambi whispered. Jarvis nodded. He wished he was well out of it. He hated the woman-idolkind of lecturer. Then a stray phrase caught his wandering attention, and he began to listen. The man had the "gift of tongues. " That wasevident. This was his last conscious comment. It seemed but a fewminutes later that he turned to Bambi, as the lecturer sat down. She satforward in her chair, with that absorbed responsiveness he had marked inher before. He touched her before she realized that it was time to go. "That was big, wasn't it?" she said. "It was. He is somebody. He gave them real meat instead of pap. " "And they liked it, " Bambi said, reaching for her furs, her bag, and herumbrella, strewn under the seat in her trance. "That fellow is all right. He makes you feel that there are fine, bigthings to be done in the world, and that you must be about it--notto-morrow, but to-day, " Jarvis said, as they pushed their way out. "I wonder what these women are doing about it?" Bambi speculated. "Talking. " "Boo!" she scoffed at him. They strolled, with the strollers, on the avenue. They ate what Jarvisdubbed "a soupçon" of lunch in a tea-shop, and to elude a dribble ofrain they betook themselves to the Armory, down on Seventeenth Street, to the much-talked-of International Modern Art Exhibition. Adam and Eve, the first day in the Garden, could not have been any moredazed than these two young things who had strayed in out of the rain. Nosated sensibilities here, prodded by the constant shocks of metropolitan"latest thing, " but fresh, enthusiastic interest was their pricelesspossession. They wandered aimlessly through several rooms, until theyemerged into the Cubist and Futurist sections and stood rooted to thefloor with surprise and horror. "What are these?" Bambi demanded. "Damaged Goods, " Jarvis laughed, with a rare attempt at a joke. "Are they serious?" "Tragic, I should say. " He looked about with an expression of amusement, but Bambi felt actual, physical nausea at the sight of the vivid blue and orange and purple. "It's wicked!" she said, between closed teeth. "Let's sit down and try to get the idea, " said Jarvis. "There isn't any idea. " "Oh, yes, there must be. The directors would never get together an acreof these atrocities unless there was some excuse. " "It's low and degenerate. It's a school of hideousness. Come away!" "You go sit in another room if you like. I am going to give thesefellows a fair chance. Maybe they've got hold of something new. " "There is nothing new about that awful woman with a decayed face. Shehas been dead for weeks. " "Just put your emotions away, Bambi, and train your mind on this thing. Here is a whole school of men, working in a new medium, along new ideas. They can't all be crazy, you know. " "You like it?" "Of course I don't like it, but it interests me. I haven't read or heardanything about it, so it is a shock. " "You shall not make for yourselves false images, " she said, shaking herhead. "Maybe these maniacs are trying to break up the conventions of Paintingand Sculpture. They want more freedom. " "They are anarchists, vandals!" "Possibly, but if they are necessary to the development of a bigger artexpression----" "They ought to work in secret, and exhibit in the dark. " "No, no! We have to be prepared for it. Our old standards have got togo. " "I feel as medieval as the Professor. I never really understood himbefore. " "We ought to bring him here. " "I think it would kill him, " Bambi answered. They spent a couple of hours, and then went back to the club. For somereason the Cubists had stirred Jarvis deeply. He divined something newand sincere, where Bambi felt only pose and degeneracy. "When you think of that awful street, and 'Damaged Goods, ' and thatexhibit of horrors, all in two days, I don't wonder I feel like an old, old woman, " she said. "Suppose we stay in to-night? There is some kind of special meetingannounced here, to discuss the drama. We might go in for alittle while. " "All right. But 'early to bed, ' for to-morrow we set out on ourcareers. " "You haven't told me what yours is, yet, " he objected. "Mine is a secret. " The dining-room of the club was entirely full when they went down, andthe hum of talk and laughter roused Bambi's tired sensibilities. "It's quite jolly, " she said. "Some of the people look interesting, don't they?" "I talked to that little man, over there, with the red necktie, while Iwas waiting for you, and he has ideas. " "Lovely woman with him. " They chatted personalities for a while. "Seems ages since we left home, doesn't it?" "Yes. Big mental experiences obliterate time. " "The Professor has forgotten to write, of course. " "He has probably forgotten us. " "Oh, no!" "I feel that I am getting rather well acquainted with you, " he noddedand smiled. "How do you like me, now that you have met me?" she teased. "You are an interesting specimen over-sensitized. " "Jarvis!" she protested. "I sound like a Cubist picture. " After dinner they drifted with the crowd into the art gallery, wherethey talked to several people who introduced themselves. It was veryfriendly and social. The lecturer they had heard in the morning wasthere. Jarvis went to speak to him, and brought him back to Bambi. Shefound him jolly and responsive. She even dared to twit him about hisfeminine audience. People seated themselves in groups, and finally a chairman made someremarks about the Modern Drama and invited a discussion. A dramaticcritic made cynical comment on the so-called "uplift plays, " whichroused Jarvis to indignation. To Bambi's surprise, he was on his feetinstantly, and a torrent of words was spilled upon the dramatic critic. He held the attention closely, in an impassioned plea for thoughtfuldrama, not necessarily didactic, but the serious handling of vitalproblems in comedy, if necessary, or even in farce. It need not be suchharrowing work as Brieux makes it, but if the man who had things to saycould and would conquer the technique of dramatic writing, he wouldreach the biggest audiences that could be provided, which ought to payhim for the severity of his apprenticeship. Bambi thrilled with pride in him, his handsome face, his passionateidealism, and his eloquence. He sat down, amid much applause, and Bambiknew he had made his place among these clever people. He took some partin the discussion that followed, and when they went upstairs she markedthe flush of excitement and the alive look of his face. "I was proud of you, Jarvis, " she said, as they stopped at her door. "Nonsense. The man I talked against was a duffer, but this has been agreat day, " he said. "This place stimulates you every minute. " "Tomorrow we move on Broadway, Captain Jocelyn. Get your forces in orderto advance. " "Very good, General. Good night, sir. " "Good-night. " As she closed her door she skipped across the room. She knew the firstgun had been fired when Jarvis rose to speak. If she was to act ascommander in the making of his career, she was glad she had apersonality to work with. Nobody would forget that Greek head, with itsclose-cropped brown curls, those dreaming blue eyes, and that sensitive, over-controlled mouth. Her own dreams were wrought about them. VII The day which Bambi foretold would some time be famous in history dawnedpropitiously, with sun and soft airs. A sense of excitement got them upearly. Breakfast was over, and Jarvis ready for action, by eight-thirty. "I don't believe Mr. Belasco will be down this early, Jarvis, " Bambisaid. "Well, he is a busy man. He'll probably get an early start. I want to beon the ground when he arrives, anyhow. If he should want me to read theplay this morning, we should need time. " She made no more objections. She straightened his tie, and brushed hiscoat, with shining eyes, full of excitement. "Just think! In five hours we may know. " He took up his hat and hismanuscript. "Yes, " he answered confidently. "Shall we lunch here?" "Yes, and do hurry back, Jarvis. " At the door he remembered her. "Where are you going? Do you want to come?" "No. I have something to attend to myself. Good luck. " She held out her hand to him. He held it a second, looking at it as ifit was a specimen of something hitherto unknown. "I am not forgetting that you are giving me this chance, " he said, andleft abruptly. Bambi leaped about the rooms in a series of joy-leaps that would haveshamed Mordkin, before she began the serious business of the day. Jarvis had carefully looked up the exact location of the BelascoTheatre. He decided to walk uptown, in order to arrange his thoughts, and to make up his mind just how much and what he would say to Mr. Belasco. The stir, the people, the noise and the roar were unseen, unheard. He strolled along, towering above the crowd, a blond youngAchilles, with many an admiring eye turned in his wake. None of the perquisites of success, so dear to Bambi's dreams, appealedto him. He saw himself, like John the Baptist, crying in the wilderness, which was the world, and all the people, in all the cities, were rousedout of their lethargy and dull submission at his call--not to prayer, but to thought. It was a great mission he was upon, and even Broadwaybecame consecrated ground. He walked far beyond the cross street of thetheatre in his absorption, so it was exactly half-after nine when hearrived at the box office. "I want to speak to Mr. Belasco, " he said to the man there. "Three flights up. " "Is there an elevator?" "Naw. " He resented the man's grin, but he made no reply. He began to climb thelong flights of dark stairs. Arrived at the top, the doors were alllocked, so he was forced to descend again to the box office. "There is nobody up there, " he said. "You didn't expect anybody to be there at this hour of the dawn, didyou?" "What time does Mr. Belasco usually come?" "There is nothing usual about him. He is liable to land here any timebetween now and midnight, if he comes at all. " "He doesn't come every day, then?" The man grinned. "Say, you're new to this game, ain't you? Sometimes he don't show up fordays. The steno can tell you whether he is coming to-day. " "The steno?" "Yes. The skirt that's in his office. " "When does she come?" "Oh, about ten or eleven. " "Thank you. " "Don't mention it. " Jarvis made the ascent again. He stood about for nearly an hour beforethe office girl arrived. "Those stairs is the limit, " she gasped. "Youwaiting for me?" "I am waiting for Mr. Belasco. " "Oh! Appointment?" "No. " "Got a letter to him?" "No. " "What do you want to see him about? A job?" "No. About a play. " She ushered him in, opened the windows, took off her hat, looked atherself in the mirror, while she patted her wonderful hair. She powderedher nose, fixed her neck ruffle, apparently oblivious of Jarvis. "What time do you expect Mr. Belasco?" "Goodness only knows. " "Do you think he will come to-day?" "Far be it from me to say. " "But I wish to see him. " "Many a blond has twirled his thumbs around here for weeks for the samereason. " "But I am only in New York for a little while. " "I should worry, " said she, opening her typewriter desk. "Give me yourplay. I'll see that it gets to him. " "I'd rather talk to him myself. " "Suit yourself. " "I suppose I can wait here?" "No charge for chairs, " said the cheerful one. An hour passed, broken only by the click of the typewriter. Conventionalovertures from the cheerful one being discouraged, she smashed the keysin sulky silence. From eleven to twelve things were considerablyenlivened. Many sleek youths, of a type he had seen on Broadway, arrived. They saluted the cheerful one gayly as "Sally" and indulged invarying degrees of witty persiflage before the inevitable "TheGovernor in?" "Nope. " "Expect him to-day?" "I dunno. " "Billy here?" "Dunno. " "Thank you, little one. " Sometimes they departed, sometimes they joined Jarvis's waiting party. Lovely ladies, and some not so lovely. Old and young, fat and thin, theyclimbed the many stairs and met their disappointment cheerfully. Theyusually fell upon Jack, or Billy, or Jim, of the waiters, who, in turn, fell upon Belle, or Susan, or Fay. "What are you with? How's business?" were always the first questions, followed by shop talk, unintelligible to Jarvis. One youth said that hehad been to this office ten successive mornings without getting anappointment. The others laughed, and one woman boasted that she had therecord, for she had gone twenty-eight times before she saw Frohman, thelast engagement she sought. "But he engaged me the 29th, " she laughed. They impressed Jarvis as the lightest-hearted set he had everencountered. They laughed over everything and nothing. By one o'clockJarvis and the cheerful one were again in sole possession. "Don't you ever eat?" she asked him. "Oh, is it lunch time?" he inquired. "Come out of the trance. " She went through the entire performance before the mirror, in putting onher hat. "Shall I bring you anything, dearie?" she asked him, as she completedher toilette. "I'm going, too, " he said. "I'll be back. " He plunged down the stairs. When he reached the street he thought ofBambi's face when he returned with the announcement of his futilemorning. He went into a shop, telephoned the club that he had beendetained and would not be back to lunch. Then he foraged for food andwent back to his sitting on the top floor of the Belasco. "Well, little stranger, " said the cheerful one, on her return. His interest in the afternoon callers waned. At five o'clock he gave itup. He arranged with his new friend to call her up in the morning to seeif she had any news from the front. Then he slowly turned his footstepstoward the club. He was irritated at the long delay, and for the firsttime aware that there might be more difficulty in seeing managers thanhe had anticipated. He had thought the condescension all on his part, but eight hours of airing his heels in the outer purlieus had alteredhis viewpoint a trifle. His main concern was Bambi's disappointment. She had sent him out withsuch high hopes--she would receive him back with his Big Chief feathersdrooping. He was sorrier than he would admit to drown the shine in hereyes. He walked downtown to postpone the evil hour, but in the end ithad to be faced. VIII After Jarvis had departed on his conquering way Bambi turned herattention to herself. She made a most careful toilette. When she washatted, and veiled, and gloved, she tripped up and down before hermirror, trying herself out, as it were. She made several entrances intoeditorial sanctums. Once she entered haltingly, drawn to her fullfive-feet-one; once she bounced in, confidently, but she vetoed that, and decided upon a dignified but cordial entrance. One more trip to themirror for a close inspection. "Oh, you pretty thing!" she nodded to herself. She set forth, as Jarvis had done, with the address on the publisher'sletter clasped in her hand. She marched uptown with a singing heart. Shesaw everything and everybody. She wondered how many of them carriedhappy secrets, like hers, in their thoughts--how many of them were goingtoward thrilling experiences. She shot her imagination, like aboomerang, at every passing face, in the hope of getting back secretsthat lay behind the masks. She was unaware how her direct gaze rivetedattention to her own eager face. She thought the people who smiled ather were friendly, and she tossed them back as good as they gave. Evenwhen a waxed and fashionable old dandy remarked, "Good morning, mydear, " she only laughed. Naturally, he misunderstood, and fell in stepbeside her. "Are you alone?" he asked, coyly. She gave him a direct glance and answered seriously. "No. I am walking with my five little brothers and sisters. " He lookedat her in such utter amazement that she laughed again. This time heunderstood. "Good day, " said he, and right-about-faced. She knew she had plenty of time, so she sauntered into a bookshop andturned over the new books, thinking that maybe some day she would comeinto such a shop and ask for her own books, or Jarvis's published plays. She chatted with a clerk for a few minutes, then went back to theavenue, like a needle to a magnet. In and out of shops she went. She looked at hats and frocks, and touchedwith envious fingers soft stuffs and laces. "Some day, " she hummed, "some day!" She even turned in at Tiffany's seductive door. Colour was a madnesswith her, and her little cries of delight over a sapphire encouraged ayoung clerk to take it out of the case and lay it on the velvet square. "Oh, it's so beautiful it hurts!" Bambi exclaimed. He smiled at her sympathetically. "Magnificent, isn't it? Are you interested in jewels?" he added. "I am interested, but I am not a buyer, " she admitted to him. "I adorecolour. " "Let me show you some things, " he said. "Oh, no. I mustn't take up your time. " "That's all right. I have nothing else to do just now. " So he laid before her enraptured gaze the wealth of the Indies--thetreasure baubles of a hundred queens--blue and green, and red andyellow, they gleamed at her. In an instinctive gesture she put out herhand, then drew it back quickly. "Mustn't touch?" she asked, so like a child that he laughed. "Take it up if you like. " She took the superb emerald. "Do you suppose it knows how beautiful itis?" "It takes a fine colour on your hand. Some people kill stones, you know. You ought to wear them. " He told her some of the history of the jewels he showed her. Heexplained how stones were judged. He described the precautions necessarywhen famous jewels were to be taken from one place to another. Bambi sathypnotized, and listened. She might have spent the entire day there ifthe man had not been called by an important customer. "I have been herehours, haven't I? I feel as if I ought to buy something. Could you showme something about $1. 55?" The man laughed so spontaneously and Bambijoined him so gayly, that they felt most friendly. "Come in next week. I'll show you a most gorgeous string of pearls whichis coming to be restrung, " he said. "Oh, thank you. I have had such a good time. " He took her to the door as if she were a Vanderbilt, and bowed her out. The carriage man bowed, too, and Bambi felt that she was getting on. This time she loitered no longer. She inspected her address for thehundredth time, and went to the magazine office, where she was to findthe golden egg. She was impressed by the elegance of the busy receptionroom, with its mahogany and good pictures. She sent her card to theeditor and waited fifteen minutes, then the card bearer returned. Shewas sorry, but the editor was extremely occupied this morning. Was thereanything she could do for Mrs. Jocelyn? Bambi's face registered herdisappointment. "Would it do any good for me to wait?" "Have you a letter of introduction? Mr. Strong seemed not to know yourname. " "He told me to come. " "Told you? How do you mean?" Bambi offered the letter to her. As she read it her face changed. "Oh, are you the girl who won the prize?" Bambi nodded. "You are?" she protested her amazement. "I'm just as surprised as you are, " Bambi assured her. "Of course Mr. Strong will see you. He didn't understand. " She was offin great haste, and back in a jiffy. "Come right in, " she invited. Bambi wanted to run. Her breath came in little, short gasps. She wishedshe could take hold of the other girl's hand and hold on tight. A doorstood open into an outside office, and several clerks stared at her. Thesanctum door was open. "Mr. Strong, this is Mrs. Jocelyn, " said her guide, and the door closedbehind her. A tall, pleasant-faced young man rose and tried to coverhis surprise. "How do you do?" he said cordially, with outstretched hand. Bambi laid hers in it. "I'm frightened to death, " she answered. "Frightened--of me?" "Well, not you, exactly, but editorism. " He laughed. "I can match amazement with your terror, then. You are a surprise. " "You are disappointed in me, " she said quickly. "I expected a--a--well, a bigger woman, and older. " "I see. You didn't expect a half portion?" "Exactly, " he smiled. "Well, we were extremely interested in yourstory. " "I am so glad. " "What else have you done?" "Nothing. " "That your first story?" "Yes. " "How did you happen to write it, Mrs. Jocelyn?" "I am looking for a career, " she began, but his surprised glance stoppedher. "You see I ought to dance. That's what the Lord intended me to do. I can dance. " "I can imagine that. " "But dancing would take me away from home so much, and the 'HeavenlyTwins' need me so. " "Twins? You haven't twins!" "Yes. Oh, no, not real ones, but my father and Jarvis. " "Jarvis?" "Jarvis is a poet and a dreamer. " "Is Jarvis a friend?" "Oh, no, I am married to him. They are both so helpless. My father is amathematician. I have to take care of them both, you see. " "You mean in a financial way?" "My father makes a fair income, and of course Jarvis may sell his plays, but when I married him I expected to support him. " "He is delicate, I suppose?" She laughed. "He's six feet and over, wide and strong as a battleship. " "And he expects you to support him?" "No. He protests, but you see I took a sort of advantage of him when Imarried him. He didn't want to marry me. " "You are a most extraordinary young woman, " remarked Mr. Strong. "Oh, no, I am usual enough. I help Jarvis with his plays, and what I sayseems to have sense. Do you know?" "I do. " "So just for fun I wrote the story, and just for fun I sent it to yourcontest. " "Well, just for fun we gave you the prize. " She laughed. "We want a whole series of tales about that girl. She's new. " "How many is a series?" "Oh, eight or ten, if you have material enough. " "Oh, yes, I live--I mean I get material all the time. " "What do you want for them?" "Oh, I'd like a lot for them. New York is full of things I want. " He laughed again. "We could give you $150 a story. That would be $1, 500 for the ten. Then, eventually, we would make a book of them, and you would get 10 percent. On that. " "A book? A book, with illustrations, and covers, and all?" He nodded. "Are those terms satisfactory?" "Oh, mercy, yes. It sounds like a fortune!" "When could you begin, Mrs. Jocelyn?" "Right away, to-day!" "Well, that will hardly be necessary. If you send copy to us by thefifth, that will be soon enough. " "All right. Jarvis is selling a play to-day, so probably we will be richshortly. " "To whom is Mr. Jocelyn selling his play?" "Belasco. " "So! That's fine! You'll never have to support him, at that rate. " "He doesn't know about my getting the prize and coming to see you, andall. I want to keep it a secret for a time. " "I understand. " "It would be rather awful for me to be famous first. " "I don't know about that. It would be selfish of your husband to standin your way. " "Oh, Jarvis is selfish. He's utterly, absorbedly selfish, but not justthat way. He'd never stand in my way. " "I'd like to meet Jarvis. " "Well, when the secret is out I'll bring him here. He's unusual, Jarvisis. Some day he'll be great. " "He is in luck to be Mr. To your Mrs. " She flushed furiously. "Yes, I think he is, " she admitted, as she rose. "How long are you to be in New York?" "As long as your five hundred holds out. " "You must come in again. If I can be of any use to you, while you arehere, give you letters to anybody, have you meet people, I'll bedelighted to do so. " "You're a very nice man, " said she. "You have removed the ban from thewhole tribe of editors in twenty minutes' talk. " "That's a tribute worth living for. It has been a delightful twentyminutes. Come in again. " Out in the office, and in the impressive reception room, interestedfaces turned toward her. The girl who had acted sponsor for her nodded. She tasted the first fruits of success, and they were sweet. The onlyimperfection was the fact she could not tell Jarvis. She could not bragof her triumphs nor repeat the friendly chat with Mr. Strong. It wouldbe such fun to see his surprise at the news--he had so lately patronizedher. "You are not the stuff of which creative artists are made, of course. " Tra-la-la! She'd make him eat those words. Then she began at once to do the next story of the series, and by thetime she reached the club she had it all thought out. It was then thatJarvis's telephone message came to her, and she decided that he was evennow reading his play aloud to Belasco; that he, too, had found agolden key. She worked on the new story all the afternoon, and waited for Jarvis'striumphant return, in a seventh heaven of joyous anticipation. IX Jarvis marshalled his reluctant feet into "Forward, March!" down thehall, and trod softly in the hope that he could get past Bambi's door;but at his first step on the corridor it was flung open, and the smallfigure silhouetted against the light of the room behind. "You read him the play?" He led her gently into the room, closed the door, and faced her. "Jarvis, he refused it?" she cried. "I have spent seven hours sitting in an anteroom with a blond steno, waiting. Nobody has been near, all day, excepting fat old girls andBilly boys, looking for jobs. " "Belasco didn't come?" "He did not. What's more, he sometimes does not come for days. " "Couldn't they send him word you were there?" Even Jarvis smiled at this. "My dear, they treated me with the same consideration afforded thejanitor. It occurred to me, during those seven hours of enforcedthought, that our ideas of the simplicity of selling a play were atrifle arrogant. It seems to have unforeseen complications. " Bambi sat down on the bed, her brow knitted. "Seven hours sitting? That's awful!" "The blond young woman suggested a letter of introduction or anappointment, but I don't know any one to give me a letter. I doubt if hewill give me the appointment without it. " "I can get it for you!" she said. "You can? Where? How?" "I know a way. Never you mind. " "I was afraid you would be so disappointed I was tempted not to comeback at all, " he remarked. "Disappointed? Not I! Why, we can wait seven years, if need be. In theend we will win. " "You are a very good sport, Miss Mite. " "I are, " laughed she. "I am a very able woman, Jarvis. Some day you willbe proud of me. " "You are a terrible egotist, " he objected. "If I didn't believe in myself, where would I be? You and fatherscarcely notice me. " "I'm beginning to notice you, " Jarvis interrupted. "I was reallysurprised to find how concerned I was not to disappoint you. " "That was nice of you, Jarvis, " she beamed at him. "Don't do that, " he said sharply. "Do what?" "Smile like a cat at a mouse, " he said. "I intended that for a grateful smile. " "It didn't turn out that. It was possessive. If I can't be friendly withyou without your over-occupying my thoughts, I shall ignore you. " "You mustn't worry about liking me, Jarvis. It's inevitable. Peoplealways like me. I become a necessity, like salt and pepper. Just acceptme cheerfully, for here I am. " He looked at her, frowning. "Yes, there you are. " "That scowl is very becoming to you. You look like an angry viking. " "I am in no good mood to play. " "Oh, very well, Grandfather Grunt. I had such a nice day. Why don't youask me about it?" "I should be interested to hear what you did. " "Your manners are painful but impeccable, " she laughed. "Well, Iflittered and fluttered up and down the avenue, like a distractedbutterfly. I spent a few hours in Tiffany's with such a pleasant man. " "Who was he?" "I don't know. He was a clerk there. I went in to look at jewels. " "What for?" "Just for the joy of it. " "And a clerk spent two hours with you?" She nodded. "But why?" "Because I'm so charming, stupid. He asked me to come in next week tosee some famous pearls. I also inspected a bookshop. I asked about thesale of published plays. I thought we might make your things intoa book. " "If Broadway doesn't want them?" "Better still if Broadway does. " "Do you always go about making acquaintances?" he inquired. "Always. People like to talk to me. I look so inoffensive. " He smiled at her saucy, tip-tilted face. "Any more adventures?" "Oh, yes. A gay old man asked me if I was alone?" "What?" he exploded. "He did. He liked my looks enormously. I could see it. " "Did you call a policeman?" "Not I. Do you think I am a 'bitty-lum'?" "A what?" he asked. "Once a pig molicepan, Saw a bitty-lum, Sitting on a surbcone, Chewing gubber rum. Hi, said the molicepan, Will you sim me gome? Tinny on your nintype, Said the bitty-lum. " "How old _are_ you?" inquired Jarvis. "Well, I've got all my teeth. " "What did you do with the old masher?" "I squelched him. " "Did he go away?" She nodded. "You must be more careful on the streets, Bambi. People misunderstandyou. " "Well, I can always explain myself, " she added, laughing. "Then what did you do?" "More or less directly, I came here, and lunched, in the conviction thatyou were closeted with Belasco. Did you have any lunch?" "Yes. The blond one drove me out for half an hour. " "I should have gone with you. " "Why?" "I would never sit anywhere seven hours. " "What would you have done?" "Gone to Belasco's house, or telephoned something startling that wouldhave brought him down quickly. " "For instance?" "Well, that the theatre was on fire. " "But when he got there?" "I'd have made him see it was a joke. " "Maybe he hasn't that kind of a sense of humour?" "Then I should have perished bravely. " So the incidents of their first day's careering ended jocularly. Bambi called Mr. Strong on the wire next day, and told him of Jarvis'sunprofitable sitting. Could he get her a letter to Belasco? Or to anyother leading manager? He laughed, said he did not know Belasco, butthought he could arrange it for her. He promised to send a letter tothe club. With this assurance to fall back upon, she persuaded Jarvis to go to theoffice of one of the newer managers who seemed to be of an open mind inregard to untried playwrights. She showed him a magazine article aboutthis "live wire, " named over his productions, and repeated his cordialinvitation to new writers. Jarvis set forth reluctantly. He liked salesman work as little as he hadexpected to. But he felt he owed some effort to Bambi, since he was herguest, and her mind was so set on his success. This time the cheeky-faced office boy admitted that the manager was in. He accepted and scrutinized Jarvis's card with disdain, but on hisreturn from the inner office he ejaculated, "Wait!" So Jarvis sat downfor his second endurance feat. The same Johnnies and Billies and Fayscame to this office in their endless seeking. He began to vision thegreat, ceaseless army of them "making the rounds, " as they call it, often hungry and tired. They were most of them uneducated, you couldtell by their speech, for all their long "a's" and short "r's. " Thatthey were physically unadapted to the profession was obvious enough inmany cases. They were probably badly trained. How did they live? Wheredid they go? They began to haunt him. He was interrupted by hearing his name called. He rose mechanically, andfollowed the boy into a very large and ornate office. A fat Jewish man, in loud clothes, a brown derby hat, and a cigar, sat at a desk, dictating. "H'are ye?" he ejaculated as Jarvis entered. He went on dictating andsmoking, until Jarvis finally interrupted him, saying he wanted to seethe manager. The fat man glared at him. "Sit down until I get through!" he shouted. "I'm the manager. " Jarvis took a chair and looked at the man closely. What would such acreature find in his play, with its roots in a modern condition, no moregrasped by this man than by Professor Parkhurst? The absurdity of theidea struck Jarvis so forcibly that he laughed out loud. "Let's have it, if it's any good, " said the fat man. "I beg your pardon, " Jarvis replied. The manager dismissed the stenographer, took up Jarvis's card, looked atit, and then at his victim. "Jarvis Jocelyn, " he read. "Good stage name. What's your line, Jarvis?" [Illustration: "WELL, BELIEVE ME, THAT HIGH-BROW STUFF IS ON THETOBOGGAN. "] "I've come to see you about a play. " "Oh, you're a writer? What have you done?" "Several plays, and some poetry. " "Nix on the poetry. Who brought out the plays?" "Nobody yet. I am just beginning to offer them. " "What sort of stuff is it?" "It's a dramatic handling of the feminist movement. " "What's that?" "The emancipation of woman. " "I hadn't heard about it. Is your stuff funny?" "No. It is a serious presentation of an unique revolution----" "Well, believe me, that high-brow stuff is on the toboggan. I knew itcouldn't last. I gave it to them when they demanded it, but I am cuttingit out now. Haven't you got a good melodrama, or a funny show?" "I have not, " superbly. "Say, do you know any Jews? I got a great idea for a Jew play that wouldtake like the measles if some fellow would work it up. Pile of moneyin it. " Jarvis rose, furious. "It is so apparent that we have nothing to say to each other that I'llbid you good morning. " "If you fellows who come in here from the country to run Broadway couldput _yourselves_ in a show, it would be the scream of the town, " saidthe fat man in Jarvis's wake. "I'd rather starve than endure a pig like you!" cried Jarvis, as hefled. The fat man's laugh followed him to the street. He hated himself, andthe whole situation. It galled him to think he had deliberatelysubmitted himself to such treatment. Even Bambi could not expect it ofhim, --to set him to sell his dreams in such a market. He charged downBroadway, clearing a wake as wide as a battleship in action. He saw red. He was unconscious of people. He only felt the animus of the atmosphere, the sense of things tugging at him, which had to be cast off. Why was hehere? He wanted the quiet, the open stretches, and his own freethoughts. What turn of the wheel had brought him into this maelstrom?Bambi! The old story, Samson and Delilah! He had visioned great things. She had shorn him, and pushed him into a net of circumstances. He wouldnot endure it. He would sweep her out of his life, and be abouthis work. He was disappointed to find her out when he returned to the club. He hadhis opening speech all ready and it was annoying to have his scenedelayed. He raged about, to keep his wrath hot, until she came. "Greeting, " she began; then saw his face, and added, "Jungle beast!" "I'll not stay here another day!" he cried. "You saw the manager?" "He asked me if the stuff was funny! He invited me to write a Jew play, and make a pot of money! He said 'Nix on the high-brow stuff, ' and neverheard of the feminist movement, " he blurted out in one breath. She sat down under the onslaught, trying to arrange her rebelliousfeatures. "'Nix on the high-brow stuff. ' To me!" he repeated. Bambi gave up. She rolled on the bed, and laughed. Jarvis raged the room up and down. There was no gleam of humour in itfor him. When her paroxysm had passed, she sat up and looked at him. "Poor old Knight with the Broken Lance, " she said. "It's tough, but ithad to be done. " "What had to be done?" "This morning's work. It was part of your training. You must know justwhat the situation is here, in the market-place. " "But there is no place for me here. " "After two days' failure, you give up?" "I told you I couldn't sell my things. They are too good. " "That's rubbish. Nothing you, nor I, nor any other human can think, istoo good. If we have big thoughts, and want to tell them to our brotherswho speak another tongue, if we have the brains, we must learn theirtongue, not hope for them to acquire ours. That is what I hoped youwould see. " "You think I've got to learn the Broadway lingo?" "I do. If you have anything to say, Broadway needs it. " "I can't translate what I want to say into that speech. " "But you can. It will mean hard work, hard work and heartache, anddisappointment, but you can do it, because you have the soul stuff of agreat man. " Her eyes shone now, misted with feeling. He saw again his multitudesflocking to him in the wilderness. He saw them aroused, revived, triumphant over life through him. "Will you help me?" he cried to her. It was his first uttered need ofher, and her heart beat high in response. "I will, if you will let me, Jack o' Dreams. " "Don't let me give up! Don't let me lose heart!" "No, I won't. I'll push, or haul you, to the top!" "I came to scoff, and I stay to pray, " said Jarvis, cryptically. "Godbless you, Bambi!" he added, as he left her. X No letter from Mr. Strong arrived in the morning's mail, so Bambiinduced Jarvis to go over to the Cubist show, by himself, on the pleathat she had a headache. He went, most willingly, anywhere, except Broadway. The minute he was out of the way her languid, headachey manner changedto one of brisk energy. She donned her smartest frock and hat. She wasmore earnest in her effort to allure the eye than she was on the day ofher own conquest. "You must look your best, you little old Bambi, you, and see what you can do for big Jarvis!" After the last nod of approval at her reflected self, she tuckedJarvis's manuscript under her arm, and started forth. She had made aclose study of all the theatrical columns of the papers and magazinessince their arrival in New York, so she was beginning to have a formalbowing acquaintance with the names of the leading managers. In spite of her cheerful acceptance of Jarvis's mood of despair, the daybefore, she was really deeply touched by it, and appealed to by hishelplessness to cope with the situation. She remembered her words to herfather, "He cannot accommodate himself to the commercial standards ofthe times. " It was so true. And was she right in submitting him to themso ruthlessly? Was she blunting something fine in him by this uglypicture she was holding up for him to see, of a thoroughlycommercialized drama, the laws and restrictions of which he must knowand conquer, or be silenced? All the mother in her hated to have himhurt, but the sensible helpmeet part of her knew that it must be done. Of course he could not be expected to know how to approach managers, allat once. He was probably very tactless. He admitted that he had calledthe enemy of yesterday a "pig. " Naturally that was no way to help hiscause. Perhaps, after this experience, and his new cognizance ofconditions, it would be better for him to write in quiet and solitude, while she acted as salesman. "I'm just plain adventuress enough to love the fight of it, " sheadmitted to herself as she approached the office she had selected forher first try. She tripped in, confidently, and addressed theoffice boy. "Mr. Claghorn in?" she asked. "Nope. " "When do you expect him?" "Oh, any time. He's in and out. " "I'll wait. " "Probably won't be back until after lunch. " A railing shut off the hall where she stood from the office proper, where the boy was on guard. Doors opened off this central room into theprivate offices. There were no chairs in this hall, and the boy made nomove to open the railing. "Is that large armchair in there rented for the day?" Bambi inquired. "Not so far as I know, " he grinned. "Does this thing open, or do I have to jump it?" she smiled. "Where are you goin'?" "To the large armchair. " "Welcome to our city, " said he, as he lifted the rail. "Nobody allowedin here except by appointment. " "That's all right. I understand that, " she said nonchalantly, and sankinto the haven of the chair. All the details of the office, which bored Jarvis, or which he entirelyfailed to see, fascinated Bambi. She set herself to the subjection ofthe office boy, by a request for the baseball score. "Say, are you a fan?" he asked. "Can't you see it in my eye?" He was launched. He gave her a minute biographical sketch of everyplayer on the team, his past and future possibilities. He went over allthe games of the past season, while Bambi turned an enraptured faceupon him. He was frequently interrupted by actors and actresses who came byappointment, or otherwise, and he gave her all the racy detailsconcerning them at his disposal. By indirection she obtained adescription of Claghorn, so that he might not escape her if he came in. All the actors looked at her with interest, the actresses with disdain. One whispered to the boy, who shook his head. "Say, what you wid?" he asked her later. "I don't understand you. " His look became suspicious. "What show you with?" "With 'Success, '" she answered hastily, patting the manuscript. "Roadshow?" "No. " "Playing New York?" "Not yet. " "Gimme two pasteboards when you come to town. I'd like to see you. " "All right. What's your name?" "Robert Mantell Moses. I'm going on, in comic opera, some day. " "So?" said Bambi. "Song and dance. Are you a dancer?" "I am. " "Toe or Tango?" "I beg pardon. " "Toe dancer, or Tango artist?" "Oh, I do them both. " "Do you do the Kitchen Sink? And the Wash Tub?" Bambi thought fast. "Yes. And the One-legged Smelt. Also the JabberwockJig. " He inspected her suspiciously. "Say, those are new ones on me. " "Really?" She was thoroughly enjoying herself when the brazen-mouthed clocktwanged twelve. "Goodness! Is it as late as that? Claghorn's ins are mostly outs. " "Give me that again. " "You said he was in and out. " "Nix on the rough stuff. " "What a lovely phrase! I must tell that to Jarvis. " "Who's Jarvis? Your steady?" "No. He's a--relative by marriage. " "Nix on the 'in-laws' for me. " He suddenly straightened up to attention as a big, fierce-looking manplunged in, nearly demolished the railing in passage, and made for adoor marked "Private. " "Any mail?" he shouted. "No. Lady to see you, sir, " the boy replied. Bambi rose to meet the foe, who never glanced at her. He jerked open thedoor, but he was not quick enough for the originator of the JabberwockJig. Her small foot was slid into the space between the door and thethreshold. It was at the risk of losing a valuable member, but she wasso angry at being ignored that she never thought of it. When thegentleman found that the door would not close, he stuck his head out, and nearly kissed Bambi, whose smiling countenance happened to be inthe way. "Well?" he ejaculated. "Quite well, thank you, " she replied as she slid in the crack. He lookedher over. "Where did you come from?" he demanded. "I was out there when you swept the horizon with your eye, but you musthave missed me. I didn't run up a flag. " She was so little and so saucy that he had to smile. "What do you want?" he asked directly. "I want to talk with you, for about three minutes. " "I don't engage people for the shows. " "I don't want a job. " "Well, what do you want? Talk fast. My time is precious. " "I have here a very fine play, called 'Success, ' which would be a goodinvestment for you. " "Who wrote it?" "My husband. " He glanced at her. "I thought child marriage was prohibited in this state. " She dimpled back at him, deliciously. "It is modern, dramatic. " "Comedy?" "No. " "Nothing else has much chance. Leave it, and I will read it. " "When?" [Illustration: "TELL YOUR HUSBAND TO PUT YOU IN A PLAY, AND I'LL PUT ITON. " "MUCH OBLIGED, I'LL TELL HIM. GOOD MORNING. "] "As soon as I can. " "But we have to go home next Thursday. " "You don't expect me to read it before then?" "Couldn't you?" "I wouldn't read Pinero's latest before then. " "How soon would you read it?" "I've got nine productions to look after. I only read on trains. I'mgoing to Buffalo to-night. " "Then you could take it along to-night?" she cried happily. "Say, who let you in here, anyhow?" "You did. " "I've got no time to talk to anybody. " "I'm not anybody. I'm I. Just promise me you'll read it to-night andI'll go. " "Is this it? Name and address on it?" She nodded. "All right. To-night. Now get out!" "Thanks. I've had such a nice call. " As she reached the door he spoke. "Tell your husband to put you in a play and I'll put it on. " "Much obliged. I'll tell him. Good morning. " She made her farewells to Robert Mantell Moses, went out and down thestreet. It was definitely settled in her mind that she was to marketJarvis's wares. She had a gift for it, a desperate courage in a crisis, that made her do anything to win her point and get what she came for. Jarvis would, no doubt, be sitting, still. He was waiting for her atthe club. "I was getting anxious about you. Did you go to a doctor?" "Doctor?" "For your head?" "Oh, my head. I'd forgotten all about it. After you left, I felt so muchbetter that I decided to go out. " "Looking for more adventures?" "I never look for them. They--flock to my standard. No, I took the playand stormed a manager's office. I saw him, in spite of himself, and gothim to promise to read the play to-night on the way to Buffalo. " "Who was he?" "Claghorn. " "How did you get to him?" "He ran through the big office into his private one, and was just aboutto pull up the drawbridge, when I sprang in after him. " "Just tell it to me in plain English, Bambi. " She described her entrance, with the subjection of the office boy, theruse by which she got into the inner office, her interview withClaghorn, and his subsequent promise. "You are a wonder!" he exclaimed. "I never could have thought of it. " "I should say you wouldn't. You'd have been sitting there yet. " "Did you tell him about the play?" "In three minutes? I should say not! I had to cram my words in, likeloading a rapid-fire gun. Pouf! Pouf! And out!" "Did he seem intelligent?" "Yes, rather. I have decided to see managers after this, Jarvis. It willbe Jocelyn & Co. You do the work and I'll sell it. It's fun. " "It's wonderful how the gods look after me, " he said. "Gods nothing! It's wonderful how I look after you. You can burn incenseto me. " "I do. " The play came back shortly, with a brief note from Claghorn. It had somegood points, but it was too serious. Not dramatic enough. The thirdact was weak. "All the silly asses want me to make them laugh, " raged Jarvis. "I am disappointed in my new friend, but the letter to Belasco is herenow, so we'll have a talk with him. Will you go, or shall I?" "I think I'd like to talk with him, and tell him my views, " Jarvis said. They sent in the letter, with a request for an interview. In the courseof a few days a reply came saying that Mr. Belasco had gone West to seea new production, but if Mr. Jocelyn would send his play to the officeit would receive the earliest possible attention. It was a blow to theirhopes, but there was nothing else to do, so they dispatched it bymessenger. "I think, maybe, we had better plan to go back home to-morrow, and waitthe decision there. The money is vanishing, and I am getting anxiousabout the Professor. He forgets to write anything of importance. " "All right. I'll be glad to go back. " "Let's go shop this afternoon, and take the morning train to-morrow. " "Good. Suits me. " "What shall I take the Professor? I've thought and thought. He's so hardto shop for. " "Get him an adding machine!" Bambi withered him. "He would disinherit me on the spot. That's like sending Paderewski apianola. " "We must get something for Ardelia, too. " "I got her a red dress, a red hat, a salmon-pink waist, andhandkerchiefs with a coloured border. " Once their thoughts turned toward the little house, and the arithmeticalgarden, they were anxious to get back. Their shopping tour was a gayaffair, because it was their last outing. "Don't you feel differently about New York?" she asked him as theywalked back. "It seems to me like a fascinating new friend I have made. I am sorry to leave it. " "I'm not. I'm not made for cities. People interest me for a while, thenI forget them, and they are always under foot, in places like this. Itrip over them, and they interrupt my thoughts. " "I'm so glad you are true to type, " she smiled up at him. "I'm deeply grateful and appreciative of your bringing me here, " headded awkwardly. "That was out of character, Jarvis. A month ago you would have taken itas your right. " "I'm beginning to realize that others may have rights, that even you mayhave some, Miss Mite. " "Never fear. I'll protect mine, " she boasted. On the morrow they turned their faces toward home and the Professor. XI "It looks very out-of-the-worldly, doesn't it?" Bambi said as they camein sight of home. "It looks like Paradise to me, " sighed Jarvis, holding open the gate forher. "Enter Eve, dragging the serpent, " she laughed as she passed in. "Evenever played in an arithmetical garden, " she added. "If she had, therewould probably have been no immortal fall. " "The number eights look tired, " Jarvis commented, ignoring herwitticism. She spied the Professor afar sitting at work on the piazza. She flewalong the path and burst in upon him. "Daddy!" she cried, and enveloped him. His astonishment was poignant. "My dear, " he said, "my dear. Why, I must have forgotten that you werecoming. I would have been at the station. " "I knew you'd forget, so I didn't bother you with it. How are you? Haveyou been lonesome? Did you miss us? Where's Ardelia?" all in a breath. The Professor smiled. "Question one, I am well. Two, I cannot say that I have been lonesome. Three, I did not miss you. Four, Ardelia is in the kitchen. How are you, Jarvis?" he added as his son-in-law appeared. "I am well, sir. I trust you are the same. " "Thank you. I enjoy good health. " "Stop it! Sounds like the first aid to manners. Here's Ardelia. Well, how do you do?" Ardelia's face was decorated with a most expansive grin. "Howdy, Miss Bambi? Howdy, Massa Jarvis? I sho'r am glad to see youfolks home again. " She shook hands with both of them. "How's everything, Ardelia?" "All right, Miss. Eberything is all right. We got 'long fine together, the Perfessor and me. We des went about forgettin' eberyting and habin'a mighty comfortable time. Did you all have a good time on yourhoneymoon?" "Fine, " said Bambi. "We brought you some presents, that will make youreyes ache, and, 'Delia, we're famished. " "Dog's foot! Heah I stan' a-gassin' and a-talkin' and you all hungry aswolfses. " She hurried off, muttering. Jarvis and Bambi sat down. "Isn't there something you want to tell me? I can't just remember whatyou went to New York for?" "We went to sell my play, " Jarvis prompted. "To be sure. It had escaped me for a moment. Were you successful?" "We were not. " "Oh, Jarvis, how can you say that? We don't know yet. Belasco isconsidering it. " "What is this Belasco?" Bambi looked at Jarvis, and they both laughed. "Isn't he refreshing?" she remarked. "I've thought for two weeks interms of managers. They fill the universe. They are the gods. Their nodis life or death, and now my nearest relative says, 'What is Belasco?'" "It's a sort of meat sauce, isn't it?" Consternation on both their faces, then an outburst from Bambi. "No, no! That's tabasco, you dear, blessed innocent. " "Belasco is one of the leading managers in New York, Professor, "explained Jarvis, patiently. "He is as well known as Pierpont Morgan orTheodore Roosevelt. " "Indeed! Well, I am not surprised at my ignorance. I have no interest inpresent-day drama. It is degenerate mush. " "Have you seen anything, since 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'?" Jarvis inquired. "I have seen 'The Second Mrs. Tanqueray, '" he replied conclusively. "That was considered strong meat in its day, but now we have 'DamagedGoods, '" mused Jarvis. "And what are 'Damaged Goods'?" inquired the Professor. "What are Yonkers? Don't tell him, Jarvis--he's too young to know. It'san ugly modern play. We saw some things you might have enjoyed. Oh, Ioften wished for you. " "Thank you, my dear, but I have no desire to enter that cauldron ofhumanity. " "I agree with you, Professor Parkhurst. " "That is a rare occurrence, I may say, " answered the Professor, with atwinkle. "Thank goodness, you have me to prod you into life. You would both sitin your dens and figure and write until you blinked like owls in thenight. I have stored up energy enough, from these two weeks in thecauldron, to run me for months. I didn't miss one thing, ugly orbeautiful. I shall use it all. " "Use it? How use it, my dear?" "In my thoughts, my opinions, my life. " "Dear me!" said her father, staring at her. "What odd things you say!" "It's true, what she says, " Jarvis ejaculated. "She rolled New York upon reels, like a moving-picture show, and I have no doubt she could giveus a very good performance. " "I shall, " quoth Bambi. "It is rather a pity you waste your impressions, Bambi. Why don't youwrite them down?" Jarvis patronized. "In a young lady's diary, I suppose. No, thanks. " "One author in a family is enough, " commented the Professor, heartily. "You ought to tell us your conclusion about your career. Did you settleit in your mind?" "I did. " "A career?" anxiously, from Professor Parkhurst. "Yes, wealth and fame are in my grasp. " "You haven't done anything rash, my dear?" "Well, slightly rash, but not the rashest I could do. " "Is it dancing?" from Jarvis. "Of a sort. " "Not public dancing?" "No, private, " she giggled. "Will it take you away much?" Jarvis asked her. "Oh, I'll go to New York occasionally. " "It is to be a secret, I take it?" the Professor said. "It is, old Sherlock Holmes. " They slipped back into their routine of life as if it had never beenbroken. Jarvis, after two perturbed days of restlessness, went into awork fit over a new play. The Professor was busy with finalexaminations, so Bambi was left alone with plenty of leisure in which todo her next story. She wisely decided to write herself--in other words, to dramatize herown experiences, to draw on her emotions, her own views of life. Shemust leave it to Jarvis to rouse and stir people. She would be contentto amuse and charm them. So she boldly called her tale by her own name, "Francesca, " and she shamelessly introduced the Professor and Jarvis, with a thin disguise, and chortled over their true likeness after shehad dipped them in the solution of her imagination. She relied on thefact that neither of them ever looked between the covers of a magazine. Besides, even if they chanced upon the story, they would never recognizetheir own portraits. [Illustration: HER TALE HAD THE PLACE OF HONOUR AND WAS ILLUSTRATED BYJAMES MONTGOMERY FLAGG, THE SUPREME DESIRE OF EVERY YOUNG WRITER. ] A few days before the prize story was published, a special copy came toher from Mr. Strong. She hid it until the "Twins" were gone. Then shehurried out to the piazza and the hammock with it. It was a thrillingmoment. "Prize Story by a Wonderful New Writer" stared up at her fromthe front page. Her tale had the place of honour in the makeup, and itwas illustrated--double-page illustrations--by James Montgomery Flagg, the supreme desire of every young writer. She hugged the magazine. Shescanned it over and over. She laid it on the table, picked it upcasually, and turned to the first story indifferently, just to squeezethe full joy out of it. Then she pounded a pile of pillows into shape, drew her feet up under her, and began to read her own work. She smiled agood deal, she chuckled, finally she laughed outright, hugging herself. At this unfortunate moment Jarvis appeared. She looked as guilty as adetected criminal. "What's the joke?" "Oh, I was laughing at a story in here. " "How can you read that trash?" "It isn't trash. It's perfectly delightful. " "What is it?" He came nearer to her, and she clutched the magazinetightly. "Oh, just a prize story. " "A prize story? And funny enough to make you laugh? Not O. Henry?" "Of course not. He's dead. A new writer, it says. " He held out his hands for it, and, perforce, she resigned it to him. "Francesca!" he exclaimed. "Odd, isn't it? That's what attracted me to it, " Bambi lied. "Well, I suppose there are other Francescas. I came to ask you to listento a scenario. " "Good! I shall be delighted, " she replied cordially, folding themagazine over her finger. So the fatal moment came and passed. Her secret was safe. She kept thecherished magazine in her own room, read and reread it, patting itscover, as one would a curly head. Upon the receipt of her second story came a telegram from Strong, "Canyou see me on Thursday? New plan for stories. Arrive in Sunnyside ten inthe morning. " She wired him to come, then sat down to work up anexplanation of him for the "Heavenly Twins. " He would be there forlunch--he must be accounted for. She discarded several plans, andfinally decided to introduce him as the brother of a college classmate, in town for the day. She would get rid of the family speedily, so thatshe and Mr. Strong might have time for the conference. What on earth didhe want to see her about? It must be important, to bring him from NewYork. Maybe he was disappointed with the second story, and wanted tobreak the contract. It was his kind way to come and say it, instead ofwriting it, but it was a blow. She had felt that the second tale was somuch better than the first. She went over it, in her mind, trying topick flaws in it. Well, she could always go to dancing, if everythingelse failed. At lunch she casually remarked, "Richard Strong is coming to lunch onThursday. I hope you will both be here. " "Who may Richard Strong be?" inquired her father. "He is the brother of an old classmate, Mary Strong. " "Does he live here?" Jarvis asked. "No. He lives in New York. " "What brings him to Sunnyside?" "He didn't say. " "I never heard of him before, " Professor Parkhurst said. "Oh, yes. I used to talk about him a great deal. He's a fine fellow. " "Was he a special friend?" Jarvis asked, roused to some interest. Bambi hesitated. She was getting in deeper than she planned. "Yes, rather special. Not intimate, but special. " "What is his business?" asked her father. "I don't remember. " "Rich idler, I suppose, " Jarvis scorned. "He used to work when I knew him. " "Well, we shall be glad to see the young man. Would you like me tochange off my afternoon classes and remain at home?" "Oh, no. Don't think of it!" Bambi cried, with unpremeditated warmth, which focussed Jarvis's eyes upon her. "He'll be here only a littlewhile, and we will reminisce. He would bore you to death. " "I like to be cordial to your beaus. " "Professor Parkhurst, I am a married woman. " "Dear me, so you are. I am always forgetting Jarvis. If he is a bore, I'll lunch at the club. " "Possibly you would prefer me to lunch out, too, " said Jarvis, pointedly. "Not at all. I want you both here, " said Bambi, with irritation, closingthe incident. She had a feeling that she had not handled the situationas well as she had planned to do. XII Thursday, and Mr. Strong arrived with the inevitableness of dreadedevents. Bambi felt convinced that his coming meant the premature deathof her new-born career, so, naturally, she was prepared for grief. Anelement of amusement was added, however, by Jarvis's astonishingbehaviour. Ever since the first mention of Mr. Strong's name he hadshown unmistakable signs of dislike for that gentleman. 'It was the mostremarkable revelation of his strange character. Having totally ignoredBambi himself, it distressed him to think of any other man beingattracted by her. His references to Mr. Strong's coming were many andsatirical. This display of manly inconsistency was nuts and ale toBambi. She wondered how much Mr. Strong would play up, and she decidedto give Jarvis Jocelyn an uncomfortable hour. She herself was an adeptin amatory science, but she was a trifle unsure of Mr. Strong. However, she remembered a certain twinkle in his eye that augured well. Because it was necessary to enlighten him as to the situation inadvance, she arrayed herself most carefully to go and meet him. Sheencountered Jarvis on the stairs. He inspected her charming self, in afrock the colour of spring green leaves, topped by a crocus-colouredhat, like a flower. She deliberately pranced before him. "Aren't I a delight to the eye?" He stared at her coldly. "Such ardent admiration embarrasses me, Jarvis, " she protested. "You look very nice, " he admitted. "Nice! Nice! I look like a daffodil, or a crocus, or some other pleasantspring beauty. " "I am glad you are so pleased with yourself. I trust Strong will beequally appreciative. " "I hope so when I have gone to so much trouble for him, " she tossed backover her shoulder, in punishment. As Mr. Strong stepped off the train and faced her, it would be hard tosay whether admiration or astonishment constituted the greater part ofhis expression. "Mrs. Jocelyn, why this is too kind of you!" "Not at all. City people are so unused to our devious country ways thatI was afraid you would get lost. " Admiration was certainly on top now. "If you don't mind, we will walk. It isn't far. " "The farther the better, " he replied gallantly. They set forth, down the shady village street, where the trees almostmet overhead. Strong drew in deep breaths of the fresh morning air. Hiseyes kept returning to the little French figure at his side, sometropolitan, and yet so much the dominant note in any setting in whichhe had seen her. She chattered on, about the town, the university, andthe sights. "I refrain from pointing out the town hall, and the Carnegie Library, "she said. "I am grateful, " he bowed. "Are you married?" she darted at him, out of their impersonality. "No, alas!" "That helps a little. " His surprise was evident. "I'm afraid I've got you into rather a box. " "I don't mind, if you will play Pandora. " "Thanks. You remember that I told you that my--my career was to be asecret from the 'Heavenly Twins'?" "Yes. " "I suppose my career is about over, but I don't want them to know aboutit. " "Excuse me. What's that--about your career being over?" "That's why you've come, isn't it? You didn't like the last story?" He stared at her, and then burst out laughing. "You thought I would come way out here from New York to tell you Ididn't like it?" "I have a high opinion of your kindness, " she nodded. "You nice little girl!" he added impetuously. "I came partly because Iwanted to talk to you again, partly because I wanted to see Jarvis andthe Professor. " She smiled and nodded encouragement. "Then, too, we've had such a raft of letters about the 'Francesca' storythat I want to talk to you about making a novel of it, to run serially, instead of the short stories we arranged for. " "A novel? You want me to write a novel?" "We do. " "But I wonder if I could?" she said, in an awed voice. "Of course you could. The second story was ripping. " "Was it? Was it?" She clapped her hands joyously. "We can use it as Chapter Two, with very few changes, and from now onyou can build your story about the characters you have introduced, witha spinal cord of plot to give it shape. " "It frightens me to death, to think of doing it. I have always thoughtit took genius to write a novel. " "My dear young woman, not in this day, when publishing houses gush bookslike so many geysers. Anybody with your gift of words and vividreactions ought to find writing the line of least resistance. Of courseyou can do it. " "I'd adore trying if you'd help me. " "That's agreed. " He watched the concentration of her face with interest. She was wrappedin the thought of the book. She was attacking it, on all sides, with thelance of her mind. When she threw herself into every new interest withsuch abandon, it was no wonder that she gave out impressions with thesame intensity. "What about the box I'm in?" he reminded her. She came out of her trancewith a start. "I'd forgotten all about you, " she said frankly. "I had to explain youto the 'Heavenly Twins, ' somehow. If I said you were an editor, theywould naturally ask why you came to see me?" "I never thought of that. I am afraid I've put you in an embarrassingposition. " "Oh, not at all. I've put you in one. I told them you were the brotherof an old classmate, stopping over in town for a day, and that you wereto look me up. " "Did I know you well when you were in college?", he smiled. "I didn't intend to have you know me well, but Jarvis showed suchunexpected interest in you that you are suspected of having known merather well. " "Sort of an old affair?" "Sort of, " she laughed up at him. "I get the idea. Have I your permission to play the rôle in my own way?" "Yes, only don't betray me. The 'Twins' will only be around atlunch-time. After that, we can talk book. " "Good! I'll play up with my best amateur theatrical manner, " heresponded, as they entered the garden. "This is the arithmeticalgarden, " he said "It's true. Why, it's just like an 'Alice inWonderland' experience, coming into something I have known in some otherstate of consciousness. " "Oh, yes, it's true. That's all I am, a sort of a camera. " "What a picture-book house!" he added. "It's just right for you. " As they went into the screened porch Jarvis arose, slowly, from thehammock. Mr. Strong stopped, really amazed, as the splendid figure, withits Apollo head, advanced. Bambi, too, was struck with some new alivequality in Jarvis that was compelling. "This is Mr. Strong, Jarvis. " The two men measured each other swiftly. "I am glad to meet you, " said Jarvis, with determined politeness. "Thank you. It's a pleasure to meet Mrs. Jocelyn's husband. " Bambi laughed. "Mrs. Jocelyn's husband is a new rôle for Jarvis, " said she. "I understand you and Mrs. Jocelyn are old friends, " said Jarvis, perfunctorily. "We are indeed old and dear friends. " "It has been some years since you met?" "Yes, although I couldn't realize it this morning. There is a vividquality about Mrs. Jocelyn which makes it impossible to forget anythingabout her. Don't you think so?" Jarvis looked at Bambi, who grinned. "Do you find me vivid, Jarvis?" "You are certainly highly coloured. " "Ugh! That sounds like a Sunday supplement. " Conversation limped along like a tired cab horse. Even Bambi could notprod it into a semblance of life. Besides, she was choked with laughterat the picture of Jarvis sitting up, during his sacred work hours, fullof bromides and manners. A discussion of New York almost released him. He thundered against modern cities with force. New York, discovered tobe the home of Strong, became anathema to his host. It was the Goliathof Tyranny, Wealth, Degeneration, against which, David-like, he aimedhis sling. Strong led him on, interested in his personality. "Mrs. Jocelyn does not share your opinion of New York?" "There are many of my opinions in which Mrs. Jocelyn does not share. " "Fortunately. Same opinions ought to constitute grounds for divorce, "said Bambi. "I understand you write plays, Mr. Jocelyn?" "I do. " "You will have to endure New York, now and again, I suppose, when youbegin to produce. " "We have formed a partnership, " Bambi interpolated. "He writes and Isell. " "You are a lucky man, " Strong complimented him. Jarvis ignored the remark. Strong wondered why on earth Bambi hadmarried him. He was wonderful to look at, but his manners wereimpossible. If he was in love with her, he disguised it successfully. The entrance of the Professor saved the situation. "This is Mr. Strong, Professor. My father, Professor Parkhurst. " The Professor's hand-clasp and absent-minded smile seemed like a perfectcharacter make-up. It was the kind of thing David Warfield would haveplayed excellently. Strong had to shake himself to realize that thesewere real people, they were so individualized, so emphasized, likecharacters in a play. "I am always glad to welcome my daughter's old friends, " he said. "Iforget when it was you knew each other, my dear. " "At college. " "Ah, yes, I remember. In college. How is your sister?" "My sister?" repeated Strong. Bambi gasped. She had forgotten to tellhim about Mary. "I refer to your sister Mary, " the Professor went on. "Oh, sister Mary? Oh----" Strong recovered himself. "You have other sisters?" "Yes, oh, yes. Many. " "Many, indeed! How many, may I ask?" "Thirteen, " at a venture. "Thirteen sisters! That is astonishing! And you are the only brother?" "The only one. " "Are they all living?" "No. All dead. " "Not Mary?" exclaimed Bambi. "No, no, I meant to omit Mary. All but Mary are gone. " "That is very sad, " sighed the Professor. "Thirteen sisters! How werethey named?" "After the thirteen original states, " replied Ananias Strong. "Extraordinary, but Mary----" "Short for Maryland, " prompted Strong. Bambi almost choked. The subject seemed to fascinate her father. "Is Mary married?" he inquired. "Yes, quite. Quite married. " "I forget whether she visited us, my dear. " "No, Mary never came to Sunnyside. " "What a pity the friendships of our young days pass away, isn't it?" "Not at all. It's a blessing, " snapped Jarvis. "When you think of allthe donkeys you played with in your youth----" "Mary was not a donkey, " giggled Bambi. "I wasn't speaking of Mary, " he remarked. "I thought you said you were going to lunch in your room to-day, Jarvis, "the Professor remarked. "That was yesterday, " Bambi said quickly. "Oh, I can never remember details. " "I thought that was what you did remember, " challenged Jarvis. "You refer to figures. They, are not details. They are of enormousimportance, " began Professor Parkhurst. "Now, children, let us not trot out the family skeleton. The 'HeavenlyTwins' can talk from now until doomsday tolls on the importance ornon-importance of mathematics. It's as thrilling as modern warfare whenthey get started, but I can't afford to let them go, because they getso excited. " "Luncheon am served, Miss Bambi, " announced Ardelia. Bambi led the way, with a sigh of relief. If she could only get throughwith it, and get the happy family out of the way! Jarvis must bepunished for bad behaviour, and she set herself to the task at once. Sheturned her attention wholly upon Mr. Strong. She laughed and shined hereyes at him, referring to the dear, old days in the most shamelessmanner. She fairly caressed him with her voice, and his devotioncapped her own. The Professor ate his lunch oblivious to the comedy, but Jarvis scarcelytouched his. Some new, painful thing was at work in him. He resented itevery time this man looked at Bambi. He wanted to knock him down, andorder her off to her room. Most of all, he was furious with himself forcaring. He had the same instinct which possessed him in New York when herushed to the club to sweep her out of his life, and so save himself. Hedetermined to leave the moment luncheon was over. She must never knowwhat a bad hour she had given him. Poor, ostrich Jarvis, with his headin the sands! The luncheon was one of the most amusing events in Richard Strong'sexperience, and as for Bambi, she was at her best. She enjoyed herselfutterly, until coffee put a period to Act Two. XIII Mr. Strong's visit left its impress on all three members of thehousehold. The Professor referred to him as the man with the thirteensisters, and wished him reinvited to the house. Bambi treasured the dayhe spent with her as a turning point in her life. Surely new vistasopened up to her as a result of his coming. But to Jarvis the memory ofthe day was extremely painful. He took Bambi's punishment veryseriously. He conceived Strong to be a former lover whom she welcomedback with affectionate ardour. He knew enough of her odd personality tobe totally in the dark as to what she would do if she found herselfsuddenly in love with Strong. The main difficulty was, however, that hecared what she did--he, Jarvis, the free man! He realized that this wasa flag of danger, and he answered the warning by sedulously avoidingBambi for the next few days. She was too busy with the plans for thebook to notice, although she caught him looking at her once or twice ina strange, speculative way. Their peace was broken, however, a few daysafter Mr. Strong's famous visit by a letter from the Belasco office, accompanied by the play. Mr. Belasco regretted that the play was notjust what he wanted. It had some excellent points, etc. , but as he hadalready arranged for so many productions during the coming season, hefelt he could not take on anything more at present. He would be glad toread anything Mr. Jocelyn might submit. Jarvis handed it on to Bambi. "As I told you, " he remarked. "It never got to Belasco, " said Bambi, confidently. "If it had, he wouldhave seen its possibilities. " "Is something the matter?" inquired the Professor. "Belasco has refused Jarvis's play. " "So. He didn't like that abominable woman any better than I did. " "She is not abominable!" from Jarvis. "Be quiet, you two, and let me think. " "If you would learn concentration you would not need quiet in which tothink, " protested her parent. "Oh, if I would learn to be a camel I wouldn't need a hump, " returnedBambi, shortly. "I don't think a hump would be becoming to you, " mused the Professor, turning back to his book. "We'll send it to Parke, Jarvis. " "What's the use?" "Don't be silly. Every manager in New York shall see that play before westop. We will send it to his wife. Maybe she will read it. " "Do as you like about it, " he answered, with superb impersonality. She took his advice and got it off at once, addressed to the actress. Ina week came a letter in reply saying that Miss Harper would like to talkto Mr. Jocelyn about the play, and making an appointment at her housetwo days later. This letter threw them into great excitement. Jarvis protested, first, that he could not be interrupted at his present work, which interestedhim. Bambi pooh-poohed that excuse. Then he said he had never talked toan actress, and he had heard they were a fussy lot. She would probablywant him to change the play; as he would not do that, there was no useseeing the woman. Bambi informed him that if Miss Harper would get theplay produced, it would pay Jarvis to do exactly what she wanted done. Then he protested he hated New York. He didn't want to go back there. Bambi finally lost her temper. "If you are going to act like a balky horse, I give you up. Until youget started, you will have to do a great many things you will not like, but if I were a man, I would never let any obstacles down me. " "When can I get a train?" meekly. "You can take the same train we took before, to-morrow morning. " A great light broke for Jarvis. "I can't go. I haven't any money. " "I have. I'll lend it to you. " "I must owe you thousands now. " "Not quite. We can do this all right. " "Have you got it all down?" "In the Black Maria, " she nodded. So the long and the short of it was that Jarvis went off to New Yorkagain. No martyr ever approached the stake with a more saddened visagethan he turned upon Bambi as the train pulled out. She waved her hand athim, smiling pleasantly, but he was sorrowful to the last glimpse. "Poor old baby!" she laughed. "He shall stay in New York a while. He isgetting too dependent on mamma. " She really welcomed his absence. It gave her so much more time for herown work, which absorbed and delighted her. She had never known anysensation so pleasurable as that sense of adventure with which, eachmorning, she went to work. First, she patted the manuscript pile, whichgrew so amazingly fast. Then she filled her fountain pen and looked offover the treetops, beyond her window, until, like Peter Pan, she slippedoff into another world, the Land of Make Believe, a country she haddiscovered for herself and peopled with human beings to suit her owntaste. To be sure, heir story concerned itself mainly with herself, Jarvis, and the Professor, but only the traits that made themindividual, that made them "they, " were selected, and the experiencesshe took them through were entirely of her own making. It was such funto make them real by the power of words; to make many people know themand love them, or condemn them, as the case might be. In fact, creationwas absorbing. "It's very quiet around here since Jarvis left, " commented the Professora few days later. "I never thought Jarvis was noisy. " "Well, he's like distant thunder. " "And heat lightning, " laughed Bambi. "Do you happen to miss him?" "Me? Oh, not at all. Do you?" "It always frets me to have things mislaid that I am used to seeingaround. When you change the furnishings about, it upsets me. " "Do you look upon Jarvis as furniture?" she teased him. "I look upon him as an anomaly. " "How so?" "William Morris said, 'You should never have anything in your housewhich you do not know to be useful, and believe to be beautiful. '" "I think Jarvis is beautiful. " "That great mammoth?" "He's like Apollo, or Adonis. " "He certainly needs all Olympus to stretch out on. He clutters up thislittle house. " "I am sorry you don't like Jarvis, Professor. " "I do like him. I am used to him. I enjoy disagreeing with him. I wishhe would come home. " His daughter beamed on him. "Then he is also useful as a whetstone upon which you sharpen your wits. William Morris had nothing on me when I added Jarvis to our Penates. " Jarvis's first letter she read aloud to her father, and they bothlaughed at it, it was so Jarvis-like. "Dear Bambi, " he wrote, "I am in this vile cesspool of humanity again, and I feel like a drowning gnat. I did not go to the club, as you toldme to, because I thought I could live more economically if I took a roomsomewhere and 'ate around, ' I left my bag at the station, while I wentto an address given me by a young man I met on the train. He said it wasplain but clean. He told me some experiences he had had in boarding andlodging houses. They were awful! This place is an old three-story house, of the fiendish mid-Victorian brand--dark halls, high ceilings, andmarble mantels. It seemed clean, so I took a room, almost as large asyour linen closet, where I shall spend the few days I am here. My roomhas a court outlook, and was hotter than Tophet last night, but ofcourse you expect to be hot in summer. "I went to see Miss Harper, at the time appointed, this morning. Shelives up Riverside Drive. She is a pleasant woman, who seems to knowwhat she wants. She thinks that if I write a new third act, and changesome things in the second act, Mr. Parke might produce it. I defendedthe present form, and tried to show her that the changes she wants willweaken the message of the play. She says she doesn't care a fig for mymessage. She wants a good part. My impulse was to take my work andleave, but I remembered how important this chance seemed to you, so Iswallowed my pride, though it choked me, and promised to make a scenarioof the changes, to submit at once. I may have to stay on a few days todo things over as she wants me to do. The play is ruined forme, already. "I suppose it is cool and quiet where you are. The noise and heat areterrible here. I forgot to say that I have to hurry with 'Success, 'because the lady is going to Europe in a fortnight, and insists it mustbe finished by that time. I hope she won't crack the whip. It makes menervous. I am such a new trained bear. "I'd rather argue with the Professor to-night than be here, or even talkwith you. I wish you didn't want me to be a success, Bambi. Couldn't youlet me off? My regards to you both. Tell Ardelia that nobody in New Yorkknows anything about cooking. There seem to be thousands of peopleeating around, and oh, such food! Good night. "JARVIS. " "He is homesick, " said the Professor, as Bambi finished and folded theletter. "Homesick to argue with you, " snapped Bambi. "He said, 'Or talk with you. '" "Excuse me. He said, 'Or even talk with you. ' I shall punish him forthat. " "He isn't comfortable. Hot and mid-Victorian. He isn't responsible, "excused her father. "He won't be comfortable when he gets the penalty, " said Bambi, fiercely. "I am surprised that he consented to change his play. Samson's locks arecertainly shorn. " "What do you mean by that?" "You have shaved him, my dear. " "Are you calling me Delilah?" "You can't deny that he would never be where he is, doing what he isnow, if he were not married to you. " "What of it? Time he had a little discipline. He needs it and his workneeds it. " "Well, he's getting it. " "Are you pitying him because he isn't as mad as he was when I caughthim?" "He's still mad, nor' by nor'east. " "I'll make a human being and a big artist out of Jarvis before I amthrough. " "Be careful that you don't lose everything in him that makes himJarvis. " "Do you think that I can't do it?" "I only say that creation, like vengeance, is God's. It is dangerouswhen man tampers with it. " Upon a sudden impulse, she went to lean over him and kiss his bald head. "I'll remember that, Herr Vater, " said she. As the result of their talk, her reply to Jarvis was not so fierce asshe had planned to make it, in her first indignation at his "even you. "She did not pat him on the back for making concessions about the play. She merely said she was glad he was acting so sensibly about it, andthat if she was the mainspring of that action she was proud. As forletting him off, he was the only living person who could keep him on, orlet him off. If he was the sort of softling who could not stand up underlife's discipline because it was uncomfortable or unpleasant, then nopower on earth could hold him to accomplishment. But, endowed as he was, with brain, imagination, sensibilities, health, it lay in his power toactually create himself, to say "such and such a man will I be, " makingevery touch of life's sculpturing fingers count, "even the pinches, " sheadded, picturesquely. Of course he must stay in New York as long asnecessary. If he was uncomfortable, he must move. He could not do goodwork under irritating conditions. She told him that the Professor missedhim, and Ardelia contemplated sending a box of goodies. She omitted anymention of her own state of mind or feelings in regard to him or hisactions. Here was the punishment for his "even you, " and he ponderedlong over it. "What on earth did she marry me for? She doesn't care a straw about me, only what I can make of myself, " he mused, a trifle bitterly. But hewent to work at "Success" with the abandon of a house-wrecker, pullingit to the foundation. He used the sledgehammer on scenes he loved. Heloosened and pitched out phrases he had mulled over long, and in thedust of the affray he forgot the sting that lay behind Bambi's words. Ifshe wanted him famous, famous would he be. XIV Three boiling days, and the major part of three boiling nights, Jarvissweated and toiled over the scenario for the revised two acts. It waswork that irked him, because he hated doing things over when the firstglad joy of inspiration was gone, but he stuck to it. And the fourth dayhe set out for the house far up the Riverside Drive, armed with hismanuscript and a sense of triumph. Arrived at his destination, the butler announced that Miss Harper hadgone on a motor trip for two days. No, she had left no word. Angry athimself for not having provided against such a situation by anappointment with the lady, furious at the thought of two days' delay, hebetook himself to the Parke offices in the hope of finding some word forhim there. Mr. Parke was busy and could not see him, announced thekeeper of the keys to heaven, who sat at the outer gate. No, Mrs. Parkehad left no word for a Mr. Jocelyn. No, she knew nothing of Mrs. Parke'splans or movements. No, she could not ask Mr. Parke. Besides, hewouldn't know. Jarvis descended the many stairs in a thickening gloom. Wait, wait, wait! That was part of the discipline Bambi talked of so wisely. Well, he then and there decided that the day would come when he would walkpast every managerial outpost in the city, and invade the sanctumwithout so much as presenting a visiting-card. The automobile trip lasted four days instead of two, and he spent themin a fret of impatience. He worked at the third act, sure of herapproval. On the fifth day she received him. She liked the idea of thesecond act--she would have none of the new third act. At the end of hisenthusiastic sketch of how it would run, the reading of new scenes, thetelling of new business, she yawned slightly, and said she didn't likeit at all. Unless he could get a good third act, she wouldn't care forthe piece. He assured her this would be a good third act when it wasworked up. No use working it up. She knew now she would never like it. Jarvis rose. "I will submit the new third act to-morrow. Have you any suggestions youwish to incorporate?" "Oh, no. If I could write plays, I would not be acting them. It's easierand more lucrative to write. " "I don't find it easy enough to be a bore, " replied Jarvis. "I will behere at eleven to-morrow. " "Make it three. " "Very well, three. " "Some of the pinches, " he muttered as he climbed the bus to go back tohis hot hall bedroom, his mind a blank, and only twenty-five hours inwhich to work out a new third act. He stripped for action and worked until midnight. Then he foraged onFourth Avenue for food at an all-night cafe patronized by car-men, chauffeurs, and messenger boys. He ate ravenously. Afterward he swungdownward to Madison Square Park, to stretch his tired body. The starswere very bright, but a warm wind crowded people on to the streets. Arestless, aimless crowd of strollers! Several of them spoke to Jarvis. Many of them marked him. But he paid no attention to individuals. Hismind was full of the whole picture. Mile after mile of narrow streetsbetween blocks of stone and brick and wood. Thousands of people trampingthe miles like so many animals driven from the jungle by fire or flood. This men called civilization--this City of Stone Blocks! How far was itfrom the jungle? Hunger, thirst, lust, jealousy, anger, courage, andcowardice--these were the passions of both fastnesses. How far was Manfrom his blood brother, the Wolf? [Illustration: "SOFTLINGS! POOR SOFTLINGS!" JARVIS MUTTERED, BAMBI'SWORDS COMING BACK TO HIM. ] He reached the green square, and started to cross it. On every bench, crowded together, huddled the sleepers. He walked slowly, and looked atthem closely. Most of them were old--old men and old women--warped outof all semblance to human beings, their hideous faces and crooked bodiesmore awful in the abandon of sleep. Some young ones there were, too: athin boy with a cough; a tired girl of the streets, snatching a momentof sleep before she went about her trade. It was like somefantastic dream. "Softlings! Poor softlings!" Jarvis muttered, Bambi's words coming backto him. The tawdry little girl stirred, saw him, spoke to him, her handupon his arm. "Go get a decent bed, child, " he said, giving her some money. Her eyes shone at him in the half light like Bambi's, and he shuddered. As she sped away a sudden rage possessed him. Why did they endure, thesepatient beasts? They numbered thousands upon thousands, thesedown-and-outs. Why did they not stand together, rise up, and take? Whydidn't he shout them awake, and lead them himself? "Gimme a nickel toget a drink?" whined a voice at his elbow. "Here, you, move on!" said the policeman, roughly, arousing Jarvis fromhis trance. On the way uptown to his room he thought it over. If they could organizeand stand together, they wouldn't be what they were. It was because theywere morally and physically disintegrated that they were derelicts. Thiswaste was part of the price we must pay for commercial supremacy, formoney power, for--oh, sardonic jest!--for a democracy. He went back to work with squared shoulders, and worked until dawn. Atthree the next afternoon he again presented himself to the Parke butler. Madame was indisposed, could see no one. Mr. Jocelyn was to come thenext day at three. This time he wasted no energy in rage at the delay. He began to see thatthis was no sham battle on a green hillside of a summer's day, but areal hand-to-hand fight. It was to place him, for all time, at the headof the regiment or with the discards. He had believed that what he hadto say was the most important thing, that this errand Bambi had sent himon was a stupid interruption. But all at once he saw it straight. Thiswas his fight, here and now. He would not go back to her until he hadwon. He must find the way to finance himself in the meantime. No moreprovisions from the Professor or his daughter. As he made his waydowntown he thought over all the possibilities of making enough to liveon. He had never bothered his head about it before. Like the sparrow, hehad been provided for. But something of his arrogant demanding of lifeseemed to have fled, a sort of terror had been planted in him by thatview of the park-bench sleepers. How he wished Bambi were here to advise him, to laugh at him, or withhim! The thought of her was constantly creeping into his mind, to beshoved out by a determined effort of his will. He told himself he wasbecoming as boneless as the Professor, who relied on her for everything. That night he wrote to her: "I seem to have come to my senses to-day for the first time. Queer how aman can go on walking, talking, and thinking in his sleep. I don't knowwhy I should have wakened up to-day, but a walk I took last night atmidnight stirred something in me. And a futile attempt to see MissHarper to-day did the rest. You saw clearly, as you so often do. This ismy fight, right here and now. I must make somebody believe in this playand produce it. It may take a long time--months, perhaps--but I muststay and face it out. "I wanted you sorely to-night, Miss Mite, to talk it over with me. I amalways coming upon things I want to talk over with you, these days. Youhave such a decided way of seeing things. "I shall not be needing any more money, because I am about to makesomething, on the side, for myself. Keep the Black Maria, and when theplay goes we will have a mighty reckoning. I am not going to say thanksfor what you and the Professor have done for me. I am going toact thanks. "I shall read the scenario of the third act to Miss Harper to-morrow, thegods and the lady permitting. This is the _third_ third act. I trust itwill be 'three and out, ' or, rather, three and on. My regards to theProfessor and you. It is very hot here, and I relax by thinking myselfin the arithmetical garden. It seems years ago since I was there. Hasthe Professor laid out any new figures? I think the 'X' bed ought to bewild orchids. He will understand. " He took the letter out to mail, and went for another walk. The nightcrowds began to interest him. He planned to take a different walk everynight, and learn something of this city which he was setting outto conquer. The next morning he went from one newspaper office to another trying toget a job. His lack of experience handicapped him everywhere. Cubreporters were as thick as summer flies. He walked, to save carfare. At three he gained admittance to Miss Harper and read her the newscenario. She decided that she liked the second one better. He arrangedto go to work on it at once, so that she might have Mr. Parke read itbefore she sailed. The siren Hope sang a happy song to Jarvis as heswung down the drive. He had the golden apple in his grasp this time. "I'm coming, oh, you people, " he apostrophized them with his oldassurance. "You'll hear from me soon!" He celebrated his coming fortune with a fifty-cent table d'hôte, towhich he did full justice. Up in the hot hall bedroom he took stock ofammunition. If he went light on food, he could afford to keep right atthe play until he finished it. He estimated just what amount he couldspend a day, and divided up his cash into the daily portion, each in anenvelope. He purchased an alcohol stove and a coffee-pot, and setto work. There were only twelve days in which to do or die, and he went at it ina frenzy. Day faded into night, night faded into day, marked only by thethumping of the outraged chambermaid, at whom he thundered. When heremembered, he dashed out for food, but for the most part he drankcoffee, and more coffee. Once he went for a long walk. He could never remember, afterward, whether it was day or night. But during it he thought out a new scene, and ran miles to get back and get it down. He grew thinner and morehollow-eyed each day, but he cared for nothing but accomplishing thisthing. He knew the act was good. He felt sure Miss Harper would like it. At dawn of the day he was to finish it he rushed into a dairy lunch toget a sandwich and a glass of milk. While he waited for the heavy-eyedclerk to get it, he picked up a morning paper. The date caught his eye. This was his last day of grace, sure enough. He must call up and get anappointment for the afternoon, for Miss Harper would be sailingto-morrow. Idly his eye travelled across the page, and suddenly wasriveted by a headline: "Bertram Parke and his wife, Helen Harper, sailon the Mauretania to-day. They will hasten to London, to sign a contractfor a play for Miss Harper by Galsworthy, which will be produced in NewYork immediately on her return. " The print blurred before Jarvis's eyes. Everything swayed and swam. Outof the chaos came the voice of the tired clerk, shouting: "Say, you, what's the matter with you? Can't you take your sandwich? Think I'mgoing to hold it all day?" Jarvis didn't understand him. He didn't even hear him. He just laid downhis last quarter and went out, a bit unsteadily. "Soused!" grinned the clerk, looking after him. XV Bambi sat, chin on hand, staring off into the distance so long that theProfessor's attention was finally attracted to her. She held Jarvis'sletter in her hand--his call-to-arms letter. "No bad news, I hope?" ventured her father. "Oh, no; good news. The best. Jarvis is alive!" "Why, you didn't think he was dead?" "Yes, in a sense he was dead. " "Strange I never noticed it. " "I mean that he was only fully alive to himself. He was dead to otherpeople. He has been dangerously self-centred. " "And now----" "Now many hands are knocking at his postern gate!" "What enigmatic things you do say, my child!" "Don't you understand? Jarvis has built a high wall about himself, hisprecious self. He was a sort of superman, called to sit in a high towerand dream, to think, to formulate a message to the world. No claims ofearth were allowed to enter in. " "But you climbed over the wall? You were a claim of earth?" "You know how I sneaked in when he wasn't looking. " "If you could read me the letter, Bambina, or such portions of it as arenot private, I might understand better what you are trying to say. " "I'll read it to you. It's none of it private. He has nothing private tosay to me. " The Professor composed himself to listen, while she read Jarvis's longscreed aloud. At the end he, too, sat thoughtfully a few moments, hisfinger tips neatly matched in church steeples before him. "I'm sometimes amazed at your judgment, " he said. "Why my judgment?" "I never would have seen any possibilities, myself, in the Jarvis whomyou married. " "Speaking of cryptic remarks----" "I was trying to convey to your mind my belief that he may turn out areal man. " "Oh, Jarvis was a good investment. I knew it at the time. Poor oldthing, he's frightfully lonesome. " "He ought to come home for a while, on a visit. I am saving severaltopics for disagreement. " "No, it's better for him to stick it out. No human being ever treatedJarvis like this Miss Harper is treating him, and it's fine for him. " "Aren't you rather Spartan, my dear?" "I am. I have felt all along that I had pushed him overboard before Iwas sure he could swim. Now I know he can. " "You may tell him for me that our agreement was for two years, and itholds good. " "I don't know what your agreement was, Herr Professor, but if it hadmoney in it, cancel it. I want him to learn that lesson, too. " "Poor old Jarvis!" "Don't you poor old Jarvis me. Remember the abuse you heaped on him whenI married him. I want him to be practical!" The Professor rose and started for the garden. "It's your own affair, my dear. " The outcome of Bambi's thoughts was a letter to Mr. Strong. She invitedhim to spend the weekend with her father and herself, to talk over thebook and other things. She added that she hoped that he would preparehimself with data about the thirteen sisters, because her father wouldbe primed with questions about them. Mr. Strong's acceptance came byreturn mail, and he, himself, followed Saturday morning. Bambi met him, as on the other occasion, and at sight of his cordialsmile she suddenly felt as if he were an old friend. "I am so glad to see you!" she exclaimed in her impulsive way. Mr. Strong shook her hand vigorously. "It's mutual, I may say, " and he fell into step. "Bless this old town, it's like----" "A soporific, " she supplied, and joined his laugh. "How's the Professor? And my old friend Jarvis?" "The Professor is in a quiver of expectation to talk sisters with you. " "Good! I am ready for him. And Jarvis?" "Jarvis was the 'other things' I asked you here to talk about. " "I see. " "He's in New York. " "He is? Why didn't he look me up?" "He doesn't like you. " "He took us seriously the other day?" "He did. " "Jealous, is he? That isn't why he is in New York?" "Oh, no! He went to sell a play. " "Belasco refused it?" "Yes, and two others. The Parkes have it now. They are going to takeit. " "That's good. " "Jarvis may have to stay in the city for some time. He doesn't know anyone. He hates cities. I suspect he is economizing too much to becomfortable. I thought maybe you would look him up--keep an eye on him. " "I should be delighted to, if you think he doesn't dislike me too much. " "Oh, no, he was annoyed that day we flirted so outrageously, but I knowhe would be glad to see you. " "I had a wonderful time that day, myself. " "It was fun. Everybody was so at cross purposes. " "Do I continue the rôle of old beau?" "Oh, no. You've established yourself with father, so there's no use inplaying up. " "Old beau exit with regret, " he sighed. "You're a nice man, and I'm glad of you. " "Thanks. Give me Jocelyn's address before you forget it. Ah, there's theProfessor now, " he added, as he pocketed the card and hastened intothe garden. The rest of the two days they spent in easy companionship. They playedtennis, they drove through the woods in an old surrey, Bambi as whip. Then, when the Professor's early bedtime removed him to the secondstory, they sat on the moonlit piazza and talked. The novel had grown into ten chapters. Three instalments had beenpublished, and the public was showing a most flattering interest in it. Strong brought a box of letters for her to read from enthusiasticreaders. "It's extraordinary how real you make your characters when you are sucha novice, " he said to her. "I tell you I am a photographer. The musician in my story is Jarvis, with a thin disguise. The old fiddler is my father, and the girl isshamelessly 'me. '" "Delightfully you, " he corrected her. "Has the Professor or your husbandread any of your stories?" "No. They never read magazines. Jarvis saw the announcement of the prizestory, and commented on the use of my name, but I threw him off thescent easily. " "I don't see why you don't 'fess' up, now that the thing is anestablished success. " "No, not yet. It's such a lovely secret. I want to wait for just themoment to spring it on them. " "Couldn't you invite me in when that moment comes?" "We'll see. I may invite the neighbours in, and crown myself with alaurel wreath. " "I'd rely on your doing it in a novel way. " "The surest way of being considered eccentric is just to be yourself. Sofew of us have the nerve. " They talked late. He told her his plans and hopes for the magazine. Hespoke of his people, of his past life, of his preparation for his work, and when the clock finally interrupted with twelve strokes, they arose, nearer friends than ever. After Strong's departure Bambi wrote Jarvis to prepare him for thefriendly visit: "You'll remember Richard Strong, the brother of Maryland and thethirteen sisters? He came to spend the weekend with us, and expressedsuch disappointment at your absence that I gave him your address so hecould look you up. Do be nice to him. I am sure you will like him whenyou get to know him. He is a fine, sensible fellow. He might findsomething for you to do on a magazine, if you wanted it. I did not speakto him about it, thinking you could do it best yourself, if you choseto. We had a pleasant two days' visit--much talk, tennis, drives, andmore talk. It seemed to please and rest him, and we enjoyed him greatly. The Professor has taken a great liking to him. "By the time this reaches you, you will have read the new third act toyour leading lady. I feel so confident that she is going to like it. Wire me when she accepts. I can't wait for a letter. Good luck andcongratulations, from both of us. "BAMBI. " "P. S. Will you come home after the contract is signed?" She tripped down to the corner in the moonlight to mail the letter, congratulating herself that she had handled the report of Mr. Strong'svisit with great tact. She recalled Jarvis's unexpected jealousy with asmile. Where was he at this moment? Tossing in a hot bedroom, orprowling the streets, as he seemed prone to do these nights? She pondered the processes which made success so easy for somepeople--hers, for instance, a happy accident--while others, Jarvis-like, had to be tied to the wheel before the fickle goddess released them andcrowned them. Was it all chance? Or was there some big plan back of itall? Was she spared this incarnation that she might strive harder in thenext? Was Jarvis expiating for past immunity? It was all a tangle, surely, to our mortal eyes. She gave it up, snapped off her light, and went to bed. A shaft ofsilver, like a prayer rug, lay across the floor. "Lady Moon, shine softly on my Knight of the Broken Lance, " shewhispered, as she closed her eyes. XVI There was a faint idea in Jarvis's mind, as he staggered out of theall-night lunch, of swimming after the Mauretania to overtake theParkes. Then his wandering senses collected themselves. He realized thatthe vessel did not sail until eleven, or thereabouts; that there werestill several hours before that. He hurried back to his room, dressed carefully, took the manuscript, andstarted out. It never occurred to him to telephone. Arrived at thehouse, the butler informed him that the Parkes had left in the motor at8:30. No word had been left for Mr. Jocelyn. Jarvis's jaw was set as he started downtown. He went to the wharf wherethe steamer lay, but there was only fifteen minutes left before hersailing. It was impossible to find out anything from anybody. So, with asardonic calm, he watched the steamer slowly loosing from the wharf andmaking her stately exit. On the way uptown he made up his mind as to the next move. He wouldbegin action to-day on the Charles Frohman forces. He must also try tofind a job. His resources were about exhausted. At the Empire Theatre, where the king of managers rules, there wasactually an elevator to carry one up to the throne room and itsantechambers. At a window, in a sort of cashier's booth, a boy receivedJarvis's manuscript, numbered and entered it on the file. "How soon will it be read?" Jarvis asked. "Oh, six weeks or so, " said the youth. "No possible chance of seeing Mr. Frohman?" "Only by appointment. He is in Europe now. " Jarvis relinquished his precious bundle and departed. It occurred tohim, when he reached the street, that part of his depression was fromhunger. He bought a sandwich and coffee at a Childs restaurant. Later, he went into a drug store and looked up magazine offices in thetelephone book. Then he set out. From _Collier's_ to the _Cosmopolitan_is many a weary mile. And Jarvis walked it, visiting all theintervening offices. In only one case did he get to the editor. Mr. Davis, of _Munsey's_, lethim come in, and was decent to him, promised to read anything he sent inat once, took his address, and made him feel like a human being. Many ayoung writer besides Jarvis has to thank Mr. Bob Davis for just such abit of encouragement. For the most part, he saw clerks or secretarieswho made excuses for the editor, took his name and address with the sameold "Come in again. " Out in the hot sun the pavement wavered and meltedinto hillocks before his dizzy eyes. So he went back to the hot bedroom, which seemed, all at once, a haven of rest. He threw himself on the hard bed and was asleep in a second. It seemedaeons later that he was dragged up from the depths of slumber bycontinued pounding on his door. The slattern chambermaid announced thata gentleman wished to see him. He called to her it must be a mistake. Hedidn't know any gentlemen. "'E h'ast for Jarvis Jocelyn. 'Ere's 'is card, " she retorted, openingthe door and marching to the bed with it. "Richard Strong. Tell him I'm out. " "Hi've already said you was in. Hi see you come hup. " "The devil! Where is he?" "Coolin' 'is 'eels in the 'all. " "Say I'll be down in a minute. Ask him to wait. " "Hi get you, " said she, and clomped out. Then Jarvis's eye fell on Bambi's letter on his table, unopened. It musthave come the day before, when he was lost in his play. He glancedthrough it. At the mention of Strong's visit he frowned. He read thatpart twice. There was no doubt of it. Strong had the only chance withher. He made no secret of his devotion to her, and the probabilitieswere that now that he, Jarvis, was out of the way, she would realize howmuch she cared for Strong. "Well, what is, is, " he muttered. He'd have no favours from Strong, though, that was sure. Twenty minutes later, shaved and dressed, he descended upon his guest, who sat in torment, on a hall-tree shelf, in Stygian darkness. "How do you do?" said Jarvis, stiffly. "Sorry to keep you waiting inthis hole of Calcutta. " "How are you, Jocelyn?" said Strong, cordially. "Your wife gave me youraddress, and I thought you might save me from a deadly evening by diningwith me at Claremont. " "Thank you, I have dined, " replied Jarvis. "So early? Well, come with me while I get a bite somewhere, and we willgo to a show, or hear some music. " "Much obliged. I am engaged for the evening. " "Oh, that's a pity. Your wife told me you were a friendless stranger ina foreign land, so I lost no time in coming to look you up. " "Very kind of you. " "I had a charming weekend in the country. We missed you very much. " "Indeed?" "You're a lucky chap, Jocelyn. Your wife is one of the most enchantingwomen I ever met. She is unique. " "I am glad she pleases you. " "My dear fellow, I hope I haven't annoyed you. I meant no disrespect incomplimenting you on Mrs. Jocelyn's charm. " "You made your admiration a trifle conspicuous the last time I saw you, "said Jarvis in a rage. "I apologize, I assure you. I bid you good night. " "Unmannerly boor, " was Strong's comment as he turned toward the avenue. "Hope that settles Mr. Richard Strong, " fumed Jarvis as he turned awayfrom the avenue. Two letters were written Bambi that night concerning this meeting. Mr. Strong wrote: "DEAR LADY: I cannot possibly tell you how much of the fragrance of thegarden, and of you, stays with me even in the heat and ugliness of NewYork. I am so grateful to you and the Professor for your hospitality andyour friendship. "I went to see your Jarvis to-night, as I promised to do, but he made itexceedingly plain to me that he desired neither my visit nor myacquaintance. I thought he looked very tired and a trifle hectic. Nodoubt the heat has worn on him. I don't mean to alarm you. I am onlysearching for some excuse for my own comfort for his reception of me. "I shall look for the next chapters with eagerness. None of your manyreaders knows my proprietary delight in that tale of yours. "My cordial regards to your father, and to yourself my thanks and mybest wishes. Faithfully, "RICHARD STRONG. " Jarvis was not so politic. He permitted himself some rancor. "DEAR BAMBINA: I did not get your letter announcing Strong's visit, andhis approaching descent upon me, until this evening. He followed closeupon its heels. I have no doubt you intended it kindly sending him hereto look me up, but the truth is I am in no mood for callers, and I fearI made that rather plain to your friend. I may as well say, frankly, Idisliked him exceedingly on the occasion of his visit to you. It wouldbe useless for me to try to disguise the fact. I would never dream ofasking him for work on his magazine, which I consider of a verylow grade. "By some misunderstanding the Parkes sailed sooner than they expected, and failed to see my play. I have offered it to Charles Frohman. Ishould prefer him to any other New York manager. "The weather here is extremely hot, and I have been working rather hard, so I am a little knocked out. Will you send me the manuscript of my twounfinished plays you will find on the table in my study? With regards tothe Professor and yourself. Hastily, "JARVIS. " Having got this off his mind and into the mailbox, Jarvis went for hisnightly prowl. His steps turned toward the crowded East Side district, where a new interest was beginning to attract him. Until now "men" werehis only concern. These hot nights, as he tramped along, discouragedwith his own futility, he was beginning to discover "Man. " It seemed to him that all the children in the world were playing inthese crowded streets. He had never turned his attention to childrenbefore. And he began to look at the shrewd, old faces, even to talk to agroup here and there. They made him think of monkeys, clever, nervouslittle beasts. He skirted several mothers' meetings conducted on the sidewalk. He evenwent into a saloon to have a look at the men, but the odour of stalebeer and hot bodies was insufferable and drove him out. As he saunteredalong, he passed an unlighted business building. Out of the shadow agirl stole, and fell in step beside him. "Hello, kid!" she began, her hand tucked under his arm. Before she couldcomplete her sentence, a policeman was upon them. He laid hold of thegirl roughly. "Now I got you! I told you to keep off'n this block, " he growled. "What's the matter with you? What do you want?" Jarvis demanded. "I want her to come along with me. That's what I want. " "She hasn't done anything. " "You bet she hasn't. I didn't give her time. " "Let go of her! What charge are you taking her on?" "Don't get fresh, young guy. The charge is s'licitin'. " "That's a lie! She's a friend of mine, and she merely said, 'Goodevening. '" The copper laughed derisively, and the girl turned a cynical young-oldface to Jarvis. "Much obliged, kid, but it ain't no use. He's got me spotted. " "If you arrest her, you must arrest me. " "I got nottin' on you. " "Yes, you have. I said 'Good evening' to her, just what she said to me. " "Get the hell out of here, and don't give me none of your lip, or I'llrun you in. Come along!" the policeman ordered, and he and the girlstarted on toward Jefferson Market. Jarvis marched beside them. Whenthey turned in at the door where prisoners are entered, the policemanagain ordered Jarvis off. "Go round in front if you're crazy to be in on this, " he said. Jarvis hurried round to the front door and went in. The courtroom waspacked. He had trouble in finding a seat, but he finally got into thefront row, just behind the rail that divides the dock from thespectators. One half of the room was full of swine--fat, blowse-neckedJewish men, lawyers, cadets, owners of houses--all the low breeds whofatten off the degradation of women. Their business was to pay the finesor go bail. The other half of the room, to Jarvis's horror, was full of young boysand girls, some almost children, there out of curiosity. A goodly numberof street walkers sat at the back. It was their habit to come into courtto see what judge was sitting. If it was one who levied strict fines, orwas prone to send girls up to Bedford, they spent the evening there, instead of on the streets. The first case called, after Jarvis's entrance, was that of the keeperof a disorderly house. She was horrible. He felt she ought to be brandedin some way, so that she and her vile trade would be known wherever shewent. A man went her bail, and she flounced out in a cloud of patchouli. Two coloured girls were brought in, and sent up for thirty days. Thenseveral old women, the kind of human travesties Jarvis had seen sleepingon the benches, were marched before the judge, who called them allby name. "Well, Annie, " he said to one of them, "you haven't been here for someweeks. How did it happen this time?" "I've been a-walkin' all day, your honour. I guess I fell asleep in thedoorway. " "You've been pretty good lately. I'll let you off easy. Fine, onedollar. " "Oh, thanks, your honour. " She was led off, and Jarvis sickened at thesight. A series of young girls followed, cheaply modish, with their willowplumes and their vanity bags. Some cheerful, some cynical, some defiant. One slip of a thing heard her sentence, looked up in the judge's face, and laughed. Jarvis knew that never, while he lived, would he forgetthat girl's laugh. It was into the face of our whole hideous Societythat she hurled that bitter laugh. Then his girl was brought in. He saw her clearly for the first time. Athin, wizened little face, framed in curly red hair, with bright, birdlike eyes. Her thin, flat child's figure was outlined in a tight, black satin dress, with a red collar and sash. Her quick glance dartedto him, and she smiled. The policeman made his charge. The judgeglanced at her. "Anything to say for yourself?" She shook her head wearily. Jarvis was out of his seat before hethought. "I have something to say for her. I am the man she was supposed to haveapproached. " "Silence in the courtroom, " said the judge, sternly. "She didn't say one word to me, except 'Good evening, '" shouted Jarvis. "Is that the man?" the judge asked the officer. "Yes. He's made a lot of trouble, too, trying to make me arrest him. " "If you have any evidence to give in this case, come to the front and besworn in. " Jarvis jumped the railing and stood before him. The oath wasadministered. "Now, tell me, briefly, what the girl said to you. " "She said, 'Hello, kid!'" A titter went over the courtroom. The clerk rapped for order. "Then what happened?" "This officer arrested her. I told him what had passed between us, andinsisted on being arrested, too. We said the same thing, the girland I. " "The girl has been here before. She has a record. " "Where are the men she made the record with?" demanded Jarvis. "We do not deal with that feature of it, " replied the judge, turning tothe officer. "And why not?" demanded Jarvis. "It takes a solicitor and the solicitedto make a crime. What kind of laws are these which hound women into thetrade and hound them for following it?" "It is neither the time nor the place to discuss that. The case isdismissed. This court has no time to waste, Flynn, in cases wherethere's no evidence, " he added, sternly, to the detective. The girl nodded to Jarvis and beckoned him, but instead of following herhe went back to his seat. He would follow this ghastly puppet showto its end. At a word from the judge a tall, handsome, gray-haired woman approachedthe bench. She wore no hat, and Jarvis marked her broad brow andpleasant smile and the wise, philosophic eyes. Her face looked cheerfuland normal in this place of abnormalities. "Who is that woman?" Jarvis asked his neighbour. "Probation officer, " came the answer. Jarvis watched her with passionate interest. He noted her low-voicedanswers to the judge's questions about the girl in hand. The curiosityseekers in the audience could not hear, no matter how they craned theirnecks. He watched her calm smile as she turned to take the girl off intoher own office. He made up his mind to talk with her before thenight was over. Case followed case as the night wore on. It seemed to Jarvis that thisbedraggled line had neither beginning nor end. He saw it winding throughthis place night after night, year after year, the old-timers and thenew recruits. Uptown reputable citizens slept peacefully in their beds;this was no concern of theirs. He was no better than the rest, with hisprecious preaching about the brotherhood of man. What the body politicneeded was a surgeon to cut away this abscess, eating its youthand strength. The screams of a girl who had just been given a sentence to Bedfordstartled him out of his thoughts. She pleaded and cried, she tried tothrow herself at the judge's feet, but the policeman dragged her out, the crowd craning forward with avid interest. She was the last casebefore the court adjourned. Jarvis leaned across the rail and asked theprobation officer if he might speak to her. "Perhaps you will walk along with me toward my home?" she suggested. Hegladly assented. In a few moments she came out, hatted and ready for thestreet. She looked keenly at this tall, serious youth who had sounexpectedly arraigned the court. "My name is Jarvis Jocelyn, " he began. "There are so many things I wantto ask you about. " "I shall be glad to tell you what I can, " she said quietly. "Have you been in this work long?" "Eleven years. " "Good God! how can you be so calm? How can you look so hopeful?" "Because I am hopeful. In all the thousands of cases I have known I havenever once lost hope. When I do, my work is over. " "You're wonderful!" he exclaimed. "No, I am reasonable. I don't expect the impossible. I am glad of everyinch of ground gained. I don't demand an acre. If one girl is rescuedout of twenty----" "But why does it need to be at all?" Jarvis interrupted her. "Why does disease need to be? Why does unhappiness need to be, or war, or the money-lust that will one day wreck us? We only know that thesethings are. Our business is to set about doing what we can. " "One girl out of twenty, " he repeated. "What becomes of the othernineteen?" "I said I was glad of one girl in twenty. Sometimes several of thenineteen come out all right. Bedford helps a great many. They marry, they keep straight, or--they die very soon. " "Tell me about Bedford. " She outlined the work done in that farm home, which is such a credit toNew York. She told him of the honour system, and all the modern methodsemployed there. "Can you get opportunities for girls who want the chance?" "Plenty of them. I have only to ask. When I need money, it comes. Lotsof my girls are employed in uptown shops, leading good, hard-working lives. " "Where does this money come from?" "Private donations. That is one of my hope signs--the widespreadinterest in rescue work. " "The old ones--those aged women?" She sighed. "Yes, I know, they are terrible! There is a mighty army ofthem in New York. We grind them in and out of our courts, month aftermonth. The institutions are all full. There is so much grafting that thepoor-farm has been delayed, year after year, so there is no place tosend them. " "Where do they go?" "Into East River, most of them, in the end. " "Do you mean to say that we pay the machinery of the law to put thesecases through the courts, over and over again, and then provide no placeto harbour the derelicts?" "That's about the case, " she replied. "How can we live and endure such things?" Jarvis demanded passionately. "I used to feel that way about it. I used to be sick through and throughwith it, but I have grown to see that there is improvement, that thereis a new social sense growing among us. Uptown women of leisure come toour night courts, take part in our working-girls' strikes, and women, mind you, are always slowest to feel and react to new forces. Don't bediscouraged, " she smiled at him, stopping at the door. "May I come and see you, some time? Are you ever free, or would that beasking too much?" "No. Come! Come in Sunday afternoon if you like. " She held out her hand, and he grasped it warmly. "You're great, " he said boyishly, at which she laughed. "We need you young enthusiasts, " she said. As he walked uptown to his lodgings Jarvis faced the fact that up tothis present moment he had been on the wrong track. He had tried to pullfrom the top. That was all right, if only he also tried to push from thebottom. The world needed idealists, but not the old brand, blind to theactual, teaching out of a great ignorance. This probation officer woman, she was the modern idealist, as modern as Jesus Christ, who worked inthe same spirit. He would finish his vision-plays, as he called them, because he believedin them. But, in the meantime, he would learn something of the realissues of men and women as they live in great cities, so that he couldwrite a play which would be so true, so vital, that it would be likewatching the beating of the hot heart of life. That night was thebeginning of a new era for Jarvis. XVII Bambina Parkhurst was a young woman not much given to wrath, but as sheread the two letters from New York she grew thoroughly enraged atJarvis. Evidently, he had been exceedingly rude to Mr. Strong, andevidently Mr. Strong had been exceedingly annoyed. She was so furious athim that when she sat down to her desk to write her daily chapters noideas came. Her mind just went over and over the situation of kind Mr. Strong putting himself out to be polite for her sake--Jarvis, stiff andill-mannered, repulsing him. She determined to omit the daily letter tothe offender until she cooled off. She gave up work for the morning anddescended upon Ardelia. "Ardelia, I am so mad I can't think of anything to do but put up fruit. " "Law, Miss Bambi, you ain't mad wif me, is you?" "No. I'm mad with man. " "Man! Wat's the Perfessor bin doin'? Has he don' forgot somfin'?" "It isn't the Professor. It's the sex. " "Well, don' you go meddlin' round wid fruit and gettin' yo' handsstained up, jus' caus' yo's mad wid de sex. " "I have got to do something violent, Ardelia. I am going to jerk thestems off of berries, chop the pits out of cherries, and skin peaches. " "Laws a-massy, you suttinly is fierce this mohnin'. All right, go ahead, but der ain't no need of it. I mos' generally always has put up thefruit for the fam'ly wifout no help. " "I know you don't need me, Ardelia, but I need you. " "Well, chile, heah's de fust few bushels ob cherries. " "Bushels? Mercy on us! Are you going to do all those?" "Yassum. And den some more. Dat's the Perfessor's favourite fruit. " Bambi was promptly enveloped in a huge apron and settled on the backpiazza, surrounded with pans and baskets. Ardelia stood by, and handedher things, until she got started. "Hurry up, and come out, Ardelia. I want you to talk to me and take mymind off of things. " "I'll be 'long, by and by. " [Illustration "I HAVE GOT TO DO SOMETHING VIOLENT, ARDELIA. I AM GOINGTO JERK THE STEMS OFF OF BERRIES, CHOP THE PITS OUT OF CHERRIES, ANDSKIN PEACHES. "] Bambi held up a bright-red cherry, named it Jarvis, pulled out its stem, cut out its heart, and finally plumped it into her mouth and chewed itviciously. Then she felt better. There was a cool morning breeze liftingthe leaves of the big elms, and nodding the hollyhocks' heads. The soundof late summer buzzing and humming, and bird songs, made the back porcha pleasant, placid spot--no place in which to keep rage hot. Ardelia lumbered out, after a while, to sit near by, her slow movementsand her beaming smile far from conducive to a state of excitement. "Mighty purty out here, ain't it?" "Yes. " "I reckon Massa Jarvis be mighty glad to be home, a-sittin' herea-seedin' cherries 'longside ob you?" "Jarvis never did anything so useful. As for being alongside of me, thatdoesn't interest him at all. " "Yo're suttinly the onlovingest bride and groom I've eber seen. Youain't neber lovin' nor kissin' nor nottin', when I come aroun'. " "Mercy no, Ardelia!" "I 'low if I was married to such a han'som' man, like Massa Jarvis, I'dbe a lovin' ob him all the time. " "Suppose he wouldn't let you?" "Can't tell me der's a man libin' who wouldn't be crazy fur yo' to lubhim, Miss Bambi. Look at dat Mister Strong keeps a-comin' here. " "What about him?" asked Bambi in surprise. "I see him lookin' at you. I see him. " "Nonsense! He has to look at me to talk with me. " "He don' need to do no talkin', wid his eyes a-workin' like dat. " "You old romancer!" "Look a-heah, chile, dose cherries fo' to preserve. Dey ain't fo'eatin'. You're eatin' two and puttin' one in de pan. " Bambi made a face at her. "What is your opinion of men, Ardelia?" "I tink dey's all right in dey place. " "Where's their place?" "Out in the kennel wid the dawg!" said Ardelia, shaking with laughter. "All 'cepin' the Perfessor and Massa Jarvis, " she added. "You think they are a lower order, do you?" "Yassum. I sho' do. Mos' of dem just clutterin' up the earth. " "That's the reason you don't take that Johnson man on for good, is it?" "Sho'! I ain't a-goin' to cook and wash fo' no nigger dat ain't got noappreciashun, when I can cook and wash fo' the Perfessor dat know a ladywhen he sees her. " "But he so infrequently sees her, " giggled Bambi, _sotto voce_. "No, ma'am, I's eatin' my white bread right here, and I knows it. Iain't goin' to experimentify wid no marryin', nor givin' in marriage. " "In your case, I believe you're right. In my own, however, I know that, mad as I am this morning, 'experimentification' is the breath of lifeto me. " They spent the morning in such peaceful converse. While Bambi may nothave added greatly to the cherry-pitting, she rose rested and with acollected mind. "Ardelia, I thank you for a dose of calm, " she said, laying her handaffectionately on the black woman's broad shoulder. "Law, honey, I done enjoyed your sassiety, " she said, laughing andpatting her hand. Within the course of a few days Bambi had an appeal from Jarvis: "Are you ill? Is anything the matter? Are you merely tired of me thatyou do not write? Your letters are the only event of my days. " This gave her the chance she wanted. "You seem to be unaware, my dear Jarvis, that in offering a rude rebuffto Mr. Strong you offended me, since he is my good friend and came tosee you at my request. I think you made as poor an impression on him ashe did upon you, at the time of your meeting, and it was as a politenessto me that he came to look you up. I think an apology to both of us israther necessary. " A week elapsed, with no reply. Then came a characteristic answer: "DEAR BAMBI: Please find enclosed copy of apology sent Strong to-day. Idon't like him, but I have apologized. I also apologize to you. Pleasedon't omit letters any more. They mean a great deal these days. " She pondered this for some time. That Jarvis was going through new andtrying experiences she realized. But this human appeal for her letterswas so unlike the old Jarvis that she had to read it many times tobelieve it was actually there. She wrote him at once, accepting his apology gracefully. "Can't you come out for a few days' rest here, and go back in time tohear Frohman's verdict? We'd love to have you, especially the Professorand Ardelia. " He answered that it was impossible to get away now. Later, possibly, hemight come. He was grateful for the invitation. He never mentioned howhe lived, and she did not ask him. The Professor's check he returned, with a note of thanks, saying he did not need it. The summer went by andfall came to town. Still there was no word of his return. "My, this is a fat letter from Jarvis! Frohman must have accepted theplay!" exclaimed Bambi one morning in September. She opened out thethick, folded paper. "It's poetry, " she added. "'Songs of the Street, ' If he's gone back topoetry, I'm afraid he's lost. " She began to glance through them. "My dear, I've asked you for coffee twice. " "These are powerful and ugly. Think of Jarvis seeing these things. " "Coffee, " reiterated the Professor. "Yes, yes. You must read these. They're upsetting. I wonder what ishappening to Jarvis. " "Is he in trouble?" "No, he doesn't say so. But there's a new note in these. " "Coffee, " repeated the Professor, patiently. "For goodness' sake, father, stop shouting coffee. You are the epitomeof the irritating this morning. " "I always am until I have my coffee. " All day long Bambi thought about Jarvis's "Street Songs. " It was not thethings themselves. They were crude enough, in spots, but it was the newsense in Jarvis that made him see and understand human suffering. Shefelt an irresistible impulse to take the next train and go to him. Wouldhe be glad to see her? For the first time she wanted him, eagerly. Butthe impulse passed, and weeks stretched into months. She worked steadilyat the book, which grew apace. She loved every word of it. Sometimes shewondered what would become of her without that work, during this waitingtime, while Jarvis was making his career. For, in her mind, she alwaysthought of herself and her writing as a side issue of no moment. Jarvis's work was the big, important thing in her life. He wrote freely about his work on the other plays, asking her judgmentand advice, as he had on "Success. " She gave her best thought andclosest attention to the problems he put to her, and he showed the samerespect for her decisions. The six weeks grew into two months, and no answer from the Frohmanoffices. He wrote her that he went in there every other day, but couldget no satisfaction. They always said his play was in the hands of thereaders. It had to take its turn. He finished "The Vision" and offered it to Winthrop Ames, of the LittleTheatre. "I am hopeful of this man. I have never seen him, but thetheatre is well bred, and, to my surprise, a capable, intelligentsecretary received me courteously in the office and promised a quickreading. This augurs well for the man at the head of it, I think. " In reply to her insistence that he must come for Thanksgiving, he toldher that he had made a vow that he would never come back to her until hehad absolutely succeeded or hopelessly failed. "If you knew how hard itis to keep that resolve you would be kind, and not ask me again, "he added. A little piqued, and yet proud, Bambi reported his decision to theProfessor, and began to turn over in her busy mind a plan to carry themountain to Mohammed, if Christmas found the wanderer still obdurate. XVIII Jarvis certainly had matriculated in the school of experience, and heentered in the freshman class. He first wrote a series of articlesdealing with the historical development of the drama. He took them tothe Munsey offices and offered them to Mr. Davis. "Did you intend these for _Munsey's_ Magazine?" "Yes. I thought possibly----" "Ever read a copy of the _Magazine_?" "No. I think not. " "Well, if you intend to make a business of selling stuff to magazines, young man, it would pay you to study the market. What you are trying todo is to unload coal on a sugar merchant. This stuff belongs in the_Atlantic Monthly_, or some literary magazine. " "Isn't your magazine literary?" "Certainly not in that sense. We publish a dozen magazines and this kindof thing doesn't fit any of them. We entertain the public--we rarelyinstruct them. " "I see. I'm obliged to you for your trouble. I'll try the _Atlantic_. " "Bring in some stories, light, entertaining stuff with a snap, and wewill take them. " "Thanks! 'Fraid that isn't in my line. " Jarvis went over to the Public Library and deliberately studied thestyle of stuff used by the various monthly publications, making notes. For the next few days he worked all day and a good part of the night onthings he thought he could sell, according to these notes. Then he begana campaign to peddle them. The _Atlantic_ refused his drama articles, and he tried them elsewhere, with no success. The other things wereequally a drug on the market. He saved postage by taking them to theeditors' offices himself, and calling for them in ten days or so. Healways found them ready for him. He took a cheaper room, and got down toone square meal a day. Finally, an opportunity came for him to reviewsome books for a literary supplement of a newspaper. Confident that hisluck had changed, he proceeded to demolish three out of the four booksassigned to him in the most scathing reviews, whereupon the editor paidhim half price and dismissed him. The week when things reached the lowest ebb he was summoned by a postalfrom an acquaintance, made during one of his night prowls, an oldEnglish cabman. When he arrived at the address indicated he found theold man sick in bed with rheumatism. He wanted Jarvis to drive hishansom for a week, on a percentage, until he could get about again. There was no choice. It was that or the park benches, so Jarvisaccepted. Old Hicks fitted, or rather misfitted, him in a faded bluetailed coat and a topper, Jarvis looked like an Otto Gushing cartoon ofApollo in the attire, but he never once thought of that. He hitched upthe bony old horse, mounted the box, with full instructions as totraffic rules, and headed for the avenue. He found the new tradeamusing. He drove ladies on shopping tours, took nurses and theircharges around the Park. He did not notice that his face and mannerscaused many a customer to stare in astonishment. When one woman saidaudibly to her companion, "Good heavens! what a handsome creature!" henever dreamed she referred to him. It was the fourth day of his employment as a cabby when a summons camefrom the Frohman offices bidding him appear at the theatre at eleveno'clock on the following day. It was embarrassing. Old Hicks wasentirely dependent on what Jarvis brought in at night, and they couldneither of them afford to have the cab idle a full day. So he decided tostop at the theatre in the morning, and then deduct his time off duty. Promptly at eleven the cab arrived at the Empire Theatre and Jarvisdescended from the box. He gave the boy a cent to hold his horse, although nothing except a bushel of oats could have urged the oldbone-rack into motion. Up to the booth window he marched, and presentedthe letter. The boy inspected the old blue coat, the topper, and theworn gloves. "Character costume, " he grinned: then he opened the letter, and his facechanged. "Excuse me, sir, I'll see if Mr. Frohman will see you. " He was out and back, almost at once, bowing and holding the door open. "Right ahead, into the private office, " he said, importantly. A clerktook charge of our hero at the far door, announcing formally, "Mr. Jarvis Jocelyn, Mr. Frohman. " Jarvis entered the big room and crossed eyes with the man at the farend. What Mr. Frohman saw was a tall, splendidly set-up youth, with ahead held high, and a fearless, free carriage, attired in the verystrange and battered habiliments of a cabby. What Jarvis saw was a fatlittle man, with a round face, sharp, twinkling eyes, and a genialmouth. The whole face had a humorous cast, a kindly expression. "You are Jarvis Jocelyn?" said Mr. Frohman, as Jarvis reached him. "I am. " "You wrote a play called 'Success'?" "I did. " "I've read your play. " "That's good. " "Well, the play isn't, " Frohman interrupted, "It is extremely bad, butthere are some ideas in it, and one good part. " "The woman, you mean?" "The woman nothing. She's a wooden peg to hang your ideas on. I mean theman she married. " "But he is so unimportant, " Jarvis protested. "He was important enough to get this interview. I never would havebothered with you, or with your play, if it hadn't been for thatcharacter. He's new. " "You want me to make him a bigger part in the play?" "My advice is to throw this play in the wastebasket and write one aboutthat man. " "Will you produce it if I do?" "Probably not, but I'll look it over. What else have you done?" "I have finished two things. One I call 'The Vision'--this is aBrotherhood of Man play--the other I call 'Peace, ' and it's adramatization of the Universal Peace idea. " "Why don't you write something human? Nobody wants dramatized movements. The public wants people, personalities, things we all know and feel. Youcan't get much thrill out of Universal Peace. " "But I believe the public should be taught. " "Yes, I know. I get all of you 'uplift boys' sooner or later. Teach themall you like, but learn your trade so thoroughly that they will have noidea that they are being taught. That is the function of theartist-playwright. What do you do besides write plays?" "Just at present I drive a cab, " Jarvis answered simply. "You don't say? How does that happen?" "I was up against it for money, and I took this to oblige a friend cabbywho has rheumatism. " "'Pon my word! How long have you been at it?" "This is my fifth day. " "Business good?" The manager's eyes twinkled. Jarvis smiled gravely. "I have been wishing it would rain, " he confessed. "When do you write?" "At night, now. But this is only temporarily. " "What do you think of my idea of another play?" "The idea is all right, if you will only take it when I've done it. " "How long have you been at this play writing?" "Three years. " "How long do you suppose it took me to learn to be a manager?" "I don't know. " "Well, nearer three times ten than three years, and I am still learning. You writing fellows never want to learn your trade like other people. You talk about inspiration and uplifting the public, and all that, andyou want to do it in six months. You go to work on this new idea, andcome back here when you've finished it. Then it will be time enough totalk about my end of it. " Jarvis rose. "I am obliged to you, sir. I shall do it. " [Illustration: HE TAUGHT HIMSELF TO ABANDON HIS OLD INTROSPECTIVE HABITSDURING THESE DAYS ON THE BOX. ] Mr. Frohman held out his hand. "Good luck to you. I shall hope forrain. " "Thanks! Good morning, sir. " With the perfect ease of a lack of self-consciousness Jarvis made hisexit, leaving Mr. Frohman with a twinkle in his eyes. The rest of the day a certain blond cabman on the avenue drove toFranklin Simon's when he was ordered to Altman's, drew up in state atMcCreery's when he was told Bonwit Teller's. "You must be drunk, driver, " said one passenger. She held up her dollarbill, indignantly, to dismiss him. He lifted his hat, perfunctorily, andswept a bow. "I am, madam, intoxicated with my own thoughts. " He rattled off down thestreet, leaving the woman rooted to the curb with astonishment. He taught himself to abandon his old, introspective habits during thesedays on the box, and forced his attention to fix itself upon the crowds, his customers, the whole uptown panorama, so different from the nightcrowds he sought. He recalled Bambi's saying to him that until helearned not to exclude any of the picture he would never do big work. Her words had a tantalizing way of coming back to him, things she hadtossed off in the long ago of their visit to New York together. Helonged for her vivid phrasing, her quick dart at the heart of the thingsthey talked of. It seemed incredible now that he had ever taken her as amatter of course. As for the enigma of her marrying him, he never ceasedto ponder it. True to his promise, he went to call on the "Probation Lady, " as henamed her, and they became friends. He admired her enormously, and owedmuch to her wise philosophy. He asked her to go riding in his cab, andshe accepted without hesitation. They rode from five to seven, oneafternoon, conversing through the shutter in the top of the cab, laughing and enjoying themselves hugely, to the great amusement ofpedestrians along the way. At the end of two weeks he and Hicks divided the spoils, and Hicksresumed the box. It cemented a friendship which Jarvis enjoyed greatly, for the old Englishman was ripe with humour and experience. He, too, taught the teacher. The day after he was free from cab duty Jarvis went to the LittleTheatre to get a report from "The Vision. " The secretary said Mr. Ameshad asked to see him when he came in. He found him a lean student typeof man, finished in manner, and pleasant of speech. "I have been interested in this play of yours, Mr. Jocelyn. I couldn'tdo it, in my theatre, but I thought I would like to have a talk with youand ask you what else you've done. " "A woman-question play, called 'Success, ' this one, and one on UniversalPeace. " "All serious?" "Certainly. Why do managers always ask that?" "Because serious plays are so many, I suppose. Good comedies are sofew. " "I thought you always gave serious things in the Little Theatre?" "I am forced to, but I am always looking for good comedy. I would liketo see your other plays. " They sat, discussing things of the theatre, tendencies in drama, fashions and fads, Gordon Craig's book, the Rheinhardt idea. They spenta pleasant half hour, like an oasis in Jarvis's desert. He felt that Mr. Ames had time for him, was sincere in his interest in him. He left theLittle Theatre cheered in some inexplicable way. When he returned to his lodgings that day he found a note from Strong, forwarded from the old address. It acknowledged Jarvis's apologygracefully, and suggested that they dine together the night of this veryday, unless Jarvis was again engaged, in which case he might telephone, and they would make other plans. Jarvis frowned over it ten minutes. "Might as well go and get it over, " he remarked ungraciously. Hetelephoned Strong his acceptance, and asked if he might meet him at therestaurant. He did not wish Strong to know the new address. He wouldkeep his struggle and his poverty to himself. That was certain. The two men met at a roof garden, each determined to suppress hisinstinctive dislike of the other because of Bambi. They found a table, and after a short period of stiffness they fell into easy talk of booksand plays and men. "How do you like New York? I remember you confessed to hating citieswhen I saw you. " "I still hate cities, but I am getting a new point of view about itall. " "It's a great school. " "So it is. " "Is Mrs. Jocelyn well, and the Professor?" "Yes, thank you. " "It is some time since you were home?" "Yes. " "I had a note from Mrs. Jocelyn a few days ago. " "Did you?" "I wonder if you would let me see your 'Songs of the Street, ' she toldme about?" "She spoke of them to you?" "In the highest terms. Said she had no idea of your plans in regard tothem, but that the poems were strong and true. " "I am glad she liked them. " "Would you consider letting me have them for the magazine if they seemedto fit our needs?" "You can look them over, if you like. They won't fit, though. They'llstick out like a sore thumb. The only editor I showed them to said theyweren't prose, and they weren't poetry, and, besides, he didn'tlike them. " "Mail them to me to-night when you go home. Better still, bring themin. " Jarvis drew out an envelope that he pushed across the table to Strong. "Look them over now, " he said. Strong lifted his brows slightly, but took the proffered pages and beganto read. While his host was so busied, Jarvis smoked a good cigar, thefirst in months, and enjoyed it. He didn't care whether Strong likedthem or not. Strong looked up suddenly. "I'll take these, Jocelyn. What do you want for them?" "Oh, I don't know. What are they worth to you?" "I'll pay two hundred dollars for them. Is that satisfactory?" "Perfectly. " "I'll mail you a check in the morning. I should say you have beenlearning things, Jocelyn. That is good stuff. " "I told you I was getting a new point of view. " At the close of the evening the two men parted with a surreptitiousfeeling that they would have liked each other under any othercircumstances. They promised to meet soon again. As for Jarvis, he feltthat a golden egg had been laid for him in the middle of the table onthe Astor roof! The one thing that stood out in his mind was the thoughtthat he could go home--home, to see Bambi. The only regret was thatStrong had made it possible. XIX The day came, in early December, when Bambi put the last word, the lastperiod, to her book. Instead of a moment of high relief and of pride, asshe had foreseen it, it was with a sigh of regret that she laid down herpen. She felt as a mother might feel who sends her child out to make itsown way when she had put her last, finishing mother-touch upon histraining. There would never be another first book. No matter how crudeor how young this firstling might come to seem to her, there would neverbe such another. No such thrills, no such building as made thisfirst-born dear, could go in another book. Then there was the pleasurein her new bank account, with the sense of freedom it brought. She couldindulge herself in pretty things. She could buy little presents forpeople she loved. Best of all, she laid aside an amount which she calledthe "Homeseeker's Fund, " to be used for that home which she and Jarviswould establish some day. She had won her independence, and itwas sweet. Mr. Strong was attending to the publication of the story in book form. And it was to be on the Christmas stalls, appearing simultaneously withthe last chapters of the magazine. He was already begging her to promisea new serial for the coming year. It seemed incredible that so much could have happened to her in the tenmonths that she had been married to Jarvis. Her threatened career, whichseemed such a joke to her family, was here; she was well launched uponit, with the two scoffers still in ignorance of the fact. So she mused, as she sat at her desk, the heap of completed last chapters piled beforeher. Ardelia broke in upon her meditations. "Mr. Strong in here!" "Who?" "Mr. Strong!" "Mr. Strong! Why, he sent me no word. I didn't expect him!" "I can't help that. He's here, settin' in the liberry. " "Dear me!" said Bambi. "Say I'll be down at once. Wait! Help me to getinto my gray gown before you go. " "You look all right de way you is. " "No, no. This man lives in New York, Ardelia. He's used to realclothes. " "I wish he'd stay in New York. " "What's the matter with Mr. Strong? I thought you liked him!" "He's gettin' too frequentious round here, to suit me. " "You silly thing, we have business to talk over. Hurry on, now, and sayI'll be down in a minute. " Ardelia lumbered out, disapproval in every inch of her back. Richard Strong turned away from the log fire at the sound of Bambi'sfootsteps running down the stairs. The soft gray gown clung to her, andfloated behind her, its ashen monotone making her face more vivid thanever. Her cheeks were pink, and her eyes looked gray-green in theshadowy room, with the deep, shining fire of opals. Both hands went outto his impulsive greeting. "Welcome!" she said, smiling. "Aren't you surprised?" "I'm pleased. Why should I be surprised?" "It is so unheard of, for me to be running out of town on unexpectedvisits to a lady, that it seems as if everybody must be as surprisedas I am. " "The lady was thinking of you when your name was announced, which mayaccount for her nonsurprise. " "Really?" he said so warmly that she blushed a bit. "Yes, I finished the book to-day. I was thinking it all over--this lastyear. My new sense of getting somewhere, and of you--the big part youplay in it all. Have I ever told you how utterly grateful I am?" He looked down at her, sunk among the cushions of the big couch, beforereplying. "I think you need not say it, " he replied. "I have been so richlyrewarded in knowing you. " "Thanks, friend. " "You've been my secret garden this last year. " "Oh, that is nice of you, " she interrupted, sensing an undercurrent offeeling. "If I am your secret garden, you're my secret well, becausenobody knows about us. " "You haven't told them yet?" "No. When the book comes out I shall give them each a copy, and run andhide while they read it. " "Little girl, " he smiled at her, "what do you think brought me down hereto-day?" "No idea. " "Guess. " "Can't. Never guessed anything in my life. " He took a letter from his pocket and handed it to her. "I am to read this?" He nodded. She opened it and read: _"Mr. Richard Strong, New York City. _ "My DEAR MR. STRONG: I have read, with very great interest, a serialstory, published in your magazine, entitled 'Francesca. ' I feel thatthere is the making of a delightful comedy in the plot of this novel, and I write to ask you whether it would be possible for me to secure thedramatic rights from the author. As the story is anonymous, I appeal toyou to put me in touch with the writer in question. I shall appreciatean immediate reply. "With thanks to you, in advance, Sincerely, "CHARLES FROHMAN, "Empire Theatre, New York City. " "Am I dreaming this? Does this mean my book?" He smiled at her earnestness. "It does. I came down to talk it over with you and see what you wantedme to do. " "What do you think about it, yourself?" "I think it's a great idea. It will advertise the book enormously. Thebook will help the play. In the meantime, they both advertise you. " "A play made of my thoughts? It's too wonderful, " said Bambi. "Do yousuppose he'd let me make the play?" "I don't know. Would you like to? Do you think you could?" "I do. I've learned lots through----" She stopped of a sudden, and gazedat him. "Why, Jarvis must make the play, of course. Why didn't Ithink of it?" "Mr. Frohman would, no doubt, wish to choose the playwright, in case youdidn't make the dramatic version yourself. " "But why couldn't Jarvis?" "Jarvis is totally unknown, you know, and so far unsuccessful inplaymaking. You could hardly expect Mr. Frohman to risk a tyro. " She looked at him indignantly. He rated Jarvis like a Dun's Agency. "But I'm a tyro. Yet you think he might let me do it?" "Excuse me, you are not a tyro. You are the author of one of theseason's most-talked-of books. Your name, in a double rôle, on Mr. Frohman's three-sheets, will be a fine card. " "All I know about play writing I learned from Jarvis, " she protested. "Well, I didn't come to argue about Jarvis's ability or accomplishment, you know. Do you wish me to tell Frohman who you are, or will you cometo town and see him yourself?" "I'd love to go see him. Isn't this exciting?" she cried, as the fullforce of what she was saying came to her. "Oh, it's fun to do things, and be somebody, isn't it?" "I don't know. I never tried it. " "You! How absurd! Distinguished you, saying that to a nouveau like me, when there would have been no me except for you. " "That's complicated, but delightful of you, no matter how untrue it is. " "It is true. If you hadn't happened to like the first story I happenedto write, we would never be here discussing my first play, which Mr. Frohman happens to want. It's all you. " Mr. Strong suddenly leaned over her, so that she felt his breath on herhair. "Francesca, if it only were all me, " he said with unexpected passion. She looked up at him, frightened, amazed. "Oh, you mustn't do that!" she breathed. He straightened up at once. "You're right. I beg your pardon. 'Twas just a slip. " He took a turn up and down the room, and when he came back to the hearthrug he spoke in his usual matter-of-fact way. "I am to make an appointment, then, for you, with Mr. Frohman, at hisoffice?" "If you will, " she answered gratefully. "When will you come to New York?" "Any day you can get the appointment. The sooner the better. " "All right. " He looked at his watch. "I must get that 5:40 back to NewYork. " "Oh, you'll stay to dinner, and spend the night?" "No, thanks. I must get back. " "But the Professor will never forgive me. " "You must make a good case for me. I really must go. " She rose to give him her hand. "It was so good of you to come with this wonderful news, that 'thankyou' is inadequate. " "I thought we had agreed not to say 'thank you' to each other. " "You never have any occasion to say it to me, " she smiled ruefully. "Haven't I? I think you don't know----" She interrupted him nervously. "Friends don't need thank-yous. We will discard them. " "Good! Can I be of service in getting you to Mr. Frohman's office?" "Oh, no. Jarvis will take me. " "To be sure. For the moment I had forgotten Jarvis. " "I'll telephone you when I go to town, and find out about my plans. " "Thank you. " He took her hand and held it a moment. "Forgive me when I seem a bad friend. Trust me. " "I do, Richard, I do. " "Oh, thank you. May I say Francesca?" "If you like. No one ever calls me by that name. " "That's why I choose it. Good-bye. My regards to the father. " "Good-bye, friend. I'm ecstatic over your news. " "So am I over any news that brings you happiness. Good night. " After he left she sank down on the couch again, her brain awhirl of hernew sensations and ideas. That Richard Strong had learned to care forher, during these months of intimate association over the story, camewith as great a surprise as the astonishing demand of Mr. Frohman. Herown thoughts had been so free of sentiment in regard to him; she wentover every step of their advancing friendship, asking herself how muchshe was to blame for his outburst. She had only exerted her wiles forhistrionic purposes on the occasion of his first visit. He certainlycould not have misunderstood her intentions, then, when she haddeliberately explained them to him. After close examination sheexonerated herself. Then, and only then, was she free to indulge her thoughts in the joyousnews he had brought her. Chin on hand, before the fire, she worked itout. She and Jarvis would write the play together, together they wouldgo through all the exciting stages of rehearsal and trying out, togetherthey would make their bow before the curtain and their first-night'sspeech. She decided what kind of frock she would wear. It was allpicturesque and successful. She never faced the possibility of failure. Jarvis's name would be made as a playwright. At the thought that she wasto bring him his opportunity at last, she flushed and smiled, though hereyes misted. Then she began to plan how she would tell it to Jarvis, the story of heradventuring into the new field, her swift success, and now this lastlaurel leaf. Suddenly a new idea lifted its head. Suppose Jarvis refusedto come into his own, under her mantle, as it were? He would be proudand glad for her, of course, but maybe he would resent taking his firstchance from her hands. With knitted brow she pondered that for sometime. The more she thought of it, the more convinced she became thateven though he accepted it, and showed gratitude, deep down in his heartwould be the feeling that he would be only contributing to her success, that was in no way his own. Long she sat, and finally she laughed, nodded her head, and clapped her hands. "Oh, yes, that's the way!" said she. The Professor came in upon her at this point. "Are you saying an incantation, my dear?" "No, offering thanks to the gods. " "For what?" "For the most unconscionable luck. " "In what form, may I ask?" "Look at me!" she ordered. He fixed his faded eyes on her closely. "I see you. " "See how pretty I am?" "You're not bad-looking. " "Bad-looking? I'm extremely near to being a beauty. Look at the father Ihave--distinguished, delightful!" "Oh, my dear!" "Look at the husband the gods gave me!" "Yes, your long-distance husband. " "Look at Ardelia! Who ever heard of such a cook? Consider my brains. " "There, I grant you. " "Besides that, I am the sole possessor of a secret which is tooperfectly delicious to be true. " "Do you intend to tell this secret to me?" "Yes, as soon as it is ripe. " She caught his hands and whirled him about. "Oh, Professor, Professor, you ought to be very glad that you arerelated to me!" "Bambina, one moment. I dislike being jerked around like a livejumping-jack. " "It's evident I didn't get my dancing talents from you, old centipede. Sit down, and I'll dance a joy dance. " She pushed him on the couch, and began a wild, fantastic dance on thehearth rug before him, the firelight flashing through the thin, graydraperies. Even the Professor breathed a little faster as the lithefigure swayed and bent and curved into wonderful lines, which meltedever into new ones. It was young, elemental joy, every step of it;sexless, no Bacchante dance, but rather a paeon of ecstasy, such as adryad might have danced in the woods. At the climax she stood poised, her arms lifted in exultation. Then she dropped beside him. "My child!" he exclaimed. "That was most extraordinary! Where did youlearn it?" "Ages back, when I lived in a tree. " "It must be a happy secret to make you dance like that. " "Oh, " said she, snuggling up to him, putting her head on his shoulder, "it is the gayest, pleasantest, hopefulest secret a girl ever had. If Idon't hold my hands over my mouth, it will break out of me. " "Does Jarvis know?" "Oats, peas, beans, and barley grows, You, nor he, nor nobody knows!" she laughed. "It's going to be the most amusing moment of my life when Ispring it on the two of you. " "When is that to be?" "Curiosity is death to mathematicians, " she warned him, nor could heextract another word from behind the hand she held over herlaughing mouth. XX "Appointment at three o'clock, Tuesday afternoon, " announced Strong'swire on Monday morning. "Hurray!" shouted Bambi, rushing into the kitchen to break the news toArdelia, since the Professor was not there. "Noo Yawk, bress yo'! Ain't dat fine? Yo' gwine see Mistah Jarvis?" "Of course I'll see him. " "Yo' can tote him back home, mebbe. " "I'll take the early morning train to-morrow. " "I reckon I'll fry up some chicken an' bake some cakes, so yo' can toteit right along wid yo'. " "Now, look here, Ardelia. I'm not going to pack any basket along on thetrain to New York. Jarvis can buy his fried chicken there. " "He say dey ain't no cookin' lak' dere is in dis town. " "Well, it will have to do for a little longer. I'll have my bag andplenty to carry. " "Yo' ain't got no nat'chal feelin' fo' dat boy, " Ardelia scolded her. When the Professor heard the news he evinced a mild surprise. "Have you any money for this trip? I'm a trifle short, now. The banknotified me yesterday that I was overdrawn. " "Professor, not again? What is the use of being a mathematician if youare always overdrawn?" "The trouble is I forget to look at my balance. I just continue to drawuntil I am notified. You will see Jarvis, of course?" "Yes. " "You say you have business to attend to in the city?" "Yes. " "About the secret?" "Yes. " "Is the moment of disclosure approaching?" She nodded. "Well, I wish you the best of luck, my dear. " "Thanks, Herr Professor. " She took the early train in high good humour the next morning, clad inher most fetching frock. "Even a stony-hearted manager could not be impervious to this hat, " washer parting comment to her glass. She was very undecided as to whether she would go straight to Jarvis'slodgings and surprise him, or wait until after the interview withFrohman. She finally decided that she could not wait until four o'clock, but that she would give Jarvis no hint of the coming momentousappointment. As she came into the city, she noted the bright, crispwinter day with pleasure--very different from that spring day when sheand Jarvis had entered the gates together. But to-day was to-day and shewas glad of it. She took a taxi, with that sense of affluence which attacks one like agerm on entering the City of Spenders. The driver looked at her again asshe gave the address. The trim, smart little figure did not look muchlike the neighbourhood she was headed for. Probably one of thesesettlement workers, he decided. At first Bambi did not notice where she was going, so happy was she tobe back in this gay city. "I know you're a Painted Lady, but you're so pretty!" she smiled, as thestreets ran by. Downtown and still downtown the taxi sped, past theWashington Square district, which they had explored together, shootingoff at a tangent into the kind of neighbourhood where Bambi had fallensick at the sights and the filth. They drew up before an old-fashionedhouse, with dirty steps and windows and curtains. It looked like abetter-class citizen on the down grade, beside the neighbouring houses, which were frankly low-class. The driver opened the door and Bambistared up at the place. "Why, this can't be it!" she exclaimed. "This is the number you gave me. " "Wait, " she said. She ran up the rickety steps, her heart sick withfear. She rang and waited and rang. Finally, a dirty head appeared outof an upstairs window. "What d'yer want?" a voice demanded. "Does Mr. Jarvis Jocelyn live here?" "Three flights up-back, " and the window slammed. "Wait for me, driver, " she called. She began to climb the dirty stairs, tears in her eyes. "Oh, my dear, my dear!" she said, over and over again. She knocked at the third-floor back, with no response; so she opened thedoor and entered. One dark area window, a bed, a chair, a dresser, animprovised table with piles of manuscript. It was cleaner than the awfulentrance suggested. But, oh, it was pitiful! Such a place for a dreamer!Bambi leaned her head on the dresser and sobbed. That he had beenreduced to this, that he had never told them, that he had refused theProfessor's money and chosen poverty! It nearly killed her, while itthrilled her with a pride unspeakable. If he had the strength for such afight, nothing could conquer him. She started at a step outside, thinking that it might be he. Suddenly she realized that he might not want even her to see this; thathe might not want her to know of this drab tent where he crawled forsleep off the field of battle. She went to the narrow bed and laid herhand gently where his cheek would rest. "Jarvis, my dear!" she whispered. Then she went down the rickety stairs, out to the waiting cab. She wassick, heart and body, at the revelation of what his struggle meant. Allthe mother in her cried out at the physical distress of suchsurroundings to a nature sensitive to environment. He could have come back to the sunny, airy rooms he had made his, athome; but he had chosen to stay and win. So many things she had notunderstood about him were made clear now, and she wondered if RichardStrong had found him there. No wonder Jarvis had repulsed him, takenunawares, and at such a disadvantage! "Oh, why didn't you let me know and help?" she repeated. She had the mantake her round and round the Park, where it was quiet. She must getherself in hand. She felt that at the slightest excuse she would burstinto hysterics! More than ever, now, must she be mistress of herself forthe coming interview. She must fight to catch the big manager'sattention, and win her way with him. She drew her furs about her, closedher eyes, and tried to shut out the sight of that sordid, wretched room, where handsome big Jarvis was paying the toll to success--toll of bloodand brain and nerves, paid by every man or woman who mounts to the top!She saw him climbing wearily those dirty stairs, coming into the cell. Over and over she saw it, like a moving-picture film repeatedindefinitely. At quarter before three she ordered the driver to the Empire Theatre. This time his face cleared. Actress, of course. Probably went to theslums to look up a drunken husband. He drew up at the theatre, demandeda queen's ransom for her release, and stood at attention. She was toonervous to notice the amount, and paid it absently, dismissed him, andhurried to the elevator. She was first shown into the general-domo's office, where she wascatechised as to her name and her business. She waited fifteen minuteswhile her name was passed down the line. Word came back that Mr. Frohmanwas engaged. Would she please wait? "I'll wait, but my appointment was at three, " she said. The major-domo looked at her as if such _lèse majesté_ deserved hanging. In fifteen minutes more she was conducted into an anteroom, where shewas turned over to a secretary. Her business was explained to him. Indue course of time word came out that Mr. Frohman would be through inten minutes. She was moved, then, to a tiny room next the sacred doorleading into the inner mystery. Twenty minutes passed, then ayouth appeared. "Mr. Frohman will receive you now, " he announced in solemn tones. Bambi refrained from an impulse to say, "Thank you, St. Peter, " andfollowed into the private office. For a second she was petrified withfear, then with the courage of the terror-stricken she marched down thelong room to the desk where Mr. Frohman sat looking at her. "Sorry to keep you waiting, " said he. Bambi fixed her shining eyes upon him and smiled confidently. "I feel as if I'd gotten into the Kingdom of Heaven for a short talkwith God!" The smile on the manager's face broke into a laugh. "Is it as bad asthat? Sit down and see how you like it up here?" "Thanks, " she said, sinking into the big chair beside the desk. "So you wrote 'Francesca, ' did you?" "I did. " "You look pretty young to know as much about life as that book tells. " "Oh, I'm old in experience, " she boasted. He looked closely at her ingenuous face, and laughed again. "You don't look it. I think there's a play in that book. " "So do I. " "Did you ever write a play?" "No, but I've helped on several plays. I know a great deal about them, "she assured him. "Do you? Well, that's more than I do. Any of the plays that you havehelped on been produced?" "That isn't fair of you, " she protested. "I should have boasted about itif they had. " "A skilled playwright could take the heart of your story and build up aclever comedy. " "Could we have Richard Bennett, Marguerite Clarke, and Albert Bruningplay the parts?" "Oh, ho, you've got it all cast, have you?" She nodded. "And I know just the man to make the play. " "Do you? So do I. Whom do you choose?" "Jarvis Jocelyn. " "Jarvis Jocelyn? Who's he?" "He's a young playwright. He hasn't had anything produced yet, but he'sextremely clever, and I do so want him to have the chance. " "Jarvis Jocelyn! Seems as though I had heard that name. Oh, your name isJocelyn, " he added. "Is this a relative?" "Sort of--husband. " "Husband? So you're married?" in surprise. "Yes. If you don't mind, I think I'll have to tell you some personalhistory. " "Go ahead. I wish I could think where I had heard that fellow's name. " "He submitted a play to you, called 'Success. '" "What--the cab-driver? You mean to say you're married to thecab-driver?" "Cab-driver?" "The 'Success' fellow came in here, in a long coat and a top hat. Saidhe was driving a hansom to help a friend and incidentally turn a pennyhimself. Big, handsome, blond fellow. I remember, I liked him. " Surprise, pain, then understanding, flashed across her face, and somehowthe manager knew that he had betrayed a secret to her and that it hurt. She controlled herself quickly, and answered him. "Yes, that was Jarvis. We were married last spring, and we both set outon a career. I kept mine a secret, and just by luck I succeeded. ButJarvis"--here her eyes filled with tears--"you've no idea how hard it isto be a playwright! Everybody thinks what a snap it is to collectroyalties when you are a Broadway favourite, but they don't know allthose terrible days and nights before you get there, and what it meansif you never do get there. " "I know, " he nodded. "So you want to give this fellow the chance to makethis play?" "I want to more than I ever wanted anything in my life. " "Well, well!" he said, in surprise at her earnestness. "I want you to send for him, give him the commission, and never mentionme. " "Why not?" "I do not want him to know that I had anything to do with it. " "He doesn't know you wrote the book?" "No. " "And you're married to him, you say?" She nodded. "Upon my word, you're a queer pair! Are you Francesca, and is he themusician of the story?" "Well, they are based on us, rather. " He laughed. "Dear, kind Mr. Frohman, will you do this?" "I told the fellow to try his hand at a comedy. He might handle this, ifwe could hold him down. Awful preacher, isn't he?" "He's young, " she answered patronizingly. The manager covered a smile. "Won't he recognize himself and you in the book?" "I think not. He's so unobserving, and he does not suspect me at all. He'll never know. " "You may have to work with him on the play. " "Oh, he'll appeal to me for help. He always does. We will do ittogether, only he will not know about the author. " "You will have to come to rehearsals. " "I'll come as wife of the playwright, or co-author. " "You've got it all thought out, haven't you?" "I have. " "Sounds like a farce plot to me. Give me my instructions again. You wantme to send for him, tell him to make a play out of this book----" She smiled and nodded. "Suppose he asks me who the author is?" "You could say that she insisted upon preserving her anonymity. " "What else do I do?" "That's all. " "If this is your idea of a short interview with God, you certainly makegood in dictating his policy to him!" Bambi's laughter rippled and sang. "But you will do it?" "I'll make a start by calling the cabby. " She rose and held out her hand. "I'm so glad you're like this, " she said. "I shall love doing thingswith you. " "Much obliged. I'm glad you came in. You'll probably hear from one of usas to the next move in the matter. Good-bye!" "Good-bye and thanks, Mr. God. " His laugh followed her out. He sat for several minutes thinking abouther and her plan. He recalled Jarvis's fine, unconscious exit at thetime of his interview. He rang for a boy, and demanded Jarvis's address. Bambi walked out, treading on air. She had won her point. She had gotJarvis his chance. She thought it all out--the coming of Frohman'sletter, his joy over the commission, how he would announce it to her. She laughed aloud, so that several people turned to look at her and aman slowed up and fell in step. She went into a tea-shop to have tea, calm down, and decide on the nextstep. Would she stay over-night, summoning Jarvis to meet her next day, or should she go home on the night train and not see him at all? Couldshe bear to see his face with the imprint of poverty and discouragement?He had been so reduced as to be forced to drive a cab, she might evenmeet him on the avenue! No, she would go home to-night, and let Jarviscome to her with news of his victory. So she surprised the Professor at breakfast. "Morning!" she cried. "Bambi! We didn't expect you so soon. " "I finished what I had to do, so here I am. " "And Jarvis?" "Oh, he's well. " "Was he surprised to see you?" "Very. " "Is he getting on?" "Slowly. But he will win. " "If he can learn to be practical----" "He's learning, " said Bambi, grimly. "When is he coming home?" "He did not say. " "Nobody buys his plays yet?" "Not yet. " "I'm not surprised. That woman, you know, in the play he read us----" "Don't talk about her till I get my breakfast. " He looked at her in surprise, she was so seldom irritated. She rang forArdelia. "Why, Miss Bambi, honey! I didn't see yo' all comin'. " "Here I am, and hungry, too. " "How's Mistah Jarvis?" "All right. Breakfast, Ardelia, I perish. " "Did you have a successful trip?" inquired her father. "I did, very. " "How did you find Babylon?" "As Babylonish as ever. " She seemed strangely disinclined for conversation, so her wise parentleft her to her meditations and her breakfast. But he patted her as hepassed to go out. "We're glad to have you back, my daughter. " She brushed his cheek with her lips, understandingly. XXI "God's in his heaven! All's right with the world!" carrolled Bambi gaylythe next day. She wrote Mr. Strong of her interview with Mr. Frohman and its happyoutcome. It gave her some satisfaction to announce that the manager waswilling to entrust Jarvis with the play. She explained that she wasobliged to come home on the night train, so she had missed the pleasureof seeing him. Would he see that Mr. Frohman had the first bound copyof the book? She added that she was happy, but it was superfluous. It sang itselfthrough the note, so that Strong patted the paper, as he finished it, asif it were a personal belonging of the sender. The letter finished, she mounted the stairs to Jarvis's house, as shealways called the top floor. She wandered about, comparing it with thatplace of confinement where he now dwelt. To-day he would write ortelegraph to her his news, if he had the interview with Frohman. She began work on the play, up in his study. She outlined the main plot, marked scenes in the book she thought vital, scraps of conversationwhich would be effective. She planned the sets for the different acts, even deciding upon Francesca's clothes. Ever and anon, in the midst ofher happy scheming, she fell to dreaming of the days to come, withJarvis home again, and their work together resumed. Whenever the doorbell rang she stopped and waited for Ardelia's heavyfoot upon the stairs as she toiled up with the telegram or specialdelivery. But the morning passed, plus half the afternoon, with no wordfrom him. She went down to the post-office herself in the hope that thelate mail would reward her. There was nothing for her. The next day brought only a note from Strong congratulating herenthusiastically, and prophesying a great success for the Jocelynfamily. She spent a restless day waiting for the postman, afraid toleave the house for fear she would miss a wire. She grew so nervous thatshe scolded Ardelia and fussed at the Professor. Night found herentirely discouraged. Something had happened. Frohman had changed hismind, or Jarvis had refused. She had known all along that it was toogood to be true. She tossed all night, sleepless, her mind runningaround like a squirrel in a trap, planning another trip to seethe manager. The early morning found her pacing the paths of the frostbitten garden, where the Professor found her later. "Why, good morning, Bambi mia, " said he, in surprise. "Good day, Herr Vater!" "What brings you forth so early, lady-bird?" "My hateful thoughts! Oh, daddy, there's a crick in the secret. " "A crick? Dear me, what a pity!" "If it doesn't get itself straightened out to-day, I shall go to NewYork again, to see what I can do. " "The companionship of a secret is often corruptive to good habits, suchas sleep and appetite. Better tell me this mystery. " "If it isn't settled to-day, I will tell you. " "Very good. " "These late asters are hardy things?" "Yes. The rest of the poor beds are full of ghosts. " "Ghosts always stalk, don't they?" He looked at her in concern. "You are upset, " he said, and they bothlaughed. She followed him about for an hour, talking, watching his exact, methodical movements. The early morning air was keen, in spite of thesun. When the postman appeared on the block she ran to the gate to meethim. He was an old friend, on the route ever since she could remember. "Hello, Miss Bambi, you're early this morning, " he called. "I couldn't sleep for my sins. If you don't give me a letter, Mr. Ben, I'll scream. " "Go ahead!" "You mean----" He laughed at her discomfited face and handed her the letter. A quickglance showed the Empire Theatre in one corner. She blew him a kiss onher finger tips. "I knew you wouldn't disappoint me, dear Mr. Ben. That's it!" "I tell you I'm a regular little Cupid. Don't know what the girls inthis town would do without me, " he laughed, as he trudged away. Bambi read: "MY DEAR MRS. JOCELYN: It gives me pleasure to announce that Mr. JarvisJocelyn has almost agreed to accept the commission. I think he feelsthat it is condescension on his part, but he accepts conditionally. Hecarried off the copies of the magazine to read your story, and he is togive me his answer to-day. As I am sure of a favourable one, I think wemay consider the matter settled. "Hoping that this meets with your entire approval, "I am, faithfully, "CHARLES FROHMAN. "P. S. I told him that I understood the author was an unhappy wife, whodesired to be unknown. " The Professor looked up as Bambi pirouetted around the beds, waving afluttering white sheet in good melodrama style. "This letter that I longed for, it has come!" she sang, lifting apointed toe over the top of a withered sunflower stalk. "My dear, that ballet step is a trifle exaggerated for a lady!" "The sunflower's dead, so it couldn't be shocked. The secret is workingfine. Oh, I'm so happy, I'm so happy!" she trilled, and whirled offtoward the house. "If you are still thinking of a career, why not a whirling dervish?"called her father. She stopped, and turned to him. "Career? Career, did you say, for stupid little me?" "I never called you stupid, " he protested. "I should hope not. I'm the smartest child you ever had!" she cried as aperiod to their discourse. All day she waited for word from Jarvis and none came. She could havecried with disappointment. Could he have been insane enough to refuse, after he had read the story? Or did he think she was indifferent to hisgood fortune? She went to bed determined to write him on the morrow. The morning mail brought a second letter from the Empire Theatre. Itcontained a line from Mr. Frohman, "He accepts, " and an enclosure. Thisproved to be a letter from Jarvis: _"To the Author of 'Francesca, ' care of Mr. Frohman, Empire Theatre, NewYork. _ "MY DEAR MADAM: Mr. Charles Frohman has given me your story 'Francesca'to read, with a view to making it into a play. Of course you arefamiliar with his plans in this respect. He has offered to entrust mewith the dramatization, and I have consented to accept, on the conditionthat both you and he will allow me to use my own discretion in the work, and not hamper me by superimposing your own ideas and desires. When Ihave finished all I can do with it, I will then try to incorporate anyideas you may have in the final version. "I think the story very charming, the characters interesting. The partof the musician seems to me rather fantastic, but I suppose there aresuch men. The girl, Francesca, is delightful; the old fiddler, afine study. "You are to be congratulated on your work, and I trust I may be able tomake as good a play as you have made a book. "Very truly yours, "JARVIS JOCELYN. " Bambi chuckled as she read, and patted the part which praised her. Whatever else had happened, Jarvis's dignity was still intact. He calmlytold the author to keep her hands off her own book! She flew to thetypewriter to answer him. _"Mr. Jarvis Jocelyn, care of Mr. Charles Frohman, Empire Theatre, NewYork. _ "MY DEAR MR. JOCELYN: Your letter in regard to the dramatization of mybook, 'Francesca, ' seems to demand immediate assurance that you willhave free rein in the work you are to do. Mr. Frohman has told mesomething of you and of your work, and I shall be very happy if my storygives you your first opportunity to succeed as a playwright. "I am glad you are pleased with my story. Did you know that it was myfirst one? Your comment on the character of the musician interested me, as it is a close portrait of a friend. "Trusting that we may work together to a successful end, I am "Sincerely, "THE AUTHOR. "P. S. For private reasons I prefer to remain unknown to you. You canalways reach me through Mr. Frohman's office. You must forgivetyped letters. " This she sent to the Frohman office, with a request that it beforwarded. The next day brought Jarvis's news: "DEAR BAMBI: For three days I have resisted the constant temptation tosend you word of what seemed to be extraordinarily good news, but manydisappointments have made me a doubting Thomas, so I held off until Iwas really sure. To begin at the beginning, I was at the lowest ebb ofdisgust with myself last week for my inability to get in step with thegrand march. Only a fool can be excused for failure, and I am not that. So a summons from the Frohman office somewhat restored my self-respect. It seems that Mr. Frohman has never forgotten my previous interview, sowhen he decided to make a play of a popular novel entitled 'Francesca, 'he immediately thought of me. "Of course this is not the kind of play I want to do, so I said I wouldlook over the book and if I liked it I would have a try at it. The longand the short of it is I have accepted. The woman who wrote the thinghas promised to keep out of it. She seems to be a nice kind of person, but for some reason wants to make a mystery of herself. Frohman hints ata domestic tragedy as her reason. I'm sure I do not care about herprivate affairs. "She has written a clever and delightful book. The heroine, oddly enoughcalled Francesca, suggests you in places, except that she is a morepractical sort than you are. The hero, a musician, is a sort ofsublimated madman. The best character of all is an old fiddler. There isa play in it. The more I think about it, the more I am convincedof that. "Would you care to help me on it? Both of our names could go on thebill. I have come to know, these last months, since I have been workingat things here alone, how much the growth in my work is due to you. Thehuman touch you have given my characters, or helped me to give them, isthe essential element in my improvement. You started a good many wiresto jangling that spring day when you indulged your mad impulse to marryan impossibility! "Regards to the Professor. "Yours, "JARVIS. " Bambi went to the telegraph office and wired him: "Congratulations. Of course I'll help! Come home. "BAMBI. " He answered, by letter, that he thought it best to stay on until Mr. Frohman and the author were both satisfied with the framework of theplay. Then he would come, most gladly, to work in the old study. Hewould submit his ideas for a scenario the next day or so. From that moment the fun began for Bambi. He wrote daily about theoutline, and weekly letters to the author were forwarded to her from theFrohman office. These she answered, disguised as the author, with many achuckle of amusement. A sort of friendliness crept into these letters asthey increased in number. Christmas week arrived with no definite assurance from Jarvis as to hisplans, but Bambi was confident that he would be at home for the holiday. Professor Parkhurst demanded daily bulletins of his son-in-law'sintentions, while Ardelia bemoaned and bewailed lest he fail to return. The day before Kris Kringle was due a white snow descended like abenediction. Bambi and the Professor sat before a huge, crackling firein the library. She was restless as a spirit. She sat at the piano andsang "O Lonely Pine Tree Standing, " until the Professor objected. "Sing something gay, my child. " "God rest ye, merry gentleman, Let nothing ye dismay, For Jesus Christ, the Saviour, Was born on Christmas Day, " she sang gladly. All at once her hands fell silent on the keys, while she stared at thedoorway a full second before she rose. Jarvis stood there looking ather. He was powdered with snowflakes. He held his soft hat crushedagainst him, showing his hair, glistening with snow, and curled close tohis head with dampness. It was his face that focussed her attention. Theold proud carriage of the head was there, but an asking look had comeinto his eyes and mouth in place of the old arrogance. In the second shehesitated she saw all this--caught the glow and the beauty of him, aswell as the appeal. "Jarvis!" she cried, and met him halfway across the room, both handsout. "Bambi!" he answered her huskily, and she knew that he was moved at thesight of her. He crushed her hands in his, and drank her in, from hershining eyes to her boots, oblivious to the startled Professor, whostood looking on. "Welcome home!" said Bambi, unsteadily. "Did you come through the roof?" inquired Professor Parkhurst. "I had a passkey. How are you?" Jarvis laughed, mangling the Professor'shand. The latter rescued and inspected his limp fingers. "I am well, but I shall never use that hand again. " "You have come home, " said Bambi, foolishly. "I have. My, but it's good to be here! I got Frohman's approval on theframework of the play to-day, and ran for the first train. " "Does the author approve, too?" "She does. She is more or less a figurehead, but she seems reasonable. " "Oh, Jarvis, you're a nice Christmas present. Go put these wet things inthe hall, call on Ardelia, and come back. It will take at least a weekto say all the things I want to say to you. " He smiled at her, and marched off to do her bidding. "He looks fine, doesn't he? I never realized before how handsome he is, "said the Professor. "He's thrilling!" replied Bambi. Her father inspected her thoughtfully. "What a talent you have for hitting people off! That is just it: hethrills you with a feeling of youth and power. " "Plus some new and softer quality, " added Bambi, as if to herself. The powwow in the kitchen could be heard all over the house, Ardeliawelcoming home the Prodigal Son. It was only after long argument heescaped the fatted calf. She could not conceive of him except as hungryafter many months in the heathen city. When he came back into the library he swept with his eyes its caressingharmony of colour, tone, and atmosphere. He had never noticed it before. The Professor's beautiful profile, like a fine steel engraving, throwninto high relief by the lamplight, seemed a part of it. The vibrantlittle figure on the hearth rug, in a flame-coloured gown, was the highnote that gave it all climax. His mind swept the gamut of dirty hallbedrooms, back to this, and the sigh with which he sank into the bigcouch caught Bambi's amused attention. "It was satisfaction, " he assured her. "For the first time in my life, I've got the home feeling. " She nodded understandingly. Her mind, too, swept up those dirty stairs, peeped into the cell, and flew back, singing. The Professor moved over beside Jarvis, and the wander tales began. Bambi fluttered about like a scarlet tanager, tantalizing Jarvis with adesire to catch her in his hand and hold her still. At eleven the Professor said good night. Immediately Bambi led the talkto their proposed work, and held it there, firmly, until midnightchimed. Jarvis told her of the sale of the "Street Songs" to Strong'smagazine, and announced that one hundred dollars of it was to be setdown in the Black Maria account. She laughed and congratulated him. Finally she rose. "Your rooms are always ready for you, so I do not need to go up and seeabout them. A Merry Christmas, Jarvis Jocelyn. " He laid his hands on her shoulders and looked deep into her eyes. Hethought he felt her tremble under his touch, but her glance was as frankand emotionless as a boy's. "A Merry Christmas to you, Miss Mite, " he answered, with a sigh. Shelaughed, unexpectedly patted his cheek with her hand, and ran upstairs. XXII Christmas day in the little house was a real celebration. It was thefirst one in the Jocelyns' married life, and the entire householdentered into the spirit of Yuletide with enthusiasm. At Bambi'ssuggestion, they hid the presents all over the house. The subsequentsearch and discovery were carried on with much laughter and shouting. Ardelia's delight over her gifts was vocal and extreme. The Professorcontinually forgot which presents were his, and collected every oneelse's into his pile, from which the owner laughingly rescued them. Apair of silk stockings for Bambi which he absent-mindedly appropriatedcaused much mirth. Jarvis's gift to Bambi was a dull gold chain, hung with tassels ofbaroque pearls, an exquisite feminine bauble. "Oh, Jarvis, how charming! It's like a lovely lady's happy tears!" sheexclaimed. He blushed happily. "I thought it looked like you. " "A thousand thanks! Fasten the clasp for me. " He fumbled it awkwardly, but with final success. She turned forinspection, her eyes avid for praise. He nodded. "It is where it belongs, " he said. The day passed happily. Ardelia's dinner was a Christmas poem. When theProfessor complimented her on the success of everything, she replied: "Yassuh, dis heah day been all right. But I hopes befo' nex' Chris'muswe all gwine to have some chilluns to make dis a sho' nuff pahty. " Bambi's face was scarlet, but she faced it out. "Oh, not children, Ardelia--singular, you mean, I hope. " "No, I don't mean sing'lar. We don' want no singular chilluns. I meanjes' plain chilluns. " "The holiday seems to be peculiarly the children's day, " said theProfessor, unaware of the situation, and so saved it! Thus it was that Jarvis was welcomed into the family circle again, andthis time he became an integral part as he had never been before. Theday after Christmas he came to Bambi with her story. "You told me you had read this book, didn't you?" "Yes, I've read it. " "What do you think of it?" he asked her, curiously. "I adore it!" she replied. He sat down beside her, gravely. "It's a strange thing, but the book grows on you. When I first read it, I thought it was a clever little trifle. But as I work with it, I havecome to see that it is remarkable in its human quality. You feel thecharm of the author all through it. " "Do you?" eagerly. "Didn't you?" "I don't know. I loved the girl. She seemed very true to me. " "I've never known any girls except you, and I don't know you very well, but there are spots where you and the other Francesca are strikinglyalike. I suppose it is not you, but _feminine_. I mix them up. " "If we are to make a play of it, I am glad we both love it. " "I find myself intensely interested in the mysterious woman who wroteit. To me there is no hint in the story of the infelicity Mr. Frohmanhinted at. I would like to know her. " "Don't you expect to see her when the play is finished?" "She says she wishes me not to know her. " "But she will have to come to rehearsals?" "I must ask her about that. Maybe she will come, then. " "You write to her?" "Oh, yes. I have to keep her in touch with my progress. " "I thought you told her to keep out. " "I did. But she has been so agreeable about it that I decided to keepher posted as I went along. " Bambi rose. "I've no doubt she is very fascinating, " she said, coldly. "You don't object to my interest in her?" "Object? My dear Jarvis, you may be interested in all the women increation without any objection from me!" "And you have the same freedom?" "Naturally. Now let's get to work. I was surprised at what you saidabout the young musician in the book. I thought he was so real. " "Strange. That is what the author said, that it was a close portrait ofa near friend. " "What is it, about him, that you do not like?" "Oh, I like him, in a way. But these reformers, idealists, thinking theycan dream the world into Arcadia!" Bambi's clear laugh startled him. "What amuses you so?" he asked, shortly. "I suppose I rather like the idealist type. " He looked at her closely. "Good heavens, you don't think I'm like that, do you?" "A little, " she admitted. "If I thought that I was that particular brand of idiot I'd learnbookkeeping and be a clerk, " was the reply. "Maybe it isn't you--maybe it is just _man_ I recognize. " "You can see how terribly clever the woman is--to set each of usaccusing the other. " "She is just a student of types, that's all, " Bambi disparaged the lady. So they began their co-partnership. The shyness, the appeal, the newself-conscious element Bambi had sensed in Jarvis gave way to the oldmental relationship as fellow workman. They had regular office hours, asthey called it. They experimented to see whether they obtained the bestresults, when they each worked at a scene alone and went over ittogether for the final polishing; or when they actually worked on it inunison. Four hours in the morning they laboured, took an hour of recessafter lunch, then two hours more, followed by a tramp off into thecountry, talking play, play, play. These were days of keen delight to them both. They worked together sosmoothly and so well. Jarvis's high-handed superiority had given way toa well-grounded respect for Bambi's quick apprehension of a false note, an unnatural line, or a bungled climax. The first interruption came with the advent of Richard Strong to spendthe weekend, and Jarvis made no comment when Bambi announced his comingand declared Saturday a holiday. He even agreed to meet their guest atthe station. The two men came back together in amicable converse. "I am so glad you could come, Richard, " Bambi greeted him, in her eagerway. Jarvis started at the Christian name, and flushed angrily at Strong'sreply. "Happy New Year, Francesca!" Richard and Francesca--so they had gone as far as that on the road tointimacy was Jarvis's hurt comment to himself. After that he watched Strong every minute for signs of special devotion, and before the day was over he had satisfied himself that these twocared deeply for each other. The way Strong's eyes followed her everymovement, the way he anticipated her wants, understood her before shespoke--they were all damning evidences of the situation. That Bambishowed herself grateful, as vividly as she did everything else, entirelyescaped Jarvis. She loved him, that was the truth, and he alone stoodbetween her and happiness. The two days dragged by, in torment, for him. It seemed as if they wouldnever be over, so that he might face the truth by himself, with Strongout of the picture, and decide what must be done. Bambi noticed hisstrained politeness to their guest, but set it down to the sameinconsistency he had shown before, of being jealous of what he did notespecially value himself. Monday, after Strong's departure, she began to realize that there was achange in him. He was taciturn and moody. The work went badly. Hedisagreed with her at every point, and when she suggested that they stopan hour earlier than usual, he went off by himself, without asking herto go. She began to wonder whether his dislike of Strong was reallyserious and something to be taken cognizance of. Jarvis strode off into the country in a state of nerves unknown before. A sleepless night and the irritation of the day's work had played theirhavoc with him. He went over the thing again and again. Bambi and Strongloved each other--he stood in the way. Why should he not take himselfout of the situation at once? "She married me for a whim; she willunmarry me the same way, " he reiterated to himself. "Why did she do it, in the first place, unless she cared something for me? But she told meshe had no sentiment for me, " he replied to his other self. "It wasambition that made her do it. She thought I would be famous. I'vedisappointed her, and she's through with me. " He went over everyincident of their reunion--his thrill at her welcome. "She didn't reallycare; it was just her way, " he assured himself. For hours he plunged through the woods, pursued by his bitter thoughts. When he turned back at last, into the garden, he knew that a precious, new-born thing, which he had brought back with him after his exile, waslaid away, never to be allowed to come into full flower and maturity. His decision was made. He temporized on one point. He would stay onuntil the play was produced, so that if it succeeded, as he wasdetermined it should, Bambi would have that much satisfaction from hermatrimonial experiment. Then he would let her divorce him, and he wouldtake himself out of her life. She was in the library when he went in. She caught sight of his face, and exclaimed: "Jarvis, my dear, how tired you look!" He started to go, but she detained him. "Is anything the matter, Jarvis?" "No, what should be the matter?" "I don't know, but if there is anything you want to talk out with me, let's have it now. We can't afford to have any misunderstandingsbetween us. " "There is nothing, " he said, and left the room. That night, after dinner, he sat late in his study, writing. Two dayslater the result of the evening's work came to Bambi: "DEAR AUTHOR LADY: Some days ago I sent you my new address, so that youneed not send letters to the theatre, but so far I have not heard fromyou. To-night, for some reason, I feel moved to write to you as I wouldwish to talk to you were you near me. "I say for some reason, and yet I know the reason. It is because of yourhuman understanding of the things that make men glad or sad. I ambeginning to know that only through the ache of experience can we cometo understand each other. Surely there must be something of sadness backof your life, Lady of Mystery, to give you this power. "To-day I have fought out a bitter fight with myself, and I feel theloneliness that comes in a crisis, when each man of us must stand orfall, alone. "The play goes ahead rapidly. As I told you, Mrs. Jocelyn and I havegreat satisfaction in our work on it. I am determined to wring successfrom it. Both for your sake and for mine, I must! "Is this personal letter distasteful to you? Do I depend too much uponyour gracious understanding? If I do, say so, and I will notoffend again. "Faithfully, "JARVIS JOCELYN. " Bambi read this letter over and over again, behind the locked door ofher bedroom. What did it all mean? What was the bitter fight that droveJarvis to this other woman for solace? How far did she dare draw him outon it, without offending her own sense of fitness? Had this innocentplot of hers, to startle him into amazed admiration, led them both intoa labyrinth of misunderstanding? She answered Jarvis's letter and sent it to the theatre, asking them toforward it: "DEAR MR. JOCELYN: Your letter touched me very much in its appeal for mysympathy and understanding. I am regretful that sorrow has found youout. I think of you always as young and strong and happy, with a youngwife, and the world before you. I hate to have you spoil my picture. "I repeat my satisfaction that you and your wife enjoy your work on'Francesca. ' I found such happiness myself in doing her, that I like tothink we share the pleasure between us, we three. "Is it your own ambition that drives you so that you say 'I must, ' inregard to success? Sometimes, if we set our hearts too much on a thing, our very determination thwarts us. Is it not so? Perhaps it is for thesake of some one else that you are so eager for accomplishment. I feelthat it is to come to you in this play, and I am glad. "Be of good cheer, Comrade. Even the memory of bitter fights grows dim. I will not think of you as daunted by anything life can offer. No, nordeath. Why have I this confidence in you, I wonder? "In all friendliness, "THE LADY OF MYSTERY. " The day this letter came to Jarvis marked a change in him to Bambi'swatchful eye. He threw himself with renewed ardour into the work. Forthe first time in many days they walked together, and he seemed morehimself than he had been since Strong's unfortunate visit. Was it theeffect of this letter? He was beginning to be easily influenced by thissupposed stranger! The idea was too fantastic. "What kind of a woman do you imagine the author of 'Francesca' to be?"she asked him as they trudged along a wintry road. He started a little, she thought. "I scarcely know, " he evaded. "I always think of her as tall and thinand frail, with a rather sad face, white, with humorous gray eyes, and asensitive mouth. " "I always think of her as little and fat and cuddly. " "Oh, not cuddly!" he protested. She laughed. "Any news from her lately?" "Yes. I had a letter to-day. " "Did you ask if she was coming to rehearsals?" "Not yet. " "Haven't you any curiosity about her?" "In a way, yes. But I respect her desire in the matter. " "I don't. If I could get it out of Richard Strong who she is, I'd golook her up in a minute. " "Have you tried?" eagerly. "He won't tell. He's the King of Clams. " "He has no right to tell. " "It is very smart of her to work up all this mystery about herself. Nodoubt she is a wobbly old fatty, instead of the Beatrice you think her. " He made no answer, but she saw by his face how he resented it. A wicked design grew in Bambi's mind. She would make Jarvis Jocelyn fallso desperately and hopelessly in love with this dream-woman of his thatshe would be revenged upon him for the way he had shut her out sinceStrong's visit. It never once occurred to her that it was a hurt she hadgiven him which drove him to this other woman. But the something whichhe had offered her the night of his return he had deliberatelywithdrawn, before she had a chance to accept or refuse it. Well, herewas a chance to punish him and she would take it. XXIII From the day of her resolve absolute impersonality characterized theirrelations during Work hours. Sometimes they walked together; sometimesBambi went alone or made visits to her friends. Jarvis felt more andmore her withdrawal from him. He attributed it to her increasedaffection for Strong and a consequent abhorrence of herhusband's presence. One morning she announced that she was going to New York for the day. "But we were to work on the big climax to-day, " Jarvis protested. "You work at it. You can do it without me, " she said, airily. "You are as tired of the play as you are of me, " said Jarvis earnestly. "Absurd. I am much interested in the play and I am not tired of you. " "Shall you see Strong?" "Yes. I shall spend part of the day with him. Did you wish to send him amessage?" "It wouldn't be fit for you to carry, " he answered, fiercely. "Richard is not your favourite companion, is he?" she tantalized. "He is not!" "Sorry. I am very fond of him. " "That does not need saying. " "I have never tried to disguise it. " "No, I should say you were both frank about it. " "Why shouldn't we be, Jarvis?" said Bambi with irritation. "Exactly. Why shouldn't you be?" "You naturally cannot expect to regulate or choose my friends. " "I expect nothing. " "Then I would be obliged to you if you made your dislike of my friend atrifle less conspicuous. " "If you will let me know when he is expected, I will always goelsewhere. " It was the first hint of disagreement that had ever occurred betweenthem, and Bambi took the train to New York with a disagreeable taste inher mouth. She was going for a conference with Strong about the book, which had got a splendid start in the holiday sales. He had some plansto feature it in various conspicuous ways, so that it mightadvertise the play. Arrived in Grand Central Station, she wired Jarvis, "Sorry was horridabout Strong, " just to make her self-esteem less flat. Then she went toStrong's office. He greeted her in his cordial way, only his eyesadmitting his joy at sight of her. "It is good to see you, " he said. "You won't like me. I'm utterly detestable to-day. I was nasty to Jarvis, and cross with Ardelia. " "I can't imagine you either nasty or cross. " "Me? Oh, I scratch and spit and bite!" "You are the most human person I ever encountered, " he laughed. "Be nice to me, and I may cheer up. " "I shall try. I have news about the sale of the book that ought to cheera tombstone. I think we have a best-seller on our hands. " "I'm not a bit ashamed of it. " "Why should you be?" "Aren't you a literary pariah, if you're a best-seller?" He laughed. "How is the play coming on?" "Pretty well, I think. We're up to the climax of the second act. Jarvisis working on it to-day. " "Still no suspicion of you?" "Not a grain. I think he's falling in love with the author of'Francesca, ' though. " "How?" "Through their letters. " "You certainly have a talent for comedy, " he laughed, and added, gravely, "I thought Jocelyn had always been in love with the author of'Francesca'?" "No-o. " "I have always known that the author of 'Francesca' cared about Jarvis. " "You must have dreamed that, Richard. Poor old Jarvis! Sometimes I thinkI will confess. Maybe I have no right to make game of him this way. " "Doesn't he suspect your style in your letters? I would know a letterfrom you, no matter what the circumstances. " "Oh, I don't write like myself. I write like an author. I found out whathe thought she looked like, and I write tall, pale, sensitive-mouthedkind of letters, with a hint of sadness. " "You imp!" he laughed. "Improves my style. You ought to be glad. Let's hear about the plans forthe book. " They settled down to discussing advertising plans, which kept them busyuntil late afternoon. When the last detail was settled, Bambi rosewith a sigh. "Whew! That was a long siege. Like Corp in 'Sentimental Tommy, ' it makesme sweat to think. " "I should not have kept it up so long. I forget you are not used to thisdrill, " he apologized. "I think I'll live. Remember the first time I came to see you?" "Perfectly. " "Wasn't I scared?" "Were you?" "You were so kind and fatherly. " "Fatherly?" he said. "What lots of things have happened to me since then, " she mused. "And to me, " said Richard, under his breath. "Heigho! Life is a bubble. " "You'll feel better after a cup of tea. Where shall we go?" "Let's walk up to the Plaza. " "Done, " said he, closing his desk. It was a cold, crisp day, which stimulated the blood like a cocktail. Bambi breathed deep as she tried to fall in step with her companion. "I can't keep step with you. I'm too little and my skirt's too tight. " "I'll keep step with you, my lady. " "Mercy, don't try. Jarvis says I hop along like a grasshopper. " "I resent that. Your free, swaying walk is one of your charms. Youalways make me think of a wind-blown flower. " She looked up at him, radiantly. "Richard, you say the charmingest things!" "Francesca, you do inspire them. " "I'm a vain little peacock, and Jarvis never notices how I look. " "Too bad to mate a peacock and an owl. " A brilliant sunset bathed the avenue in a red, gold light. The steadyprocession of motors, taxis, and hansom cabs made its slow way uptown. The shop windows blazed in their most seductive moments. The sidewalkswere crowded with smart men; fashionable women swathed in magnificentfurs; slim, little pink-cheeked girls. All of them made their way up thebroad highroad toward home or tea, as the case might be. "Oh, you blessed flesh-pots, how I adore you!" "Referring to the men or the women?" "Naughty Richard! I mean all the luxury and sensuousness which New Yorkrepresents. " "You hungry little beggar, how you do eat up your sensations!" "They give me indigestion sometimes. " The foyer of the Plaza was like a reception. The tea-room was a-clatterand a-clack with tongues. "Like the clatter of sleek little squirrels, " said Bambi, as shefollowed the head-waiter to their table. Her comments on people about them, the nicknames she donated to them, convulsed Strong. He would never again see that pompous head-waiterexcept as "Papa Pouter!" "Would you get tired of it if you were here all the time?" "I suppose so. It is all so alike. The women all look alike, and themen, and the waiters. If you dropped through the ceiling, you couldhardly tell whether you were in the Ritz, the Plaza, the Manhattan, orthe Knickerbocker. You would know it was New York--that's all. " "What train do you take to-night, or shall you stay over?" "I shall go on the 11:50, if you'll play with me until then. " He smiled at her affectation. "Suppose we try another kind of crowd to-night, and dine at theLafayette. " "Delighted! I've never been there. " "It's jolly. You'll like it, I think. " "Where is it?" "Way downtown--University Place. What shall we do between now anddinner-time?" "Let's walk down. " "Oh, that's a long walk. " "But I love to walk, unless it is too much for you. " "Sheer impudence!" The walk was one never to be forgotten by Strong. To have Bambi all tohimself, to look forward to hours of such bliss, to have her swingingalong beside him, laughing and chattering, now and again laying her handon his arm in confident friendliness--it was intoxicating. By sheer force of will he kept his hand on the throttle of his emotions. One look, one false move, would ruin it all. He knew, without any doubtsthat she did not love him. He even told himself she loved Jocelyn. Heknew that he must make himself a valuable friend and not an undesiredlover, but his want of her was great, and his fury at Jarvis'sindifference white hot. She caught his set look. "Richard!" He turned his eyes on her. "You're tired of me. I won't talk any more. " He drew her hand through his arm, and held her there. "Don't say that sort of thing, please; it isn't fair. " "Take it back. " The Lafayette filled her with excitement. They had a table on a raisedbalcony overlooking the main dining-room. Richard pointed outcelebrities, bowed to many friends, talked charming personalities. Afeast of Lucullus was served them. Music and wine and excitementbewitched Bambi. She sparkled and laughed. She capped his every sallywith a quick retort. She was totally different from the girl-boy who hadwalked downtown beside him. "What are you thinking about me?" she challenged him, her head tippedback provokingly. "Daughter of Joy!" "I have spent a very pleasant fortnight with you, Richard!" "Has it seemed that long?" "Since I left Sunnyside this morning? Quite. " "How many personalities have you been since then?" "Oh, not nearly all my mes. " "Protean artist?" "Headliner, " she nodded. They drank to the success of the play. Later, as he stood beside her inthe car, a few minutes before she was to leave, she put her hand in his. "I've had the loveliest time, " she said. "You are the most accomplishedplaymate I ever had. " "It has been a happy day. " "Come to Sunnyside soon. " The train began to move out and he hurried to get off. She waved to himfrom the window. She was tired, so she went to bed at once, with never adream of the emptiness her small presence left in New York for the"Playmate. " XXIV "What luck did you have with the climax, yesterday?" she asked Jarvis, next day, as she came into the workroom. "None at all. I worked all day, and tore it up last night. " "Oh, why did you do that?" "It was hopeless. If you wanted to teach me how vital you are to thiswork, you did it. " "Such a thing never entered my mind. " "Shall we begin at it now?" "Of course. I'm keen to get at it. " She plunged into the situation and swept all obstacles before her. Theentire reaction from yesterday's pleasure and change went into her work. Lunch-time came as a shock, the morning had fled so fast. Jarvis sighedas he piled up the pages. "You work like an electric dynamo, " he remarked. "I always work better after a happy vacation. Why don't you run off fora day, to get your breath, as it were?" "Where would I run to?" "You might go look up the author-lady you're so interested in, " sheremarked, wickedly. He made no answer to that. The noon mail brought Bambi's latest letter from Jarvis. All mail wasbrought immediately to her, so she had a chance to extract the telltaleletters. Jarvis wrote: "DEAR LADY: Your letters are fast becoming a necessity to me. I look forthem as eagerly as a boy. I find myself more and more absorbed in the'Francesca' of your fancy, whom I feel sure is the essence of you. Isit not so? "I am bitterly unhappy these days--lonely, as I have never been before. The emotional side of life has always been a closed book to me, one Idisdained to read. So once my heart begins to call attention to itself, I suppose the more poignant will be my experience. "I have lately come back from a long exile spent in a hideous place. Ibrought with me the first hunger for love I had ever known. But I foundno answering need in the heart I turned to. I have been thrown back onmyself, to eat my heart out, because I know now that it is my own fault. If I had tried sooner to make myself a lover, I would not have to resignthat place to another man. "Why do I pour these personal sorrows upon you, my Lady of Sympathy? Iam heartsick for comfort. "Yours, "J. " Bambi laid her cheek against the poor, hurt letter, and cried. "My poor, bungling Jarvis, how I must have hurt you!" She read it again, and all at once light flooded in. "Why, it's Richard, of course! He thinks I am in love with Richard! Thedear old goose! He sees so little and sees that crooked. " She went in search of him, determined to tell the whole foolish story, to explain the imaginary obstacles that divided them. But he was not tobe found, so the impulse died, and she determined to play the farce outto its end, and now, that she knew the core of the whole situation, shecould make it count for their final readjustment. She wrote him at once: "MY DEAR JARVIS: At last I feel that there is truth between us. I havesuspected that you were not happy in your love life. But I wanted not topry into locked chambers. Now we can be glad of the bond that liesbetween us, for I, too, go heart hungry through the days. "I have not spoken to you of my home, or my husband, but now that youhave become such a part of my thought life, I feel no disloyalty inthe truth. "My husband is a man who has never felt the want of affection. He is soself-centred in his devotion to his work that I have always been shutout of his heart. At first this did not trouble me, for I was ambitious, too. But so many things have happened to develop me this last year, toawaken me to my full womanhood! "I have had to face, as you do, the ache of an unwanted love, tossedback to eat its way like a corrosive acid. Once, not long ago, Ithought, perhaps, things were going to change for me. I thought hewanted me. But now I have come to know that it is to another woman heturns for sympathy and understanding. "So, you see, my dear, we two have the same heart history. No wonder wehave felt our way through time and space, to clasp hands in such deepaffinity. I lay my hands upon your head, Jarvis. "YOUR LADY. " His reply came by the first mail. "Oh, my dear, my dear, we have found each otherat last, in all truth. It was meant from the beginningof time that it should be so. Let me come toyou. I cannot bear to live another hour withoutthe touch of your hand. To think that I do notknow your name, or the colour of your kind eyes!Say that I may come? "Devotedly, "JARVIS. " "JARVIS, MY BIG BOY: You may not come yet. It is part of a dream, cherished since you came to be the heart of me, that we should not cometogether until the night of the opening of our play. I know you willpoohpooh this as sentimental nonsense. You may even call it theatrical. But let me have my way, this last one time. Afterward, my way shall beyours, beloved. Write me to say you will be patient with my foolishness! "I am afraid of our meeting. Suppose I should fall short of your idealof me? That you should think me ugly or old, I could not bear it. I havecome to know all my happiness lies in the balance of that one night, toward which we walk, you and I, every minute of every day. "YOUR LADY. " His answer came, special delivery: "It shall be as you wish, dear heart. But if anything should happen todelay the opening of the play, I think I should ask you to remit thesentence of banishment. I live only to look into your eyes! "How can you say that you may disappoint me? If you were old, humpbacked, ugly--what difference? You are mine! We must find freedomfor ourselves and a new life. I adore you. "JARVIS. " "I wouldn't have thought it of Jarvis, " said Bambi as she read it. "Hemakes a very creditable lover. " "My DEAR ONE: I am as impatient as you are for our meeting. I gladlyagree that we shall bring it about, at once, if anything happens topostpone the play opening. "What you say about being indifferent to my looks makes me happy. Ishall not try you too far, my lover. I'm quite pretty and young. Did youknow I was young? "You speak so confidently of freedom and a new life together. Are we toshed our old mates, like Nautilus shells? My new coming into love makesme pitiful. Must we be ruthless? "YOUR OWN. " "DEAR, GENTLE HEART: I do not wish to seem ruthless to you, much less tobe so. But has our suffering not entitled us to some joy? I know my wifeto be absorbed in another man; you say your husband turns to anotherwoman. We represent to them stumbling-blocks between them and theirhappiness. Surely it is only right that we should all be freed to findour true mates. "I find it daily more of a burden to carry this secret in my heart, whenknowledge of it would lighten my wife's unhappiness. Shall we notconfess the situation, and discuss plans for separation? I owe this girlwho bears my name more than I can ever pay. I would not do anything tohurt 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 oursecrets to ourselves until our meeting. Suppose that something shouldhappen even yet? Suppose we should not wish to take this step when thetime comes? I do not want you to hurt your wife. I respect and love youfor 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 methat 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 finalproblems of their task. He was working toward the goal of hisaffections, a meeting with his lady. She, too, felt the strain of thesituation, and keyed herself up to a final burst of speed. The middle ofFebruary 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. Ithink 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 likesit, 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 herthat has caught your attention?" "It is difficult to say. As I have grown into her book, so that it hasbecome a part of my thought, I have been more and more absorbed in thepersonality 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. Youhave 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 oneperson?" "Just a fancy, I suppose. But the book is so intimate that I feelconsciously, or otherwise, the woman has written herself into'Francesca. '" "You may be approaching an awful shock, my dear Jarvis, when you meether. " "I think not. " "These author folk! She'll be a middle-aged dowd, mark my words. " He rose indignantly, and put the last sheets of the manuscript away. Shewatched him, smiling. "Shall you go to New York to-morrow?" "Yes, if I can get an appointment by wire. I am going to see about itnow. " "I do hope he will be sensible enough to put it on right away. " "He told me to rush it. I think he means an immediate production. " "The end of our work together, " mused Bambi. He turned to her quickly. "You care?" "Don't you?" "It has really been your work, Bambi. " It was her turn to be startled, but evidently he had no ulteriormeaning. "Not at all. I think it is wonderful how well we work together, considering----" "Considering?" he insisted. "Oh, our difference in point of view, and, oh, everything!" she added. "It would disappoint you if it were our last work together?" "What an idea, Jarvis! I look forward to years and years of annualsuccess by the Jocelyns. " He frowned uncomfortably, as if to speak, thought better of it, and keptsilence. "I'll go send my wire, " he said. She kissed her finger tips to hisreceding back. Later, too, she went to the telegraph office and sent thefollowing wire. "_Mr. Charles Frohman:_ "See Jarvis, if possible, to-morrow. Play finished. Sure success. "FRANCESCA JOCELYN. " The secretary answered Jarvis's wire at once, making the appointment ateleven o'clock on the morrow. "It seems incredible that anything could run as smoothly as this forme, " said Jarvis, as he read the dispatch. "That's because I'm in it, " boasted Bambi, with a touch of her oldimpudence. "I'm your mascot. " "That must be it. " "It means a midnight train for you, to make it comfortably. Do yousuppose you will stay more than a day?" "I should think not. I don't know. " Ardelia came in with a yellow envelope. "Sumpin' doin' roun' dis heah house. Telegram boy des' a-ringin' at de'do' bell stiddy. " "For me?" said Bambi. "_Mrs. Jarvis Jocelyn, Sunny side, New York. _ "Mr. Frohman will see you at three o'clock to-morrow. " Bambi gazed at it a moment, a bit dazed, then she laughed. "Anything the matter?" Jarvis inquired. "No-o. Oh, no. " This was how it happened that Mr. Jarvis Jocelyn took the midnight trainto New York, while Mrs. Jarvis Jocelyn followed on an early morning one. "But why, if you both have to go to that city of abominations, do younot go together?" inquired the Professor. "Part of the secret, " she reminded him. "Dear me, I had forgotten we were living in a plot. How is it comingout?" "I will know to-day, definitely, just how, when, and where it is comingout. " Jarvis presented himself at the theatre at eleven sharp, and felt athrill of righteous pride when he was ushered into the private officewithout delay. His vow that he would enter without so much as acalling-card had come true sooner than he had hoped. Mr. Frohman smiled in his friendly way, and shook hands. "How's my friend, the ex-Jehu?" he laughed. "Fine! I hope you are well. " "I'm all right. How's the play?" "I have it here. It is good. " "Good, is it?" Mr. Frohman's eyes twinkled. "Yes. My--Mrs. Jocelyn worked at it with me, and I have to admit thatthe success, if it is one, is largely due to her. " "She is a writer, too?" "No, but she has a keen dramatic sense. She understands character, too. " "So? Lucky for you. Does she want her name on the bills?" "She has never spoken of it, but I wish her to go on as co-dramatist. " "All right. Clever wife is an asset. Now we've got just two hours. Goahead--read me what you've got there. " Jarvis unpacked the manuscript and began. He had worked over the scenesso often with Bambi that he fell into her dramatic way of "doing" thescenes. Once or twice the manager chuckled as he recognized her touchand intonation on a line. Certainly Jarvis had never read so well. Hewas encouraged by frequent laughs from his audience. There wereinterruptions now and then, criticisms and suggestions. As he read andlaid down the last page, Mr. Frohman nodded his head. "Pretty clever work for amateurs, " he said. "You think it will go?" "With some changes and rearrangements. Yes, I should say so. " "Are you thinking of producing it soon?" "Yes, if I can make satisfactory arrangements with the author I'll putit in rehearsal right away. " "I think the author will be satisfied. " The manager looked a question. "We have been corresponding during my work on it, " Jarvis explained. Mr. Frohman stared, then laughed. "We can soon find out whether she's pleased. She is due here at threeo'clock to-day. " "She is coming here to-day?" Jarvis exclaimed. "Yes. " "Could I talk to her then--there is so much----" "Sorry. I promised there would be no one here. Some crazy idea aboutkeeping her name a secret. " "Of course. I would not intrude, " said Jarvis, hastily. "She wrote methat she would leave rehearsals to you and me. " "Did she? Will your wife want to come to rehearsals?" "I think so. Would there be any objections?" "Not if she is co-author. " "She is very clever. " "I don't doubt it. You leave that copy here. I'll go over it, in part, with the author, and let her take it to look over. I will wire you whatday I want to get the company together for a reading. " "All right, sir. " "If the author is satisfied with this, I'll have a contract made out tosubmit to you and your wife. In the meantime, do you want an advance?" "No, thanks. " "All right. You'll hear from me. You've done surprisingly well withthis, Jocelyn--you, or your wife. " "Thank you. Good-day. " "Good-day. " At three o'clock the other member of the Jocelyn family arrived. "You are good to see me. I would have burst with curiosity before Jarvisgot back, " she began the minute she got inside the door. "I naturally wanted to consult the author before I accepted the play. " "Is it any good? Are you going to take it?" "What do you think about it? Are you satisfied?" "Yes. I think it's a love of a play. " He laughed. "How much of it did Jarvis do?" "Oh, a great deal!" "Not enough to spoil it, eh?" "He has worked very hard, " she said seriously. "He tells me he has corresponded with the author during his work, and hebegged to be here for this meeting. " "Did he? Bless his heart! It has been so funny--that correspondence!He's crazy about that author-lady. " "Either you are very clever, or he's very stupid, which is it?" "Both. " "When are you going to tell him the truth?" "The opening night. " "Upon my word, you _have_ got a dramatic sense. Blaze of success, outbursts of applause, husband finds wife is the centre and cause of it. That sort of thing, eh?" "Yes, but don't say it like that. It sounds silly and cheap. " "Husband will be mad as fury at the whole thing. " "You don't think that, do you? That would spoil the whole thing soentirely, " she said in concern. "You're the dramatist, I'm only the manager, " he laughed. They talked about the cast, the sets, and other practical details. "You're coming to rehearsals, aren't you?" he asked her. "Rather!" "Jarvis prepared me for that. " "Did he? Well, he won't be much good. He can't act. " "I told him you would look over the play, then I would call the companytogether for a reading. " "Consider the script looked over. Do call it quick, Mr. Frohman; I canhardly wait. " "What about contracts? Do you want one as author, with another to youand Jarvis as playwrights?" "No, that's too complicated. Let's have one for the whole thing, then wecan divvy up what there is. " "Suits me. I'll see you next week, then. Better make arrangements tostay in town during rehearsals. " "Oh, yes, we will" "I think we will pull off a success. This is very human, this stuff. Good-bye. " "You've been such a dear. We've just got to succeed for your sake. Good-bye, and thanks. " XXVI Bambi hurried to catch the 5:30 train for home, and as it rushed throughthe station she spied Jarvis striding on ahead, evidently bound for thesame train. With the caution of a lady detective she kept behind himuntil he got aboard. Then she rushed ahead and got into the first car. At Sunnyside she astonished the town hack-man by leaping into his cab andordering him to drive her home, top speed. The situation appealed to her taste for intrigue. Into the house shesped and to her room. The Professor and Ardelia were in bed and asleep. When Jarvis came in she descended, to inquire about the fate of theirplay, with the calm of a finished actress. "I'm waiting for you! What news?" she demanded. "He likes it. If the author is satisfied, we go ahead at once. " "Hooray!" shouted Bambi, pirouetting madly. "Mr. And Mrs. JarvisJocelyn, the talk of the town, " she sang. "You did want your name on the bills, then?" She stopped in alarm. Had she given it away after all her trouble? "How do you mean on the bills?" "As co-author? Mr. Frohman asked me. I told him you had never spoken ofit, but that I wanted you to have full credit. " "What else did you tell Mr. Frohman about me?" "I told him you were clever. " "What did he say?" she laughed. "Said he didn't doubt it. He will allow you to come to rehearsals. " "I should hope so! So it's all settled?" "Yes, if the author consents. She was to see the play at three thisafternoon. " "Was she? Why didn't you wait and see her?" "She wished to talk to Mr. Frohman alone. " "Isn't she tiresome, with all her mystery? You don't think she couldhold us up on it now, at the last minute, do you?" "She could, but I don't think she will. Rehearsals will be called nextweek. " "Oh, goody! Jarvis, aren't you happy about it?" "Yes. " "But you aren't happy enough!" He sighed. It was all so different from the way he had planned to bringher his first success. "Something seems to have gone amiss with us, doesn't it, Bambi?" "I haven't noticed it. " "You're satisfied to go on as we are now?" "I can think of a few improvements. I'll tell you about them later. " "So many things seem to hinge on the success of this play!" "They do! May the gods take notice, " she laughed. On the following Tuesday came the call for a reading of the play withthe company, Wednesday, at eleven. Bambi was as excited as a child overthe announcement. "I think we had better plan to stay at the National Arts Club again, during rehearsals, Jarvis. " "I am not sure I can finance that. I told Mr. Frohman I did not need anadvance. " "I've got some left. You can borrow back the hundred you paid me, tostart off on. " "You're like the old woman with the magic purse. " "I'm thrifty and saving. " "Well, if we can accomplish it without robbing you I agree with you thatit would be better to stay in town. " "Settled. You go pack your things, and I'll look after mine. " They prepared to make their second pilgrimage, this time to the "Land ofPromise. " The Professor showed an unusual amount of interest in the matter. "How long will it take to rehearse it?" he asked. "We don't know yet, we're such amateurs. But as soon as we know the dateset for the opening you and Ardelia are to prepare to come. You can comeup the day of the performance, and if you can't stand it, you may comehome the next day. " "A trip to New York? What an upsetting idea!" "Would you rather stay here, and miss the first play Jarvis and I everdid together?" said Bambi, disappointedly. "No, certainly not. I'll come. Just make a note of it, and put it in aconspicuous place, " he added. "We'll keep you reminded, never fear. " Ardelia gasped when she heard she was to go. "I'll send you a list of the clothes to bring for the Professor inplenty of time. I shall give you a new black silk dress for theoccasion. " "Lawd a' massy, Miss Bambi! I'se so excited I cain't talk. A noo silkdress an' a-goin' to Noo Yawk wid de Perfessor. I decla' dey ain't noniggah woman in dis heah town got sech quality to work fo' as dis oldniggah has. " "Why, Ardelia, we couldn't have it without you. " "Am I gwine sit wid de' white folks in de' theatre, or up in niggahheaven?" "You'll sit in a box with the rest of us. " "Gawd-a'mighty, honey, dis gwine to be de happies' 'casion ob my life. " The co-authors took the night train. "Not quite a year ago since our first journey together, " said Bambi. "That's so. It seems a century, doesn't it?" "That is a distinctly husband remark. " "I was only thinking of how much had happened in that time. " "Two new beings have happened--a new you and a new me, " she answeredhim. "Are you as changed as I am?" he asked. "Yes. You haven't noticed me enough to realize it, I suppose. " He made no reply to that. Arrived in New York, they went to theclubhouse, and took the same rooms they had before. As Bambi lookedabout the room, she turned to Jarvis in the doorway: "It is a century since I knelt at that window and arranged ourspectacular success. " "Well, we're a year nearer to it. Let's get a good night's rest, forto-morrow we enter on a new chapter. " "It's jolly we enter it together, isn't it, Jarvis?" He nodded, embarrassed. "I should like to wish you luck in the new venture, Mr. Jarvis Jocelyn. " "I wish you the same, Miss Mite, " he said, clasping her hand warmly. "You haven't called me Miss Mite for a long time, " she said, softly. "Ilike it. " "Good-night, " said Jarvis abruptly, and left. "You're a poor actor, my Jarvis, " she chuckled to herself. At eleven o'clock they presented themselves at the theatre. The readingwas to take place in Mr. Frohman's big room. Jarvis and Bambi wereadmitted at once. "Good-morning, " said Mr. Frohman. "Good-morning. This is Mrs. Jocelyn, Mr. Frohman. " Bambi offered her hand to the manager with a solemn face, but the laughtwinkled in her eyes. "How do you do, Mrs. Jocelyn? I understand that you had a great deal todo with this play?" "I did, " she admitted. "Without me this play would have been nothing. " "This leaves you no ground to stand on, Mr. Jocelyn, " he laughed. The members of the company arrived and were presented to the authors. Bambi kept them all laughing until Mr. Frohman called order. They sat instate around the big table. "I propose that Mrs. Jocelyn read us the play, " Mr. Frohman said. "Oh, shall I? It is really Jarvis----" "If you please, " said Mr. Frohman, indicating a chair. So Bambi began, with a smile at Jarvis, and another at the audience. They all felt in a good humour. The play was so peculiarly hers, theintimate quality which had made the book "go" had been wonderfullyretained, so that spontaneous laughter marked her progress through thecomedy. It was all so true and universal, the characters so well drawn, the denouement so happy! At the climax of the third act the companybroke into irresistible and unpremeditated applause. "Oh, God bless you for that!" said Bambi, her eyes wet with gratitude. "We ought to cast you for the girl. You are enough like her to have satfor the portrait, " said Mr. Frohman, wickedly. Jarvis turned to look at Bambi in his earnest way. He marked thelikeness, again, himself. "I shall play it just as you read it, Mrs. Jocelyn, " said the girl whowas cast for the lead. "You will greatly improve on my Francesca, I'm sure, " Bambi nodded toher. Parts were distributed, much discussion followed as to character drawingand business, then they separated to meet for rehearsal the next day at10:30. Mr. Frohman had an immediate appointment, so the Jocelyns had noopportunity for a word in private. "Queer that Mr. Frohman should think that you are like Francesca, too, "said Jarvis, on their way to the club. "Oh, I don't know. We are the same type. That's all. " "You could play the part wonderfully. " "Could I? It would be fun! Still, I think we can make more money andhave more fun writing plays. " She seemed always to be harping on their future together! The next day was full of surprises for them both. They were entirelyignorant of conditions in and about the theatre. The big, dark house, with its seats all swathed in linen covers, the empty, barn-like stage, with chairs set about to indicate properties; the stage hands coming andgoing, the stage manager shouting directions--it was all new to them. The members of the company were as businesslike as bank clerks. No hintof illusion, no scrap of romance! "Mercy! it's like a ghost house, " said Bambi. A deal table was set at one side, down stage, for the Jocelyns, with twoscripts of the play. They sat down like frightened school children, bewildered as to what would be expected of them. The actors sat in a row of chairs at one side. The stage manager madesome explanations and remarks about rehearsals, and then the first actwas called. It was slow and tedious work. Over and over again the sceneswere tried. Some of the actors fumbled their lines as if they had neverread English before. Now and then the manager appealed to the authorsfor the reading of a line, or an intonation, and Bambi always answered. At the end of one scene the man who was to play the young musiciancame to them. "I've been thinking over my part, Mrs. Jocelyn, and I think that if youcould write in a scene right here, in act first, to let me explain tothe old fiddler my reason for being in this situation----" "Oh, no, you mustn't explain. The whole point of the first act is thatyou explain nothing. " "Yes, but it would play better, " he began, in the patronizing tonealways used to newcomers in the theatre. "I can't help that. I cannot spoil the truth of a whole character, evenif it does play better, " said Bambi, smiling sweetly. The actor took it up with the stage manager after rehearsal, and wasreferred to the authors. "These new playwrights always have to learn at our expense, " he said, importantly. "Can't be helped. We have to use playwrights, however irritating theyare, " remarked the stage manager. Day after day they assembled at the same hour and slowly built up thestructure of the play. Many nights Jarvis and Bambi worked on newscenes, or the rearrangement of the old ones. The first act was twistedabout many times before it "played" to the stage manager's satisfaction. New lines had to be introduced, new business worked out every day. Itwas hard work for everybody except Bambi, and she declared it was fun. No matter how trying the rehearsals, nor how hard she had to work, sheenjoyed every minute of it. They soon discovered that Jarvis had notalent for rehearsing. In fact, the mechanics of the thing bored him. When a new scene was demanded quickly, his mind refused to work. It wasBambi's quick wits that saved the day. After the first few days she wasthe only one to be consulted and appealed to by everybody. "I can't see that you need me at all in this business. I'm no good atit. " "Yes, you are, too. You saw where that new scene in the third actbelonged at once. " "Yes, after you wrote the scene. " "But this is why we need each other. I didn't see where the scenebelonged at all. If we both could do the same thing, we wouldn't need tocollaborate. Thank heaven, we don't have the author underfootinterfering all the time. " "I don't believe she would interfere. " "Heard anything from her, lately?" "No, she is waiting for the production, I suppose. " "And then the deluge! I may lose you to that story-writing female yet!"she teased him. "Don't!" he protested, quickly. "I won't, " she retorted, meaningly. In late March the date of the production was set. It gave Bambiunbelievable pleasure to read the announcements on the billboards, andto stand in front of the three-sheets in the foyer of the theatre. She wrote Ardelia full directions in regard to packing the Professor'sdress clothes; she told her the train they were to take; she worked outevery detail, so that nothing might be left to the sieve-like memories ofthe principals on this foreign journey. She ordered a new frock for herself, and succeeded in getting Jarvismeasured for new dress clothes. Then she threw herself, heart and soul, into the last few days of work at the theatre, helping to polish andstrengthen the play. The night of dress rehearsal came, and with it anew development for her consideration and management. XXVII Dress rehearsal was called at midnight, as two of the principals wereplaying in other theatres. There was an air of suspense and confusion onthe stage, where the new sets were being put on, which threw Jarvis intoa cold sweat of terror. It only added one degree to Bambi's mountingexcitement. She and Jarvis made their way to the front of the house, where Mr. Frohman, the leader of the orchestra, and a few other peopleinterested in the production were assembled. "I never realized before how many people, how much work and money andbrain go into the production of the simplest comedy for one night'samusement, " she said to Mr. Frohman. "And yet managers are always blamed because they don't take more chanceson new playwrights, " he smiled. "Jarvis looks as if he were walking to the guillotine, doesn't he?" "It is a strain, isn't it, Jocelyn? You get used to it after a fewfirst-nights. " Jarvis nodded, wetting his dry lips with a nervous tongue. The curtain went down and came up. The first act began. Bambi scarcelybreathed. Jarvis could be heard all over the house. The first part ofthe act hitched along and had to be repeated; the stage manager came outand scolded, while Mr. Frohman called directions from the front. Bambiturned to Jarvis. "It's going to be a failure, " she said. "Oh, don't say that!" he fairly groaned. "Don't be discouraged!" said Mr. Frohman, noting their despairing looks. "Dress rehearsals are usually the limit. " "But it can't go like this, and succeed, " Bambi wailed. "Don't you worry. It won't go like this. " The night wore on, miserably, for the authors. Everything had to be doneover--lines were forgotten--everybody was in a nervous stew. "The awful part of it is that we've done all we can do, " moaned Bambi. "If they ruin it, we can't prevent them. " "We'll make them rehearse all day to-morrow, " said Jarvis, fiercely. "They were better than this two weeks ago. " The end of the agony finally came. The stage manager assembled the wearycompany and gave them a few select and sarcastic remarks as to theirsingle and collective failure. Mr. Frohman added a few words, andordered them all to dismiss the play from their minds until the morrownight. Bambi tried to say a word of encouragement and thanks to them, but in the midst of it she broke down and wept. "Take her home and keep her in bed to-morrow, Jocelyn, " Mr. Frohmansaid. Jarvis hurried her into a cab, and she sobbed softly all the way home. He made no effort to touch her or comfort her; he was in tormenthimself. At the club he ordered eggnog and sandwiches sent to her room, whither he followed her, helpless to cope with her tears. She threw her things off and bathed her eyes, while he set out the tablefor the food. When the boy appeared with it, Jarvis led her to her chairand served her. She smiled mistily at him. "It's nerves and excitement and overwork, " she explained. He nodded. "If it failed now, it would be too awful, " he said. "Don't say that word; don't even think it!" she cried. "You mustn't care so much, " he begged her. "Don't you care?" "Of course, more than you know. But I am prepared for failure, if itcomes. " "I can't be prepared for it. It cannot happen!" she sobbed. He stood looking down at her helplessly. "What can I do for you? What is it you want?" he demanded gently. "I want to be rocked, " she sobbed. "To be----" She pushed him into a big chair, and climbed into his arms. "Rocked, " she finished. He held her a minute closely, then he rose and set her down. "I can't do it, " he began. "I have something to tell you that must besaid----" "Not to-night, Jarvis, I'm too tired. " "Yes, to-night, before another hour passes. Sit down there, please. " She obeyed, curiously. "Do you remember Christmas Eve, when I came home?" "Yes. " "Did you notice anything different about me?" "How, different?" "Did it occur to you that I cared about you, for the first time?" "I--I--suspicioned it a little. " "Then you deliberately ignored it because you did not want my love?" "I--I--didn't mean to ignore it. " "But you did. " "I wasn't sure; you never spoke of it, never said you cared. After thatfirst night I thought I must have been mistaken. " "But you were glad to be mistaken?" "No. I was sorry, " she said, softly. "What?" sharply. "I wanted your love, Jarvis. " "You can't mean that. " "But I do!" "But, Strong--you love Strong----" She rose quickly, her face flushed. "I love Richard Strong as my friend, and in no other way. " "Certainly he loves you. " "He has never told me so. " "You let me believe you cared for him; you tortured me with your show ofpreference for him. " "You imagined that, Jarvis. It is not true!" "It is true!" he cried, passionately. "I came to you, eager for yourlove, wanting you as I had never wanted anything. You flaunted this manin my face, you shut me out, you drove me back on myself----" "Well?" "What did you expect me to do? Endure forever in silence?" "What did you do? Or what do you mean to do?" "I have come to care for a woman who understands me----" "A woman, Jarvis?" "The woman who wrote 'Francesca. ' I cared first because she had put intoher heroine so many things that were like you. " "Well?" she said again. "She has come to care for me. I wanted to tell you so long ago, when wefirst knew, but she begged me not to until after the play was tried out. But I can't stand it another minute. There must be truth between us, Bambi. I want you to read her letters. I want you to try to understandhow this has crept into my heart. " "You wish to be free--to go to her?" "There is no happiness for us, is there?" "I'm too tired to think it out now, Jarvis. You must go away and let meget myself together. " She looked like a pitiful little wraith, and his heart ached for her. "I'm sorry I had to add to your hard day, but I had to say thisto-night. " "It's all right. I must ask you not to speak to me of it again untilafter to-morrow night. I need all my strength for that ordeal. Afterthat, we must turn our attention to this new problem, and work it outtogether, somehow. " "Thank you. I'm sorry I've been such a disappointment to you, my dear, "he added. "Good-night. Take the letters--I could not bear to read them. " With an agonized look he took them and left her. "Dear lord, I'm through with plots! I'm sick unto death of the secret, "she sighed, as she climbed into bed. XXVIII Bambi kept to her room next day until it was time to meet the train onwhich Ardelia and the Professor were to arrive. It was due at fouro'clock. She went to Jarvis's door, but he was not in his room. She hadheard nothing of him since his confession of the night before. Her telephone bell startled her, and she took up the receiver to hearJarvis's voice. "Bambi?" "Yes. " "How are you?" "All right. " "Don't you want me to meet the Professor and Ardelia? There's no need ofyour going up to Grand Central. " "I'd rather go thank you, Jarvis. Where are you?" "At the theatre. " "Anything the matter?" "Oh, no. I came to talk to the stage manager. He says everything will beall right to-night. Are you resting?" "Yes. I've had a quiet day, sitting on my nervous system. Where have youbeen?" "Walking the streets. " "Come home and take some rest. I'll meet the train. Thank you just asmuch for thinking of it. " "I'll be at the information booth at five minutes to four. " "All right. " She hung up the phone with a dazed face. The idea of Jarvis taking careof her, inquiring after her health, and trying to spare her! "Every blessed thing is topsy-turvy, " she exclaimed aloud. At four o'clock she walked up to the booth, and there he stood, anxiously scanning the faces that passed. "Hello!" she said cheerfully. He looked grateful and smiled. "You look as if you had had a spell of sickness, you're so white, " hesaid. "I'm all right, but you look like a nervous pros. Case. Aren't wepitiful objects for eminently successful playwrights?" "I suppose one gets used to this strain in time, " he said, taking herarm to help her through the crowd. No sooner had the train come to a stop than they saw Ardelia's hugeframe descend from the car, holding a dress suitcase in each hand. Afterher came the Professor, looking very small and shrunken. Ardelia sawthem afar, and waved the heavy suitcase in the air like a banner as shehurried toward them. "Howdy, Miss Bambi? Howdy, Mistah Jarvis? Heah we is. " "Bless your old hearts!" said Bambi, hugging them both. "How are you, children?" the Professor inquired. "We're fine! Did you have a comfortable time on the trip? Why did yousit in the day coach, father?" "De Perfessor, he won't set in de' chaih cah, cause'n dey won't let mein dere, an' he's 'fraid he fergit to git off less'n he was 'longsideob me. " "But the train stops here--it doesn't go any farther. My! Ardelia, youdo look stylish!" "Yas'm. Wait until yo' see my noo black silk. I'se got me a tight skirt, an' a Dutch neck--Lawzee, honey, but dis ole niggah's gittin'mighty frisky. " She and Jarvis had an argument about the bags. She insisted uponcarrying them herself, and indignantly refused the help of thecoloured porter. "Go way f'um heah, boy. Yo' reckon I gwine trust yo' all wid ma' noosilk dress an de Perfessor's dress suit? No, sah!" She kept them laughing all the way to the club with her tales of theirdifficulties and excitements in getting off. Her exclamations oneverything she saw were convulsing. When they arrived at the club, andshe discovered that she was to have the little room next to Bambi's, hersatisfaction was complete. Bambi ordered the entire family to repose on its respective backs for anhour before they dressed for dinner. So they parted to obey orders. Forthat hour Bambi held herself firmly upon her bed, completing her plans. They had agreed, she and Jarvis, that if there should be a call for theauthor, they would take it together, and Jarvis would speak. She was notsure just how she was to make the revelation to him of her dualpersonality. She decided to leave it to chance. Never in her life had she been so excited. The double responsibility asauthor and playwright shrank to second place in comparison with the factthat this night she was to tell Jarvis of her love for him--hear himspeak his love for her. Before the hour of enforced quiet was over she could hear Ardeliatiptoeing about her room. Presently her head was cautiously insertedthrough the door. When she saw a hand waved at her, she bounced in. "Laws, honey, I'se so excited, I cain't hol' my eyes shet. I got dePerfessor's dress suit cloes all laid out smooth, wif de buttons in deshirt, an' de white tie ready. Now, yo' let me help yo' all git dressedbefo' I begin to wrassle wid dat tight skirt ob mine. " "All right, sit down and hold your hands till I jump into my bath. " While Bambi bathed, Ardelia shouted all the gossip of home through thebathroom door. Upon Bambi's reappearance, she insisted upon dressing herlike a child. She put on her silk stockings and slippers, gettingherself down and up with many a grunt. She constituted herself acritical judge in the hairdressing process, and fussed about every pin. "Why ain't yo' all had one ob dese heah hair-fixers do yo' haid?" "And make me look like a hair-shop model? Not much!" "Well, yo' done purty good. " "Wait till I curl it, " said Bambi, throwing up the window and poppingher head out into the night air. "Fo' de Lawd's sake, yo' curl yo' haih in Noo Yawk jes' lak yo' do athome. " "Why not? This cold, damp air is just the thing. Now look at me, " sheboasted, shaking her head so that the soft, curly rings fluttered likelittle bells about her face. "Yo'll do, " said Ardelia. Bambi disappeared into the closet, and presently she popped out herhead. "Ardelia, prepare to die of joy. When you have seen my new dress, lifehas nothing more to offer you. " "I ain' gwine to die till after dis show. " Out of the closet Bambi danced, her arms full of sunset cloudsapparently She held it up, and Ardelia's eyes bulged. "Yo' don' call dat a dress?" "Put it on me, and you'll call it a poem. " "Dey ain't nuthin' to it, " she protested, as she slipped it over Bambi'shead. It was certainly a diaphanous thing of many layers of chiffon, graduating in colour from flame to palest apricot pink. It hung straightand simple on Bambi's lithe figure, bringing out all the colour, thedash, the fire-like quality in the girl's personality. The flush in hercheeks, the glow in her eyes, even the little curls, were like twistedtongues of flame. She whirled for Ardelia's inspection. "I know dat ain't no decent dress, but yo' sho' is beautiful asPottypar's wife. " "Who's she?" "She's in the Bible!" Bambi laughed. "I look like the 'fire of spring, '" she nodded to her reflection. "Ofcourse I'm beautiful! This is the biggest, happiest night of my life!" A boy came for the Professor's clothes, and a little later thatdistracted gentleman presented himself to have his tie arranged, and tobe looked over generally in case of omissions. "My dear!" he exclaimed at sight of his daughter. "_Aren't_ I wonderful?" He put his hand under her chin and tipped her face to him. "There is something about you to-night--elemental is the word--fire, water, and air. " She hugged him. "Oh, but you've got a surprise coming to you this night. You are aboutto discover other unsuspected elements in your offspring. " "My dear, I'm so excited now I'm counting backward. Don't explodeanything on me or I'll lose control. " "The secret is coming out to-night. " "Is it painful?" "No, it's heavenly!" Jarvis rapped. "May I come in?" "Yes. " He stood on the threshold a moment, a truly magnificent figure in hisevening clothes. "Jarvis!" breathed Bambi. "Bambi!" exclaimed Jarvis, and they stood a-gaze. She recovered first. "Do you like me?" she coquetted. He walked about her slowly, considering her from all sides. "Ariel!" he said at last. "Oh, thank you, Apollo, " she laughed, to cover the lump in her throat athis awed admiration. They sent Ardelia's supper up to her, and the rest of them made anattempt at dining, but nobody could eat a thing. Bambi talkedincessantly from excitement, and all eyes in the dining-room werefocussed upon her. Ardelia was in a tremor of pride when they went upstairs again. Sheshone like ebony, and grinned like a Hindoo idol. They admired her, toher heart's content, and she descended to the cab in a state ofsinful pride. Although they were early, the motors were already unloading before thetheatre. They were to sit in the stage box, and as soon as the rest ofthem were seated Bambi went back on the stage to say good-evening to thecompany. The first-night excitement prevailed back there. Every memberof the company was dressed and made up a good half hour too soon. Theyall assured the perturbed author that she need have no fears, everythingwould go off in fine shape. Somewhat relieved, she started to go outfront, when she ran into Mr. Frohman. "Good-evening. If you are as well as you look, you're all right, " hesmiled at her. "I feel like a loaded mine about to blow to pieces, " she answered. "Hold on for a couple of hours more. Does Jarvis know yet?" "Not yet. " He laughed and went on. Bambi returned to the box, where she sat farback in the corner. The house was filling fast now. More than a littleinterest was evinced in the strange box party of big Jarvis, theProfessor, and Ardelia. Richard Strong nodded and smiled from anearby seat. "We should have come in late, just as the curtain rose, " whisperedBambi. "We must not be so green again. " "Why so, daughter?" "Then we wouldn't be stared at. " "Are we stared at? By whom?" The overture interrupted her reply. The seats were full now as high asthe eye could reach the balconies. Bambi scanned the faces eagerly. Would they like the play? If they only knew what it meant to Jarvis andto her to have them like it! The curtain rose. For two full moments she could not breathe. The actstarted off briskly, and little by little her tension relaxed. She laidher hand on Jarvis's knee and it was stiff with nervous concentration. The first genuine laugh came to both of them like manna from heaven. "It's all right, " Bambi whispered to Jarvis. He nodded, his eyes gluedto the stage. Of all kinds of creative work, dramatic writing can be themost poignant or the most satisfactory. It is the keenest pleasure tosee characters whom you have invented given life and personality if theactors are clever. The Jocelyns had the aid of practically a perfectcast. The sense of power that comes with the laughter or the tears of anaudience aroused by your thoughts is a very real experience. Bambi "ateup her sensations, " as Strong had said. As the curtain descended afterthe first act the applause was instantaneous and long. "They like it, " Bambi said with a sigh. "Yes, thank God!" from Jarvis. "You told me not to take this seriously, Jarvis, " she reminded him. "Does anybody know who wrote this book?" the Professor inquired. "Not yet. We are to know to-night. I wonder where she is?" Jarvis addedto Bambi. "I've thought that fat old one in the opposite box, " she said wickedly. "Why did you ask, father?" "It is a diverting idea. The girl is like you, or maybe it is thesimilarity of the names that suggests it. " "What do you think about the play, Ardelia?" "Law, honey, 'tain't no play-actin' to me. It's jes' lak' bein' home widyo' an' de' Perfessor and Marse Jarvis. Dose folkses is jes' lakyo' all. " Bambi laughed outright. Ardelia was the only one who guessed. "I trust you do not compare me to that impractical old fiddling man, "the Professor protested to Ardelia. "Sh! Here's the curtain!" warned Bambi. The second act went like a breeze. Laughter and applause punctuated itsprogress. The house was warming up. Bambi slipped her hand intoJarvis's, and he held it so tight that she could feel his heart beatthrough his palm. There was no doubt about it at the end of the secondact. It was going. The company took repeated curtain calls, smiling atthe Jocelyns. "I'm grinning so I shall never get my face straight again, " Bambi saidto Richard, who came to the box to congratulate them. "Looks like a go, " he said, cordially. Even Jarvis unbent to him, and insisted upon his sitting with them forthe third act. Bambi added a smiling second. She had explained toRichard, in advance, why she did not invite him to share the box. "I am having a most unexpectedly good time, " the Professor admitted tothem all. Jarvis's state of mind was painful as the last act began. In the nextthirty minutes he was to meet the woman he thought he loved. Since hisconfession to Bambi the night before, a doubt had raised its head tostare at him as to the real depth of his feeling for his unknowninamorata. Had he really been moved by love, or was it only a need ofsympathy for his hurt pride that had driven him to her? Bambi's strangebehaviour, her admission that she did not love Strong, most of all thosemoments when she lay in his arms--they had upset all his convictions andemotions. He paid no attention to the act at all, torn as he was as towhat the night would bring him. He was aroused by storms of applause. The curtain went up again, andagain; the company bowed solo and in a group. Then calls of "Author!Author!" were heard all over the house. Bambi clutched Jarvis's sleeveand drew him back of the box. "Go on! You've got to go out and bow. You do it alone, Jarvis----" In answer he took her arm and propelled her in front of him, back on thestage. "Here they are! give them full stage!" said the stage manager, ringingup the curtain. "Now, go ahead, right out there!" He opened a door in the set and Jarvis and Bambi went on. There was ahush for a second, then a big round of applause. Bambi laughed and wavedher hand. There was a hush of expectancy. "Now, Jarvis, go on!" she prompted him. Jarvis, cold as death, began to speak. He thanked everybody in theprescribed way, beginning with the audience, ending with the company. Hesaid he was happy that they liked the play, but that he was making thespeech under false pretenses. All the credit for the success must go totwo women, his wife and collaborator----Here he turned to include Bambi, but to his astonishment she was gone. The audience laughed at hisdiscomfiture, but he turned it off wittily. The other woman, the one towhom most of the credit was due, was the author of the book. She had sofar hidden behind an anonymity, but he believed she was in the houseto-night, and it was to her that their congratulations should be offered. Cries of "Author! Author of the book!" with much clapping of hands. Jarvis stood there, scarcely breathing, cold sweat on his brow, waitingfor her to come. The applause became a clamour. The door opened andBambi floated in. She did not see the audience, her eyes were fixed onJarvis's face, and the strange expression she saw there. She came tohim, put her hand in his, and smiled. He was so obviously nonplussedthat the people grasped a new situation and were suddenly still. Bambismiled at him and spoke: "Dear People: If you have had as much fun to-night as I have, we oweeach other nothing! And the most fun of all is the astonishment of Mr. Jarvis Jocelyn, who discovers himself to be a bigamist. He's married tothe co-dramatist and the author, and he never knew it! That I wrote thebook has been a secret until this minute. If you hadn't liked the play, I never _would_ have admitted that I wrote it. You're the very nicestfirst-nighters I ever met, and we are both most grateful to you, thebigamist and I. " There was wild applause, flowers were tossed from the boxes, calls of"Brava!" greeted the little bowing figure clinging tightly to the bigman's hand. They finally made their escape to the wings, and Bambiturned to Jarvis for what was to her the real climax of the evening. He looked at her so strangely that she laid her hand on his arm. "You aren't glad?" she questioned, anxiously. Some members of the company surrounded them with congratulations, andwhen they were free they had to hurry out to rescue the rest ofthe family. "What did you think of the secret, Daddy?" "My child, I am past all thought. I wish to be taken home, put to bed, and allowed to recover slowly. I have had a shock of surprise that wouldkill a less vigorous man. " "But you liked it? You were glad I did it?" "I am so proud of you that I am imbecile. Let us go home. " Richard shook both her hands in silent congratulation. "Where is Jarvis?" asked her father. A search failed to find him. Richard made a trip back on the stage, buthe was not there. "We won't wait, if you will put us into our cab, " Bambi said to him. He saw them all off, promising to send Jarvis along if he saw him. "What do you suppose became of him?" demanded the Professor. But Bambi did not answer. All the triumph of the evening counted fornothing to her now. Jarvis had been hurt or angered at her revelation. He had deliberately gone off and left her, regardless of appearances. She spent the night in anxious listening for his return, but morningfound his rooms vacant, his bed untouched. Bambi's heart misgave her. XXIX Jarvis was never sure what happened to him after he came off the stagewith Bambi. Something had exploded in his brain, and his only thoughtwas to get away, away from all the noisy, chattering, hand-shakingpeople, to some quiet place, where he could think. On the way back to the box in Bambi's train, he had been separated fromher a minute, long enough to spy the stage door, to slip out and away. He headed uptown without design, walking, walking, at a furious pace. Bambi, herself, was the Lady of Mystery to whom he had offered hisdevotions. The thing which hurt him was that she had tricked him intodeclaring himself, probably laughed at his ardour. It made him rage tothink of it. What had been her object? He could not decipher her riddleat all. If she wanted his love, she might have had it for the taking, without all this play-acting nonsense. These was no use in his everexpecting to understand her or her motives. He might as well give it upand be done with it. He built up the whole story, bit by bit. Her mysterious trips to townwere in regard to the book, of course. The "butter-'n'-eggs" money camefrom royalties. Strong had published the story in his magazine: hencetheir intimacy. His thought attacked this idea furiously, then heremembered Bambi's words, "I love Richard Strong as my good friend, andin no other way. " There was no doubting the sincerity of that declaration. Besides, Bambinever lied. She had not deceived him, then, with any deliberate plan toalienate his affections so that she could be free to go to Strong. Nolight along that line of questioning. He went on, feeling his way, step by step, to the point of thedramatization of the book. Here he paused long. Surely he had not beenher dupe here. He was Frohman's choice as dramatist. But was he? She andFrohman had come to some understanding, because she had gone to see himthe day the play was delivered. No, that could not be, for he found herat home when he returned. He could not find a piece to fit into thepuzzle at this point. He went over their joint work on the book--herbook. He understood, now, how she was so sure of every move, why sheknew her characters so well. What a blind fool he had been not to seethat Francesca was herself! How she had played with him about that, too. How she drew him out about the other characters. He stopped in histracks as the last blow fell. The musician was intended for a study ofhim--that hazy, impossible dreamer, with his half-baked, egotisticaltheories of his own divine importance. Why, in God's name, had shemarried him if that was her opinion of him? His brain beat it over andover, to the click of his heels on the pavement. The fiddler was the Professor, of course. Any one but a blind man wouldhave seen it. So she had made mock of them, the two men nearest to her, for all the world to laugh at! That she wanted to punish him for notcoming up to her expectations, that he could understand, but why had shebetrayed the Professor whom she loved? He reviewed the period of rehearsals--her sure touch revealed again. Sheknew every move. She even saw herself so clearly that she could correctthe actress in a false move. She had held herself up for publicinspection, too. He had to admit that. It seemed so shameless to him, solacking in reserve. He urged his mind on to the night now passing, the night he had lookedforward to, for so many months, as the first white stone along the roadto success. Well, it had been a success, but none of his. Bambi's--allBambi's. She had conceived the book, worked out the play, and rehearsedit, to a triumphant issue. It was all hers! The only part he could claimwas that Frohman had sent for him. But had he? Was it possible he hadonly humoured Bambi in her desire to give him a chance? He would findout the truth about that, and if it were so, he could never forgive her. He saw her coming toward him in reply to the calls for "Author!" hereyes fixed on him, shining and expectant! What had she wanted him to do?Was it possible she expected him to be pleased? Broad daylight found him far up toward the Bronx, weary, footsore, andhungry. When he came to himself he realized that he must send some wordto the club of his whereabouts. He wrote a message to Bambi: "I shall not come back to-day. I cannot. You have hurt me very deeply. "JARVIS. " He put a special delivery stamp on it and mailed it. He found somebreakfast, and went into the Bronx Park, where he sat down under thebare trees to face himself. In the meantime Bambi, after a sleepless night, was up betimes. Atbreakfast she protested that she was not at all worried. Jarvis had nodoubt decided to celebrate the success in the usual masculine way. Hewould come home later, with a headache. "But Jarvis isn't a drinking man, is he?" the Professor inquired. "No, but it's the way men always celebrate, isn't it?" The Professor wanted the whole story of the writing of the book, theprize winning, Mr. Frohman's order, and all, so, after breakfast, shemade a clean breast of it, and they laughed over it for a couple ofhours. Then Jarvis's message came. Her face quivered as she read it. "What is it, dear? Is it Jarvis?" She nodded, the slow tears falling. "He isn't hurt?" "Not physically hurt, but I've hurt his feelings. Oh, Daddy, I've madesuch a mess of it. I wanted to be dazzled by my success, because hethinks I'm a helpless sort of thing, and now he only hates me for it. " She broke down and wept bitterly. The Professor, distressed andhelpless, took her into his arms and petted her. "There, there, Baby, it will work out all right. Just let us go home, where we're used to things, and everything will look different. " "Yes, that's it, we'll all go home, " sobbed Bambi, wiping her eyes. "Where is Jarvis?" "I don't know. But I can leave word for him here that we've gone backhome. " "Then we can get the two o'clock train. Nothing but misery comes topeople in these cities. " By dint of much hurry they caught the train, Ardelia protesting up tothe moment when the train started that they couldn't possibly make it. Bambi sat, chin on hand, all the way, a sad, pale-faced figure. No onecould suspect, to see her now, that she had been the brilliantflame-thing of the night before. Once the Professor patted her hand andshe tried to smile at him, but it wasn't much of a success. When they entered the house, and Ardelia bustled about to get them sometea, Bambi sat dejectedly, with all her things on, among thetravelling-bags. "Be of good courage, little daughter, " her father said. "Oh, Father Professor, are the fruits of success always so bitter--sobitter?" she cried to him. XXX The first week of the play went by, and it was an assured success. Theroyalty for the first seven days was a surprise, which would have thrownBambi into raptures under ordinary circumstances. But the Bambi of thesedays and rapture were no longer playmates. There had been no word from Jarvis since that time of the first briefmessage. Bambi 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 outfor 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 moreshe lacerated herself with reproaches. Her fatal love of play-acting hadbrought her sorrow this time. How could she have done it? Why didn't shesee that Jarvis would never understand what made her do it, that hewould resent it. Some days she was in a fury at him for not understanding her. Other daysshe wanted him so that she could scarcely refrain from taking a train toNew York and looking for him. In her sane moments she knew that the onlything she could do now was to wait. Richard Strong came down to dine and spend the night, and one thing hesaid 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 streetyesterday, 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 wasfunny at all. " "Oh, that's a pity. " "I'm through with jokes, Richard, through with them for all time, " shesaid, 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 forJarvis's address. He was still at the National Arts Club, they assuredhim. So that evening he presented himself there unannounced. He foundJarvis alone in the reading-room, a book open before sightless eyes. Herose to greet Strong, with evident reluctance. "I'm glad to find you, Jocelyn. I have something particular to say toyou. " "So? Sit down, won't you?" "I've just come back from Sunnyside, where I spent the night. I wantedto 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. Sheseems such a frail little thing that one dreads any extra demands onher. I knew you stayed on to look after the business here, of course.... You know the dear, blind, old Professor. Naturally you are the person tolook after her, and I thought it would be just like her not to say aword to you about it all, so here I am, playing tame cat, carryingtales. Go down to-night, Jocelyn, and take that girl away somewhere. " "They think she's ill?" Jarvis repeated. "She looks it to me. If she were my wife, I'd be alarmed. " He rose as he finished, and Jarvis rose, too. They looked each other inthe eyes. "Thank you!" said Jarvis. He suddenly realized, without words of any kind, that this man sufferedas he did, because he, too, loved Bambi. He was big enough to come toher husband with news of her need. By a common impulse their hands metin a warm hand-clasp. "She needs you, Jocelyn, " Strong said. "You're a good friend, Strong, " Jarvis answered. When he had gone, Jarvis hurried to his room and began to pack his bag. His heart beat like a trip-hammer with excitement. He was going toBambi! She needed him. He had endured a week of the third degree, practised upon himself. He had peered into every nook and corner of hisown soul. He knew himself for a blind, selfish egotist. He was ready nowto fling his winter garments of repentance into the fires of spring. Heunderstood himself, though Bambi baffled him more than ever. Never mind. She needed him. Strong said so--and he was going to her. He was at the station an hour before the train left, pacing up and downthe platform like an angry lion. Aboard the sleeper, and on the way, hetossed and turned in his berth in wakefulness. At dawn he was up anddressed, to sit in a fever of impatience while the landscape slowly slidby the car window. At Sunnyside he hurried along the deserted street, where only themilkman wound his weary way in the early morning. There was a hint ofspring in the air, fresh and exhilarating, with a faint earth smell. The house lay, with closed blinds, still asleep. He let himself in withhis latch-key, dropped his bag, hat, and coat in the hall, and rushedupstairs to Bambi's rooms. No hesitation now. He would storm the citadelin truth. He opened her bedroom door softly and peered in. It wasunknown country to him. The bed was empty. He entered and walked swiftlyto the door beyond, where he heard a faint crackling, as of a fireburning. At the door he paused. She was crouched before a fire, cross-legged, her face cupped on herhands. In her pink robe and cap she looked more like a child than ever. She half turned her head, as if feeling his presence, so he saw how paleshe was, how black the circles round her eyes. "My little love!" he cried to her. "My little love!" She sprang to her feet, facing him; her hands went swiftly to her heart, as if a spasm shook her. As Jarvis came toward her, a great light in hisface, she put her hands out to fend him off. "I want you to know that I realize just how silly and cheap andtheatrical I've been. I didn't mean to hurt you, " she began in amonotone, as if it tired her too much to speak. He tried to stop her, but she shook her head. "I have to say it all now. I cared so much when you came home that time, and after the first night I thought you didn't care for me. " "My best beloved, let me----" "No, no--please. I was piqued and angry and I thought I could punish youby pretending to be the other woman you thought you were writing to. Iwanted to make you care for her, and then----" "It was you I cared for--you, you, you!" "I thought that, when you knew I was both of us, you'd be so glad----" Shebroke off into a sob. "I am, dearest, I am. " "I never meant to hurt you. This week has nearly killed me. " He took her into his arms, and sat in the big chair, holding her close, while she clung to him and sobbed out her heart. He kissed her hair, herwet eyes, and her lips, saying over and over, "Oh, littlest, I love youso, I love you so!" When the sobs ceased, he lifted her face to his. "I want to see the shine in your eyes, dearest, and then I want you tolisten to me. " She drew his head down to her and kissed him. "The shine will come back now, beloved. Oh, Big"--she said with asigh--"my old Jarvis. " "No, your new Jarvis, little wife. The old, crazy Jarvis will be more toyour liking. I may not understand you very well yet, but I know my needof you my pride in you----" "And my need of you?" "And your need of me. We're in step, now, honey girl--and we'll marchalong together without any more misunderstandings, won't we?" "Oh, we will, if you'll take short steps, so I can keep up. " "I'm the one to do the running now, Miss Mite. A famous novelist and asuccessful playwright!" he laughed, pinching her cheek. "None of it counts. The only title that means anything to me is Mrs. Jarvis Jocelyn. " His comment on that was inaudible. "Would you mind telling me just why you married me?" "Because I was a seeress, and foresaw this day. " More comment, inaudible. The door opened, cautiously, the Professortiptoed in, followed by Ardelia, with a tray. At the sight of the twobefore him, engrossed in the inaudible comments, he stepped back intoArdelia and rattled the contents of the tray. Jarvis looked up andcaught his astonished expression. He rose with Bambi in his arms. "Good-morning, Father. I'm home, " he said. "Thank de good Lawd!" from Ardelia. "It's Jarvis, " said Bambi, fatuously, patting his cheek. "I suspected that it was when I saw him, " the Professor admitted. "I'mglad that you're back, and I hope you'll stay. This child needs a firmerhand than mine. " "You're speaking of a woman with a well-advanced career, Herr ProfessorParkhurst!" "Ardelia, we are not needed. She is well. A dose of Jarvis Jocelyn wasthe correct prescription. " "Well, thank Gawd fo' some sho' nuff lovin' at las'" said Ardelia, asshe backed out behind the Professor, and closed the door. THE END