``I'm not saying that.''

``No, but I am,'' declared Billy, with conviction.
``They couldn't help liking it.''

Arkwright laughed again. Just how well they
had ``liked it'' he did not intend to say. Their
remarks had been quite too flattering to repeat
even to this very plainly interested young woman
--delightful and heart-warming as was this same
show of interest, to himself.

``Thank you,'' was all he said.

Billy gave an excited little bounce in her
chair.

``And you'll begin to learn rles right away?''

``I already have, some--after a fashion--before
I came here.''

``Really? How splendid! Why, then you'll
be acting them next right on the Boston Opera
House stage, and we'll all go to hear you. How
perfectly lovely! I can hardly wait.''

Arkwright laughed--but his eyes glowed with
pleasure.