reflective. ``Strange!'' he exclaimed in tender accents,
soliloquizing-- ``strange where romance will lead us. Instead of
remaining at home, in ease and luxury, here am I--an actor--a
wanderer --roaming the earth in search of the heart that Heaven
intended should be wedded to mine.'' He fixed his gaze upon
Lena's fat face with the expression that had made Hilda's soul
fall down and worship. ``And--I have found it!'' He drew in and
expelled a vast breath. ``At last! My soul is at rest.''

Lena tried to look serious in imitation of him, but that was not
her way of expressing emotion. She made a brief struggle, then
collapsed into her own mode--a vain, delighted, giggling laugh.

``Why do you smile?'' he asked sternly. He revolted from this
discord to his symphony.

She sobered with a frightened, deprecating look. ``Don't mind
me,'' she pleaded. ``Pa says I'm a fool. I was laughing because
I'm happy. You're such a sweet, romantic dream of a man.''

Feuerstein was not particular either as to the quality or as to
the source of his vanity-food. He accepted Lena's offering with
a condescending nod and smile. They talked, or, rather, he
talked and she listened and giggled until lunch time. As the
room began to fill, they left and he walked home with her.

``You can come in,'' she said. ``Pa won't be home to lunch
to-day and ma lets me do as I please.''

The Gansers lived in East Eighty-first Street, in the regulation