everybody. She has a great talent for putting young
men on their feet and teaching them to walk alone. In fact, she is a
perfect employment bureau for meritorious youth. Somebody wrote to her
that Mr. Arlt has genius and grit, and not a guinea to his name, and she
is trying to get him some engagements."

"She asked you to help him?"

"Yes. At least, she spoke about him, and asked me to keep my eyes open
and to say a good word for him, when I can. What does he want, Mr.
Thayer?"

"Whatever he can get."

"What does he need, then?"

"Everything." Thayer's tone was grave.

"At least, that is comprehensive, Beatrix," her cousin assured her. "He
may even be starved into eating your chloride of manna."

She ignored the interruption.

"And you have known him for some time, Mr. Thayer?"

"Long enough to have no hesitation in vouching for him, both as a man
and as an artist." His tone was not unfriendly, yet it was of dignified
finality.

"Then why the deuce hasn't the fellow arrived?" Bobby rose, as he spoke,
and planted his feet accurately on the middle pothook of the hearthrug.

"Chiefly because art is long, and we are all too busy to wait for it to
display itself. Give him time," Sally suggested idly, for she was
becoming a little bored by the discussion.

"Time is money, though. Perhaps a pension would do just as well."

Thayer frowned involuntarily. To him, his art was too sacred to admit
of any flippancy in discussing it. He turned still more directly to
Beatrix.

"Arlt is a thoroughly good fellow, one you are safe in introducing
anywhere. He is only a boy, barely twenty; but he is one of the most
satisfactory pianists I have ever heard. I don't mean I haven't heard
better ones; but never one who has been more satisfying to my mood,
whatever it is. His technique is not perfect, and he lacks maturity; but
he has a trick of making people dissatisfied with other pianists and
anxious to hear him play the same programme."

"And he will accompany?"

"Ye-es. Sometimes."

Beatrix laughed.

"I spare your modesty, Mr. Thayer. I think I understand. But really I
haven't much influence. If I can help him, though, you can count on my
doing it."

"All he needs is a little start. As Miss Van Osdel says, New York is
moving too fast to wait for strangers to fall into step with the
procession."

"He is a stranger, then?"

"He came over with me." Thayer hesitated. "I may as well tell you a bit
about him," he went