chosen occupation seemed to place her beyond his
reach; she was not to be got at by the ordinary methods of approach.
Twice he had called and asked for her, to be told that she was busy with
school papers and must be excused. Once he had ventured to invite her to
go with Mrs. Stephen and himself to a carefully chosen play and a
supper, but she had declined, gracefully enough--but she had declined,
and Mrs. Stephen also. He could not make these people out, he told
himself. Did they and he live in such different worlds that they could
never meet on common ground?

_The Taming of the Shrew_ came to a triumphant end; the curtain fell
upon the effective closing scene in which the lovely _Shrew_, become a
richly loving and tender wife, without, somehow, surrendering a particle
of her exquisite individuality, spoke her words of wisdom to other
wives. Richard smiled to himself as he heard the lines fall from
Roberta's lips. And beneath his breath he said:

"I don't see how you can bring yourself to say them, you modern girl.
You'd never let a real husband feel his power that way, I'll wager. If
you did--well--it would go to his head, I'm sure of that. What an idiot
I am to think I could ever make her look at me the way she looked even
at that schoolgirl _Petruchio_--with a clever imitation of devotion. O
Roberta Gray! But I'd rather worship you across the footlights than take
any other girl in my arms. And somehow--somehow I've got to make you at
least respect me. At least that, Roberta! Then--perhaps--more!"

At Ruth's side, when the play was ended, Richard hoped to attain at
least the chance to speak to Ruth's sister. The young players all
appeared upon the stage, the curtain being raised for the rest of the
evening, and the audience came up, group by group, to offer
congratulations and pour into gratified ears the praise which was the
reward of labour. Richard succeeded in getting by degrees into the
immediate vicinity of Roberta, who was continuously surrounded by happy
parents bent on presenting their felicitations. But just as he was about
to make his way to her side a diversion occurred which took her
completely away from him. A girl near by, who on account of physical
frailty had had a minor part, grew suddenly faint, and in a trice
Roberta had impressed into her service a strong pair of male arms,
nearer at hand than Richard's, and had had the slim little figure
carried behind the scenes, herself following.

Ten m