they could do without her. She felt
really grateful, and they had a pleasant evening. There was much talk of
home, for which the old people were longing.

Joergen was hardly gone before Mrs. Dawes said: "What a pleasant,
well-bred man Joergen is, child!"

Anders looked at Mary and smiled.

"At what are you smiling, Father?"

"Nothing"--his smile growing broader.

"You want to know my opinion of him?"

"Yes, what do you think of him?"

Mrs. Dawes was all ear.

"Well...."

"You have not made up your mind?"

"Yes ... yes."

"Speak out, then."

"I do really like him."

"But there is a something?"

Now it was she who smiled. "I don't like the way his eyes seem to draw
me in."

Her father laughed:

"To gloat over you like food. Eh?"

"Yes, exactly."

"He's a bon-viveur, you see--like his father."

"But, like his father, he has so many good qualities," put in Mrs.
Dawes.

"He has," said Anders Krog seriously.

Mary said no more. She bade them good-night, and offered him her
forehead to kiss.

A few days later Mary went to Alice's house at an early hour. Anders
Krog had seen some old Chinese porcelain which he thought of buying;
but Alice's advice was indispensable. At this time of day and in the
studio Mary could be certain of finding her alone--at least alone with
her model.

She went straight in without speaking to the porter. Alice opened the
door herself. She had on her studio-dress and her hand was dirty, so
that she could not take Mary's.

"You are busy with a model," whispered Mary.

"I shall be presently," answered Alice with a curious smile. "The model
is waiting in the next room. But come in."

When Mary passed beyond the curtain she saw the reason why the model was
waiting in the next room. In the studio sat Frans Roey. Thus early in the
day and rapt in thought! He did not even notice them entering. This was
the first time Mary had seen him serious; and seriousness became the
manly figure and the strong face much better than wanton hilarity.

"Do you not see who has come?" asked Alice.

He sprang up....

The conversation that day was serious. Frans was in a dejected mood; it
was easy for Mary to divine that they had been talking about her.

They all consequently felt a little awkward at first, until Alice
turned the conversation on a topic from that morning's newspapers. Two
murders, instigated by jealousy--one of them of the most terrible
description--had horrified them