he rest of the party.

The folding-doors between the "best room" and the adjoining bedroom had
been opened wide, and the guests were distributed over the two rooms.
The former was brilliantly lighted by three lamps and two candles, and
all the sitting-accommodation the house contained was ranged in a
semicircle round the grand piano. Here, not a place was vacant; those
who had come late were in the bedroom, making shift with whatever
offered. Two girls and a young man, having pushed back the feather-bed,
sat on the edge of the low wooden bedstead, with their arms interlaced
to give them a better balance. Maurice found Madeleine on a rickety
little sofa that stood at the foot of the bed. Dove sat on a chest of
drawers next the sofa, his long legs dangling in the air. Beside
Madeleine, with his head on her shoulder, was Krafft.

"Oh, there you are," cried Madeleine. "Well, I did my best to keep the
place for you; but it was of no use, as you see. Just sit down,
however. Between us, we'll squeeze him properly."

Maurice was glad that the room, which was lighted only by one small
lamp, was in semi-darkness; for, at the sound of his own voice, it
suddenly became clear to him that the piece of gossip Frau Furst had
volunteered, had been of the nature of a blow. Schilsky's departure
threatened, in a way he postponed for the present thinking out, to
disturb his life; and, in an abrupt need of sympathy, he laid his hand
on Krafft's knee.

"Is it you, old man? What have you been doing with yourself?"

Krafft gave him one of those looks which, in the early days of their
acquaintance, had proved so disconcerting--a look of struggling
recollection.

"Oh, nothing in particular," he replied, without hostility, but also
without warmth. His mind was not with his words, and Maurice withdrew
his hand.

Madeleine leaned forward, dislodging Krafft's head from its
resting-place.

"How long have you two been 'DU' to each other?" she asked, and at
Maurice's curt reply, she pushed Krafft from her. "Sit up and behave
yourself. One would think you had an evil spirit in you to-night."

Krafft was nervously excited: bright red spots burnt on his cheeks, his
hands twitched, and he jerked forward in his seat and threw himself
back again, incessantly.

"No, you are worse than a mosquito," cried Madeleine, losing patience.
"Anyone would think you were going to play yourself. And he will be as
cool as an iceberg. The sofa won't stand it, He