ry hurt, but out of mine hurt there comes the
power to make mineself one great artist. It was mine Cremona that made
the parting, because I am so foolish that I must go in her house to
look at it. It was mine Cremona that took her to me the last time, when
she gave it to me. 'Franz,' she says, 'if you take this, you will not
forget me, and it is mine to do with what I please.'

"So, when I have made mineself the great artist, I have played on mine
Cremona to many thousands, and the tears have come from all. See, it is
always mine Cremona. And because of this, she has heard of me afar off,
and she has chosen to have mine son learn the violin from me, so that he
also shall be one artist. Twice she has heard me and mine Cremona when
we make the music together; once in the street outside mine house, and
once when I played the _Ave Maria_ in her house when the old lady was
dead."

Doctor Brinkerhoff turned away, his muscles suddenly rigid, but the
Master talked on, heedlessly.

"See, it is always mine Cremona, and the dear God has made us in the
same way. He has made mine violin out of the pain, the cutting, and the
long night, and also me, so that I shall be suited to touch it. It is so
that I am to her as mine Cremona is to me--I am her instrument, and she
can do with me what she will.

"It is but the one string now that needs the tuning," went on the
Master, deeply troubled. "I know not what to do with mine Fredrika."

"Fredrika!" repeated Doctor Brinkerhoff. He, too, had forgotten the
faithful Fraeulein.

"The bright colours are not for mine Liebchen," the Master continued.

"The bright colours," said the Doctor, by some curious trick of mind
immediately upon the defensive, "why, I have always thought them very
pretty."

A great light broke in upon the Master, and he could not be expected
to perceive that it was only a will o' the wisp. "So," he cried,
triumphantly, "you have loved mine sister! I have sometimes thought
so, and now I know!"

The Doctor's face turned a dull red, his eyelids drooped, and he wiped
his forehead with his handkerchief.

"Ah, mine friend," said the Master, exultantly, "is it not most
wonderful to see how we have played at the cross-purposes? All these
years you have waited because you would not take mine sister away from
me, you, mine kind, unselfish friend! So much fun have you made of mine
housekeeping before she came that you would not do me this wrong!

"And I--I could not send