m she turned to Von Barwig, and
spoke in a rich, warm, contralto voice that vibrated with youth and
health. "You teach music, do you not? At least they said you did!"

Von Barwig swallowed a huge lump in his throat. "I did, but--not now;
I have given up." She looked at him but did not seem to understand.
"Lieber Gott, Lieber Gott!" broke from him in spite of his efforts to
suppress himself. "Elene, Elene!" Then he looked more closely at her
and shook his head.

"So you are not teaching any longer? Ah, what a pity!" she said.
"They speak so well of you in the neighbourhood. Perhaps I may be able
to induce you to change your mind!"

Von Barwig was now slowly gaining mastery over himself.

"Perhaps," he said, with a great effort at self-control.

"You do not know me, Herr Von Barwig?"

The old man's eyes glowed like live coals. "Elene, Elene!" he
murmured. "The living image! Lieber Gott, the living image!"

"I am Miss Helene Stanton," she said with unconscious dignity. "You
may have heard of me," she added with a smile.

Miss Stanton's name was a household word in New York, especially in
that quarter of the city where her large charities had done so much to
alleviate the sufferings of the poor. Von Barwig had heard the name
many times, but at that moment he did not recognise it, although it was
the name of the greatest heiress in New York.

His ear caught the word "Helene" and he could only repeat it over and
over again.

"Elene, Elene!"

"Helene," corrected Miss Stanton.

"Ah, in my language it is Elene; yes, Elene!" Then a great hope took
possession of him. "Some one has sent you to me?" he asked. "Some one
has sent you?"

"Not exactly," she replied, "but you were well recommended." The old
man's manner, his emotion, his earnestness, somewhat embarrassed her.
"Why does he look at me so earnestly?" she thought. Perhaps it was a
mannerism peculiar to a man of his years.

Then she went on: "I am connected with mission work in the
neighbourhood here. I go among the poor a great deal--"

"Ah, charity!" he said. "Yes." And then he went up to the window and
pulled up the blinds as far as they would go that he might get more of
the fast-fading light.

"I saw you a few days ago at Schumein's, the music publishers, and your
name was suggested to me by one of the young ladies at the mission as
music master."

"Ah, you desire to take lessons?" he asked eagerly.

Miss Stanton smiled. "No,