ed in a decided tone; "and if
we had," tenderly, "no, professor, no top floor for you! I couldn't
bear the idea of it; I couldn't really! Pay me when you get it," she
said when the old man pleaded that he must live within his means.

"But I may never get it," expostulated the professor.

"Oh, yes, you will," confidently replied Miss Husted. "Mrs. Mangenborn
says it is in the cards that great fortune is coming to you."

"In the next world, perhaps," said Von Barwig, laughing in spite of
himself.

"Besides," went on Miss Husted, "it doesn't matter one way or the
other. I could never bear the idea. Stay here for my sake," she
pleaded when she saw that the professor was obstinate; and so he
remained in his old rooms, though he squeezed every penny in order to
pay her.

On the afternoon following his interview with his father, Beverly
Cruger made up his mind to speak to Helene, to ask her to be his wife.
He called at her home, and was informed by Joles that she was engaged;
that a German gentleman was giving her music instruction, and that her
orders were that she was not to be disturbed. Beverly left his card,
intending to call the next day, but the fates were against him, and he
was sent for by the State Department in regard to his diplomatic
position and had to go to Washington. On his return to New York a week
later, he again called on Miss Stanton. To his astonishment and, it
must be confessed, to his extreme annoyance, he found Miss Stanton
again "engaged." Herr Von Barwig, her music master, was there.
"Please take up my card, Joles, and tell Miss Stanton that I wish to
see her on a matter of the utmost importance--the utmost importance,"
repeated Beverly.

"Yes, sir," replied Joles.

"Herr Von Barwig appears to be _persona gratissima_," thought Beverly,
and then it occurred to him that it was very strange that an
accomplished musician like Helene Stanton should take music lessons.
"He must be a very superior sort of a musical personage, very superior
indeed." Beverly would not acknowledge even to himself that he
resented Herr Von Barwig's presence at the Stantons'. "How can our
American women be so deceived by the artificial deference, the
insincere, highly polished politeness of these foreigners!" he mused.
"Von Barwig is probably an offshoot of some noble German house, but
she's not apt to be attracted by an empty title!" He had loved her for
months, he told himself, and each time he had made up