to prevail on the eminent professor to take them.
"Remember your appointment at the museum."

Von Barwig, in the act of drinking tea, nearly choked. He thought of
his Dime Museum. "If they should ever dream of such a thing!"

"My drawing master is meeting me at the Museum of Art," explained
Charlotte to Von Barwig.

"Will you play something before you go?" asked Von Barwig. Charlotte
went to the piano and banged out a two-step march that was the raging
popular tune of the day.

"Ah, that is the stunt! Now, if you will play some music," ventured
Von Barwig, "I can just tell you where you are."

"Isn't that music?" asked Charlotte.

"It is rhythm and jingle--a stunt as you call it. Real musicians do
not write such things."

"Isn't there a method of learning how to play without practising?"
broke in Octavie.

"From nothing comes nothing," said Von Barwig with a sigh.

"Quite true," assented Mrs. Cruger.

"Some day," said Von Barwig prophetically, "some day they will invent a
machine that will play itself. All you will have to do is to pump a
bellows, or turn a wheel and the music will play itself! You will see;
there is so much demand for it, some one will rise to the occasion."

"Splendid!" said Charlotte. "Won't that save lots of hard work!"

"We'll write and make an appointment; Helene will give us the address,"
said Octavie, as they said good-bye to Von Barwig.

"Thank you so much, Herr Professor, for your patience and courtesy,"
said Mrs. Cruger at parting.

Herr Von Barwig bowed. The girls accompanied by their aunt took their
leave, and he was left alone with Helene. He took the paper from the
little bunch of violets he had brought with him, and handed them to her.

"Ah, thank you so much! But why do you always bring me flowers?"

"Why do we love the light?" he asked. "Because it gives us joy."

She took an orchid she was wearing and tried to pin it on his coat. "I
am afraid," said Von Barwig, "that it is healed up!" Helene laughed.

"What a curious expression!" she said. Then she walked up to the
window and looked out.

"Shall we begin where we left off?" asked Von Barwig as he opened the
music. He had been waiting some time for her to come to the piano.

"You like him, don't you?" said Helene in a low voice.

"The young Herr Cruger?" asked Von Barwig. Then without waiting for an
answer he went on: "Yes, he has a fine noble heart. He is different to
the young men here; qui