st the
old feeling of dull despair, the old gnawing pain of unsatisfied
affection came back to him again. "I am doomed," he thought; "doomed
to live my life alone!" He would sit for hours and hours and try to
think out why she did not see him, why she did not answer his letter.
Was she away? If so, why did she not let him know? Had she found out
that he played in a Bowery museum? Or did she suspect that he knew
that she did not need lessons? If so, was that sufficient cause for
her neglect? No, he could not reason it out on those lines! Why did
Mrs. Cruger send him a note dismissing him after practically promising
to engage him as music master to her nieces? Did Mrs. Cruger dismiss
him at all, or had circumstances arisen that obviated the necessity of
engaging him? Was it merely a coincidence that she should dismiss him
at the same time that Helene avoided seeing him? Were these two
conditions in any way connected with each other? Was Helene really
trying to avoid him? Had she received his letter? Did she really
know? This last question gave him much comfort and he persistently
dwelt on that phase of the situation. To believe that she knew; it was
inconceivable to him. She would surely have written. "Did I address
the letters properly? Did I put stamps on?" he asked himself. "There
is a mistake somewhere," he concluded; "a mistake that time will surely
adjust."

The next day, after going through the usual performance of asking for
Miss Stanton and being informed by Mr. Joles of the young lady's
absence, Von Barwig ventured to extend the field of his inquiry.

"Is Mr. Stanton in?" he asked in a low voice, scarcely knowing why he
should ask for her father, or what he should say if he was fortunate
enough to obtain an interview with him.

"Mr. Stanton!" repeated Mr. Joles, almost horrified at the idea of Von
Barwig's asking for his master.

"Mr. Stanton?" he repeated. "Have you an appointment with him?"

Von Barwig admitted that he had not.

"Mr. Stanton sees no one without an appointment," said Mr. Joles,
slowly recovering from the shock Von Barwig had given him. "Besides
which, he is at present at Bar Harbour."

"Are you sure there is no message for me?" pleaded Von Barwig.

"Quite sure," responded Mr. Joles.

"But there must be," pleaded the old man. He was desperate now. "Did
she get my note?"

"My advice is for you to go home and wait till Miss Stanton signifies
that your presence