is required. That's the best thing to do--really."
Mr. Joles volunteered this advice, which contained little comfort, but
Von Barwig's lip quivered and he nodded his head thankfully. Even the
advice to go away and stay away contained more hope than the cold
stolid stone-wall indifference he had encountered day after day from
Mr. Joles.

"Thank you, Mr. Joles! I will, I will," and Von Barwig plodded his way
wearily back to Houston Street. For one whole week he did not go near
the Stanton house. He contented himself with hoping. He would sit in
his little room and rush out every time he heard the letter-carrier's
whistle, but no letter came. One day, when he could no longer restrain
himself, he carefully brushed his clothes and prepared to walk uptown
again.

"She must be in, she must be in; and she will see me. This time I know
she will see me; I am sure of it; sure of it," he kept repeating to
himself. "She can't be so cruel!"

He found himself looking into a florist's window and started with a cry
of joy.

"That's a good omen, a very good omen! You're all right, Barwig; she
will see you."

He had recognised the florist in Union Square that he had bought the
violets he presented her with on the day he first called upon her. He
went in and bought a bunch of violets.

"We begin all over again," he said to himself. "We forget all this
weary waiting, all this stupid fear. Now, Miss Helene, we are prepared
for our lesson," he said, as he took the box of flowers and walked
uptown with renewed hope. His heart beat very rapidly as he walked up
the steps.

"Courage, Barwig," he said to himself; "the tide turns I You will see!"

He rang the bell. There was no answer. Several times he repeated this
action; each time he waited several minutes. Finally he rang the bell,
and added to it a loud knock. His persistence was rewarded, for Mr.
Joles came to the door. He did not wait for Von Barwig to speak, as he
usually did, but proceeded to inform the old man that his actions were
"simply disgraceful."

"Miss Stanton is not in and what's more she is not liable to be in," he
said severely. "Some people cannot take a hint! If Miss Stanton
wanted to see you, Miss Stanton would have sent for you," added Mr.
Joles, and his manner was quite ruffled. He took it as a personal
offence that Mr. Von Barwig should so persist in calling at a house
where it was evident he was not wanted.

Von Barwig was speechless;