nodded. "If his coming here is likely to endanger his liberty,
he must not come," she thought Stanton thanked her, but she did not
hear his words. Silently, sorrowfully, she returned to the music room,
where she found Von Barwig awaiting her.

The old man looked up as she entered the room. She came toward him and
looked at him a few moments in silence. The same tender, gentle smile
that had so endeared him to her from the first was on his face. She
could not bear to look at him, so she turned her gaze away and spoke
without seeing him.

"Herr Von Barwig," she said, and then she paused. It was so hard, so
very hard, to say what she had to say. He stood there expectantly,
waiting for her to continue, as a little child looks up at the sound of
its mother's voice.

"I'm very sorry," she said in a deep, low voice. "I--don't," still she
hesitated, then finally, with much effort she said: "I cannot take any
more lessons from you."

Von Barwig looked at her as if he did not comprehend her meaning.

"Not to-day, no, but to-morrow?"

Helene shook her head.

"Ah, the next day!"

Again Helene shook her head. "No," she said in an almost inaudible
voice. Von Barwig noted that her face was sad, that her tone was low
and mournful and his voice faltered as he asked, with his usual smile,
"The day after that, perhaps?"

"No, Herr Von Barwig. I cannot take any more lessons from you."

"Cannot take any more lessons," he repeated mechanically; then as he
realised her meaning he tried to speak, but his tongue clove to the
roof of his mouth. There was a long pause, during which neither of
them spoke.

"You wish me no more at all?" he asked finally.

"I am very sorry, I am very grateful; believe me I am, Herr Von Barwig,
but--" she shook her head rapidly. She could not trust herself to
speak.

"I--do--not--understand," he said, and his voice was almost inaudible,
for his heart was beating so furiously that he could feel its
palpitation. She could only shake her head in reply. Von Barwig
suddenly found his voice, for he was desperate now.

"A moment ago we were here, good friends, and--" suddenly an idea
occurred to him. "Some one has told you that I played at the Museum,
the Dime Museum. Ah, is that Indeed so terrible? I do not play there
from choice, believe me, dear--dear _Fraeulein_! It is poverty."

"Yes, yes; I know, I know!" cried Helene. She was nearly frantic now.
"It is not your fault, but plea