ongers of high life.

To-night she was bent on creating a mild sensation by entering late and
placing Stuart in a position so conspicuous, the presence of her tall
distinguished escort would at once command attention, and provoke
inquiry. He had quite innocently frustrated this little plan by
insisting on the unusual and vulgar procedure of entering the box in
time to hear the opera.

"But Jim," Nan protested bitterly, "it's so cheap and amateurish."

"Come Nan," he answered; "you're too beautiful, too rich, too powerful,
and too much envied to be afraid of the opinion of small folks. It's
the privilege of the great to do as they please. Only the little people
must do as others. As a special favour I ask you to be there at the
rise of the curtain. I must see my little friend's entrance and hear
the first note she sings."

She had yielded gracefully on the outside. Inwardly she was boiling
with rage.

They were the first to enter a box. Stuart eagerly scanned his
programme. The manager had inserted a slip of paper on which he said:

"Owing to the sudden illness of the prima donna, the audience will have
the unexpected privilege this evening of hearing an accomplished
American girl, a native of New York City, sing for the first time in
Grand Opera. Miss Harriet Woodman will appear in the role of
Marguerite."

The real audience had gathered unusually early to hear the great
European prima donna. Every seat in the orchestra and balconies was
packed before the rise of the curtain.

Nan had placed Stuart in front of her on purpose to watch closely his
expression.

As the moment for Harriet's appearance drew near, his nervous tension
became a positive agony. Yet he distinctly felt from the subtle
impression, which the intelligent single mind can always receive from
the collective mind of a crowd, that the people were in a friendly mood
of expectancy. The fact that she was an American girl and from New York
was greatly in her favour.

The audience greeted her appearance with a burst of applause and waited
for the first note of her opening song.

Stuart was charmed with the effect of her personality in the character,
before she moved. The long, beautiful golden hair, the innocent young
face and her simple girlish costume made an instantaneous impression in
her favour.

With the first sweet note from her throat every fear vanished. She sang
simply, quietly, exquisitely, without effort, as a bird sings because
the