ny's music that hurt?"

I nodded, clinging to him.

"It's 'igh time 'e was in bed," said Mr. Watlin, taking the fiddle
brusquely from the Italian's hands, "'e don't fancy doleful ditties, an' no
more do I, hey Johnnie?"

Tony only smiled at me. "I tink you like my music," he said.

Harry now announced rather hurriedly that he must be going, and after he
had said good-night to every one, and thanked Mary Ellen in a very manly
way, he still kept my hand in his, and, together, we passed out of doors.

It was frosty cold. The air came gratefully to my hot cheeks. Harry stared
up at the stars in silence for a moment, then he said:

"I want to tell you something, John, before I go. I don't know just how to
make you understand. But I--I'm not the loafer you think I am--"

"Oh, I don't--"

"No one but a loafer or a sponge would do what I've done tonight," he
persisted, "but I came here because I like you little chaps so
well--and--because--I was so infernally hungry. I hadn't eaten since last
night, you know, and when I heard about the oysters and coffee, I just
couldn't refuse, and--I came."

"Oh, I'm sorry," I said, "I'm sorry, Harry! I like you awfully!"

I gave him my hand and, hearing the voices of Mr. Watlin and Tony, he
hurried to the street.

I stumbled sleepily into the kitchen.

"Och, do go to bed, Masther John!" exclaimed Mary Ellen, "you're as white
as a cloth! Well, if you're sick tomorrow, ye must jist grin an' bear it!
An' sure we _have_ had a day of it, haven't we? Thim oysters was the clane
thing!"

IV

She followed us to the foot of the stairs with a lamp. The shadows of the
bannisters raced up the wall ahead of us, as she moved away. The Seraph
gripped the back of my blouse. We stopped at the door of Mrs.
Handsomebody's bedroom. Like Mrs. Handsomebody, it towered above us, pale
and forbidding.

"I dare you," said Angel, "to open it and stick your head in."

I was too drowsy to be timid. I turned the handle and opened the door far
enough to insert my round tow head.

The room was unutterably still. A pale bluish light filtered through the
long white curtains. The ghostly bed awaited its occupant. The door of a
tall wardrobe stood open--did something stir inside? I withdrew my head and
closed the door. Now I remembered that the room had smelled of black kid
gloves. I shuddered.

"You were afraid!" jeered Angel.

"Not I. It was nothing to do."

But when we were safe in bed and Mary El