ayford stepped on air.

In the afternoon of the day of production, when Charmian and Claude,
shut up in their apartment at the St. Regis, and denied to all visitors,
were trying to rest, and were pretending to be quite calm, a note was
brought in from Mrs. Shiffney. It was addressed to Charmian, and
contained a folded slip of green paper, which fell to the ground as she
opened the note. Claude picked it up.

"What is it?" said Charmian.

"A box ticket for the Metropolitan. It must be for Sennier's first
night, I suppose."

"It is!" said Charmian, who had looked at the note.

In a moment she gave it to Claude without comment.

RITZ-CARLTON HOTEL.
_Feb. 28th_

"DEAR CHARMIAN,--Only a word to wish you and your genius a
gigantic success to-night. We've all been praying for it. Even
Susan has condescended from the universal to the particular on this
occasion, because she's so devoted to both of you. We are all
coming, of course, Box Number Fifteen, and are going to wear our
best Sunday tiaras in honor of the occasion. I hear you are to have
a marvellous audience, all the millionaires, as well as your humble
friends, the Adelaides and the Susans and the Henriette Senniers.
Mr. Crayford is a magnificent drum-beater, but after to-night your
genius won't need him, I hope and believe. I enclose a box for
Jacques Sennier's first night, which, as you'll see by the date,
has had to be postponed for four days--something wrong with the
scenery. No hitch in your case! I feel you are on the edge of a
triumph.

"Hopes and prayers for the genius.--Yours ever sincerely,

"ADELAIDE SHIFFNEY."

"Susan sends her love--not the universal brand."

Claude read the note, and kept it for a moment in his hand. He was
looking at it, but he knew Charmian's eyes were on him, he knew she was
silently asking him to tell her all that had happened between Mrs.
Shiffney and him. And he realized that her curiosity was the offspring
of a jealousy which she probably wished to conceal, but which she
suffered under even on such a day of anxiety and anticipation as this.

"Very kind of her!" he said at last, giving back the note with the box
ticket carefully folded between the leaves. "Of course we will go to
hear Sennier's op