era. He is coming to ours."

"To yours!"

"Ours!" Claude repeated, with emphasis.

Charmian looked down. Then she went to the writing-table and put Mrs.
Shiffney's note into one of its little drawers. She pushed the drawer
softly. It clicked as it shut. She sighed. Something in the note they
had just read made her feel apprehensive. It was almost as if it had
given out a subtle exhalation which had affected her physically.

"Claudie!" she said, turning round. "I would give almost anything to be
like Susan to-day."

"Would you? But why?"

"She would be able to take it all calmly. She would be able to say to
herself--'all this is passing, a moment in eternity, whichever way
things go my soul will remain unaffected'--something like that. And it
would really be so with Susan."

"She certainly carries with her a great calmness."

Charmian gazed at him.

"You are wonderful to-day, too."

Claude had kept up to this moment his dominating, almost bold air of a
conqueror of circumstances, the armor which he had put on as a dress
suitable to New York.

"But in quite a different way," she added. "Susan never defies."

Claude was startled by her shrewdness but avoided comment on it.

"Madre must be thinking of us to-day," he said.

"Yes. I thought--I almost expected she would send us a cablegram."

"It may come yet. There's plenty of time."

Charmian looked at the clock.

"Only four hours before the curtain goes up."

"Or we may find one for us at the theater."

"Somehow I don't think Madre would send it there."

She went to sit down on the sofa, putting cushions behind her with
nervous hands, leaned back, leaned forward, moved the cushions, again
leaned back.

"I almost wish we'd asked Alston to come in to-day," she said.

"But he's resting."

"I know. But he would have come. He could have rested here with us."

"Better for him to keep his voice perfectly quiet. To-night is his
debut. He has got to pay back over three years to Crayford with his
performance to-night. And we shall have him with us at supper."

Charmian moved again, pushed the cushions away from her.

"Yes, I've ordered it, a wonderful supper, all the things you and Alston
like best."

"We'll enjoy it."

"Won't we? You sent Miss Mardon the flowers?"

"Yes."

The telephone sounded.

"It is Miss Mardon," Claude said, as he listened. "She's thanking me for
the flowers."

"Give her my love and best wishes for to-night."

Claude