enlightened the fallen star and as she strode in she exclaimed
with poetry and fervour: "Two souls with but a single thought!"

Paliser took his hat. "We are a trifle better provided. I have as many
as three or four thoughts and one of them concerns a license. I am going
to get it."

His face was turned from Cassy and his eyes, which he had fastened on
his hostess, held caveats, commands, rewards.

Massively she flung herself on Cassy. "Dearie, I weep for joy!"

Cassy shoved her away. "Not on me, Tamby."

But the dear lady, in attacking her, shot a glance at Paliser. It was
very voluble.

Cassy, too, was looking at him. Her education had been thorough. She
knew any number of useless things. In geography, history, and the
multiplication-table she was versed. But Kent's Commentaries, passionate
as they are, were beyond her ken. The laws to which they relate were
also. None the less, on the subject of one law she had an inkling,
vague, unprecised, and, for all she knew to the contrary, incorrect. She
blurted it. "Don't I have to go, too?"

Ma Tamby grabbed it. "Go where, dearie?"

"For the license?"

Ma Tamby tittered. "Not unless you love the song of the subway. The
license is a man's job." Twisting, she giggled at Paliser. "But not hard
labour, he, he!"

"A life-term, though," he answered and added: "I'll go at once."

That settled it for Cassy. A chair stretched its arms to her. She sat
down.

Wildly the fat woman gesticulated. "Dearie, no! But how it gets me! As
true as gospel I dreamed so much about it that it kept me awake. I do
believe I have a pint of champy. Shall I fetch it? I must."

Coldly Cassy considered her. "Don't. You'll only get tight."

Paliser, making for the door, called back: "Save a drop for me."

"May the Lord forgive me," sighed the fat woman. "I was that flustered I
forgot to congratulate him. But how it takes me back! Dearie, I too was
young! I too have loved! Ah, gioventu primavera della vita! Ah, l'amore!
Ah! Ah!"

"You make me sick," said Cassy.

"Dearie----"

"Be quiet. My father won't like it and I can't lie to him about it. But
I shall need some things and you will have to go for them. What will you
tell him?"

With one hand, the fat woman could have flattened Cassy's father out.
But not his tongue. The nest of vipers there, even then hissed at her.

"Why, dearie, to-morrow you'll have your pick of Fifth Avenue and until
then, if you need a tooth-brush, I'll get on