mortals.

When the audience began to leave the hall and Helen led the way to the
dressing room, Randy walked beside her, sure that no girl was ever before
so favored. To hear the wonderful voice was rapture, to talk with the
singer,--Randy could hardly believe that in a few moments she should
experience so great a pleasure.

When at last they reached the pretty room, they found the great vocalist
chatting merrily with the lovely child who had sat opposite Randy and had
slept through half of the afternoon.

"And so you became tired," the lady was saying.

"Not when you were singing," said the little girl, frankly, "but when the
violins and flutes and all the other things had played and played, they
made me sleepy, and I just lay back in my seat and shut my eyes a minute
when mama said:--

"'Come Marguerite, it is time to go, if you wish to see Madam Valena.' and
that made me open my eyes wide, I did so wish to see you."

Quite like a miniature lady she made the little courteous speech, but she
was every inch a child as she clambered up into a chair where, upon
tip-toe she offered her lips for a kiss. Then away like a gay little
butterfly she flew to join her friends.

Helen, taking Randy's hand, led her across the room and presented her.

The singer and Miss Dayton's mother had been firm friends, and Helen was
always accorded a most cordial welcome.

The table was heaped with flowers, and Randy, seeing such a profusion of
blossoms, wondered that she had thought for a moment of offering the
lovely rose which she held in her hand, to one to whom a single blossom
must seem of little value.

With the cordial greeting and firm handclasp, Randy realized that the
sweet face bending over her, belonged to a woman as lovely in character,
as in person, and she gathered courage to speak the words which were
nearest her heart.

"I did not know that any living being could sing as you sang this
afternoon," she said, "it made me think of the birds in the trees at home,
of the brook in the woods, of the white rose in my hand, and I longed to
give it to you, but when I saw all these lovely flowers, I felt that you
would not care for my one blossom, you would not understand,--" with a
queer little break in her voice, Randy ceased speaking and looking up into
the brilliant face was surprised to see two bright tears upon her cheek.

"Not care for your flower? I want it more than all of these," she said,
gently taking the rose