the chiefest delights of this, her
annual pilgrimage, was to ride the livelong day in hansom cabs. People
in the sort of fiction she was fondest of "called a hansom" at least
once a chapter.

"You never came to see me," she accused, as they drove on.

"You can't know how busy I've been." This was well within the truth, as
was his further statement that he knew no good could come of calling at
the Waldorf at this hour. "You have proved that I should have missed
you."

"But your card wouldn't. It would have had its silent message. Do you
realize that we haven't met since--"

"We've met now," he interposed hastily; "and I'm another man."

"Don't tell me the old one's wholly gone."

"Never fear. I forget nothing. I appreciate what you wanted to do for
me--what you have done; but the necessity is past, thank God! The load
is lifted--there's money to burn--I'm free, free!"

"Dear friend," said Mrs. Hilliard. "You make me so happy."

"And I've been honored," he exulted. "I lunched to-day with our great
leader--and, Cora, whatever they say against him, he is indeed
great--and he was more than kind." It was near his lips to hint of the
rosy future, but he spoke instead of a lesser, though nearer prize,
which the day had assured. "He believes in me, and he has asked me to
return home by the governor's own special train!"

"I knew it, I knew it. I was sure that they would appreciate you at
the last. I've seen the papers, too, and I'm so proud. I want the
people at home to know that the big outside world is awake to your
importance. Even New York journalism pays its tribute."

"Did you--er--read all the papers? One has to be Jekyll or Hyde, you
know," he added, appropriating the Boss's illustration without
compunction. "Some of them were--facetious."

"Indeed I did not. I only skimmed the horrid ones; but the others I
read through and through, and sent them home. I threw the spiteful
ones away. They were jealous of your success."

He smiled a little at this.

"Not rabidly jealous, I guess."

"The governor's train!" She made him as elaborate an obeisance as the
hansom's contracted limits would permit. "And yet you condescend to
take the air with humble me."

He laughed joyously.

"I feel like a boy with a holiday," he confessed. "I'm free--free!"
He kindled at her suggestion that they make it a holiday in truth, and
repeating, "I'm free," gave himself to the spectacle of the street.

Mrs