ose.

"I've no doubt she is very fascinating," she said, coldly.

"You don't object to my interest in her?"

"Object? My dear Jarvis, you may be interested in all the women in
creation without any objection from me!"

"And you have the same freedom?"

"Naturally. Now let's get to work. I was surprised at what you said
about the young musician in the book. I thought he was so real."

"Strange. That is what the author said, that it was a close portrait of
a near friend."

"What is it, about him, that you do not like?"

"Oh, I like him, in a way. But these reformers, idealists, thinking they
can dream the world into Arcadia!"

Bambi's clear laugh startled him.

"What amuses you so?" he asked, shortly.

"I suppose I rather like the idealist type."

He looked at her closely.

"Good heavens, you don't think I'm like that, do you?"

"A little," she admitted.

"If I thought that I was that particular brand of idiot I'd learn
bookkeeping and be a clerk," was the reply.

"Maybe it isn't you--maybe it is just _man_ I recognize."

"You can see how terribly clever the woman is--to set each of us
accusing the other."

"She is just a student of types, that's all," Bambi disparaged the lady.

So they began their co-partnership. The shyness, the appeal, the new
self-conscious element Bambi had sensed in Jarvis gave way to the old
mental relationship as fellow workman. They had regular office hours, as
they called it. They experimented to see whether they obtained the best
results, when they each worked at a scene alone and went over it
together for the final polishing; or when they actually worked on it in
unison. Four hours in the morning they laboured, took an hour of recess
after lunch, then two hours more, followed by a tramp off into the
country, talking play, play, play.

These were days of keen delight to them both. They worked together so
smoothly and so well. Jarvis's high-handed superiority had given way to
a well-grounded respect for Bambi's quick apprehension of a false note,
an unnatural line, or a bungled climax.

The first interruption came with the advent of Richard Strong to spend
the weekend, and Jarvis made no comment when Bambi announced his coming
and declared Saturday a holiday. He even agreed to meet their guest at
the station. The two men came back together in amicable converse.

"I am so glad you could come, Richard," Bambi greeted him, in her eager
way.

Jarvis started at the Chris