e full now as high as
the eye could reach the balconies. Bambi scanned the faces eagerly.
Would they like the play? If they only knew what it meant to Jarvis and
to her to have them like it!

The curtain rose. For two full moments she could not breathe. The act
started off briskly, and little by little her tension relaxed. She laid
her hand on Jarvis's knee and it was stiff with nervous concentration.
The first genuine laugh came to both of them like manna from heaven.

"It's all right," Bambi whispered to Jarvis. He nodded, his eyes glued
to the stage. Of all kinds of creative work, dramatic writing can be the
most poignant or the most satisfactory. It is the keenest pleasure to
see characters whom you have invented given life and personality if the
actors are clever. The Jocelyns had the aid of practically a perfect
cast. The sense of power that comes with the laughter or the tears of an
audience aroused by your thoughts is a very real experience. Bambi "ate
up her sensations," as Strong had said. As the curtain descended after
the first act the applause was instantaneous and long.

"They like it," Bambi said with a sigh.

"Yes, thank God!" from Jarvis.

"You told me not to take this seriously, Jarvis," she reminded him.

"Does anybody know who wrote this book?" the Professor inquired.

"Not yet. We are to know to-night. I wonder where she is?" Jarvis added
to Bambi.

"I've thought that fat old one in the opposite box," she said wickedly.
"Why did you ask, father?"

"It is a diverting idea. The girl is like you, or maybe it is the
similarity of the names that suggests it."

"What do you think about the play, Ardelia?"

"Law, honey, 'tain't no play-actin' to me. It's jes' lak' bein' home wid
yo' an' de' Perfessor and Marse Jarvis. Dose folkses is jes' lak
yo' all."

Bambi laughed outright. Ardelia was the only one who guessed.

"I trust you do not compare me to that impractical old fiddling man,"
the Professor protested to Ardelia.

"Sh! Here's the curtain!" warned Bambi.

The second act went like a breeze. Laughter and applause punctuated its
progress. The house was warming up. Bambi slipped her hand into
Jarvis's, and he held it so tight that she could feel his heart beat
through his palm. There was no doubt about it at the end of the second
act. It was going. The company took repeated curtain calls, smiling at
the Jocelyns.

"I'm grinning so I shall never get my face straight again," Bambi said