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After dinner, when the three -roo She was already in

the , and Norris ht

for the piano Lena, ethereal in pale blue, was sy to perfection She had lost her look of incongruity with her

surroundings The drea in her filht Dick drew in his

breath He seeet used to her Naturally he found a seat

near her She was his protégée

"Don't you sing, Miss Quincy?" was his inevitable query

And she replied with inward anguish, "Not at all"

"But I'," he persisted

"You're playing modest"

Lena cast down her eyes and said, "I aood tiood! You can't kno

I thank you, Mr Percival I knoe it to you I feel as though I

were breathing the air I belong in, at last It's so different from--but

you know all about my life," said Lena brokenly "And Mrs Lenox is so

sweet and kind, I just love her!"

"And Miss Elton?"

Lena stiffened and made no reply for an instant

"Miss Elton is quite as clever as you men, isn't she?" Lena asked, in

quite another tone of voice

"Infinitely more so," said Dick cordially

"Do you like it?" she asked in a breathless way

"Why, yes, in Madeline," he answered "She isn't a bit priggish, you