Ellen gave such information as she could, Mr. Barstow listening attentively, and at the close shaking his head and saying, “Poor old chap! Poor old Jeremy! I’d like mighty well to see him again.” But here entered Kogi with a great tray, and Mr. Barstow skipped off to see that the refreshments were served properly. Delicious they were and of great variety, so abundant, too, that it is a wonder that any one was able to join in the carols with which the evening ended. Ellen went off hugging her violin, for the gift of which she had hugged and kissed the giver. “Dear Don Pedro,” she whispered, “I can never thank you enough for this. It has been such a wonderful evening altogether. I shall remember it to my dying day.” Reed Marshall followed her to the street. “If it wasn’t for this rig I sure would see you home, Cronette, but I’m coming to see you. Mrs. Austin says I may, but she won’t make any promises about the sittings, for she says she is chock-full of engagements for you, and I shall just have to take my chances.” “I’d really like to see what you look like in your true character,” said Ellen laughing. “I feel sort of queer about you, as if you were not a real somebody.” “I’ll convince you that I am, at the very first opportunity.” But Mr. and Mrs. Austin were waiting, so Ellen ran on to join them, and they walked briskly home with the music of the Christmas carols still ringing in their ears. CHAPTER X BRIGHT DAYS AND DARK ONES Although Reed Marshall kept his promise of coming to see Ellen, not once was she at home when he called, which he did several times. All through that holiday week there was something going on, for it seemed that the old friends outdid themselves in their efforts to give Ellen pleasure. There were teas, luncheons and theatre parties, musicales, concerts, and, if nothing else offered, there were trips to the picture galleries, so that the girl’s time was entirely taken up, and when the hour of her departure struck she knew no more what Reed looked like than if she had never seen him. Indeed it is not surprising that he passed out of her memory almost entirely when two surprising incidents took place almost at the same time. It was at one of the studios on the day before New Year’s that Ellen noticed a pretty girl looking at her with evident interest. Music was going on; some one was singing. Ellen waited till the song was over before she whispered to Mrs. Austin: “Do you know who that girl is, the one in purple, sitting by Mrs. Everleigh? She has been staring at me as if I were a curiosity.” “Never saw her before that I know of. We’ll find out directly, when the music is over and we have tea.” That moment arrived before long. Mrs. Austin arose. “You stay here and I’ll go find out about the purple girl.”