"Yes—all alone. Oh, Jim! I am so glad to hear your voice!" "It’s bully of you to say it. I’m delighted to hear yours. I have just come in and found Silvette’s telegram on my desk. Shall I come around?" "_Will_ you?" She could hear him laughing, then: "Watch me," he said, "if the dust doesn’t obscure the spectacle, I’ll be with you in five minutes. Is that right, Diana?" "It is perfectly right." As though dazed she hung up the receiver in its nickel wishbone, and began walking aimlessly up and down the room trying to collect her wits and calm her senses. Outwardly composed, inwardly facing chaos, she threw open the window and turned her face to the coolness of the winter stars. Then behind her the telephone sounded again. It was only the announcement of his arrival, and she closed the door of her room and went into the pretty parlor, where a maid was already turning on the electric lights. His ring sounded; the maid admitted him to the outer hall, took his hat and coat, and ushered him in. Diana rose to receive him with smiling composure as the maid retired to the bedroom. "This is very prompt of you, Jim—-and promptness is the most subtle of flatteries.... How thin and white you look! ... Are you perfectly well?" "Perfectly. I need not ask that question of you, Rose of the Berkshires!" "Do I really look well?" "Flawless and dewy fresh—a trifle slim, perhaps. Don’t they keep you in pheasants?" "They do, kind sir. It’s fashion, not slenderness, you behold. Never mind how it’s accomplished. But, Jim, you don’t look well. Are they working you to death?" "Not so you’d notice my decease," he said laughingly. "I’m in the game, up to the neck, and swimming strongly. It’s a fine game, Diana. No doubt generations of Edgertons on high look down on me and sing in unison the Anvil Chorus. It’s a great game—this iron one. The iron is in me; I’m lanced through and through—it’s flowing in my blood; it’s in my bones. Iron! iron! There is nothing to compare with it in all the world, Diana." "Let me see your arm, Jim." "Shall I take off my coat and——" "No; I’ll just feel it—very gently." "It’s mended. Squeeze all you please." "Was it here?" "Higher." "Here?" "Lower." "_Here?_" "Higher." "Jim, I believe you’re just letting me fondle your old arm and waste oceans of sympathy on it!" They laughed; he showed her where the fracture had occurred. She, gravely curious, explored his sleeve with timid fingers. "Doesn’t hurt at all, Jim?" "Damp weather," he said briefly. "How long do you remain in town, Diana?" "Only over to-morrow." "Good Lord! Is that all?" "We’ve been here two days." "And I was in Pittsburg, dammit!" "You certainly were, my friend; but, could I help that? I did my best. We wired you, and we have telephoned you steadily every minute since we’ve been here.... Jim, do you know, in the excitement we’ve quite forgotten to sit down."