"Come in!" she ordered, and a small thin boy entered, quite unabashed, looking at her with an air of complete understanding. "Who are you?" asked Madame d'Avala. "Freddy." "Well, Freddy, run at once and find a maid for me, please. Mine hasn't come, and I'm frantic, simply frantic. Well, why don't you go?" "I'll hook you up," said Freddy. "You!" "Sure! I kin do it better'n any maid you'd get in this helluva school." "Why, Freddy!" "Aw, I heard you sayin' damn! You're in the p'fession, huh? Me, too." "You, too?" His face clouded. "Oh! And now--you have retired?" "Yeah--learnin' to be a gem'mum. Lemme there," said Freddy, stepping behind Madame d'Avala. "Say, you've got it all started wrong." He attacked the stubborn hooks with light, deft fingers. "Why, you can really do it!" cried Madame d'Avala. "Sure! This ain't nothin'." Freddy's fingers flew. "Careful of that drapery. It's tricky." "Say, drapery's pie to me. I fastened up lots harder dresses than this." "Really?" "Sure! Florette had swell clo'es. This'n's swell, too. My! ain't it great to see a classy gown again!" Madame d'Avala laughed and Freddy joined her. "Say, you seen the teachers at this school?" he asked. "You seen 'em?" Madame d'Avala nodded. "Nice ladies," said Freddy in an effort to be fair. "But no class--you know what I mean. Way they slick their hair back, an' no paint or powder. Gee, Florette wouldn't wear their clo'es to a dog fight!" "Nor I," said Madame d'Avala; "I love dogs." "I tole Miss Eva she ought to put peroxide in the rinsin' water for her hair like Florette useter, but it made her mad. I b'lieve in a woman fixin' herself up all she can, don't you?" asked Freddy earnestly. "Indeed, I do! But tell me, who is Florette?" So Freddy told her all about his mother, and about the good fortune that had come to her. "Fifty-two weeks solid! Some ac' to get that kinda bookin, huh?" he ended. "Yes! Oh, yes, indeed!" "There y'ah now! Look at youse'f! See if it's a'right." Madame d'Avala turned to the mirror. Her gown fell in serene, lovely folds. It seemed incredible that it was the little demon of a few minutes before. "Perfect! Freddy, you're a wonder. How can I thank you?" "Tha's a'right. You're welcome." He was regarding her with worshipful eyes. "You're awful pretty," he breathed. "Thank you," said Madame d'Avala. "Are you coming to my concert?" "No, they put us to bed!" cried Freddy in disgust. "Puttin' me to bed at 8:30 every night! What-ta y' know about that! Jus' w'en the orchestra would be tunin' up for the evenin' p'formance." "What a shame! I'd like to have you see my act." "I bet it's great. You got the looks, too. Tha's what it takes in this p'fession. Make a quick change?" "No, I wear the same dress all through." "Oh! Well," he sighed deeply--"well, it's been great to see you, anyway. Goo'-bye." The great lady bent down to him and kissed his forehead. "Good-bye, Freddy," she said. "You've helped me so much."