"But I----" Mary hesitated. She was tasting wine for the first time in her life, she had been tired and nerve-wracked, and now, though thoughts danced through her mind with unfamiliar rapidity, utterance seemed to her suddenly, and somewhat amusingly, to have become too clumsy to keep pace with them. "I thought," she elaborately persisted, "that--you--said--she--was rich." "She is," said Max; "only she's got a big house she can't all use herself. Lots of people fill their houses that vay in N'York." Mary started to formulate a reply that came glistening along the dim horizon of her mind; but just then there was a light tap at the door. "Come in!" called Max, and Mrs. Légère re-entered. The precaution of her hostess forced a smile from Mary. "Why did you knock?" she asked. But Mrs. Légère shook her corn-colored locks wisely. "I don't ever disturb lovers," she said. She sat down opposite the pair she was addressing and, without noticing that Max had appropriated her glass, discovered a fresh one on the mantelpiece, poured herself a mouthful of the wine and then decanted the rest for Mary. She had just put down the empty bottle when the bell rang a second time. "Good Lord," she sighed, "there it goes again! These people will be the death of me, losing their keys and coming in at all hours. Never mind, Cassie," she called through the rear door, "I'll go myself!" And then, to Mary, she concluded: "I'll attend to this and then I'll come right back and send Max home and show you to your room." She left them seated on the sofa, Max's dark hand encircling the soft, young fingers of the girl as gently as if he had been a rustic wooer. "Shall I go graft another bottle from the _kit_chen?" he asked, grinning impishly. Mary shook her russet head. "Not for me," she said; "I guess I've had enough." Max again refrained from insistence. Instead, he remained beside her, and fell once more into the story that she had learned best to like,--the beautiful pictures of the wonderful city, of the work-free life that she should lead there, and of their marriage on the fast approaching morning. Gradually, as his voice ran smoothly on, the words he was then saying became confused in her brain with other words that he had said earlier in the evening. Her eyelids grew heavy. The mood of exhilaration passed, and a weariness far more compelling than that from which she had previously suffered stole upon her. Mrs. Légère was absent for an unconscionable time. The girl yawned. "I wonder when she's comin' back," said Mary, "I'm--I'm awful tired." Max's hand slipped to her unresisting head and pressed it down upon his shoulder. He had not yet so much as kissed her, and he did not kiss her now. "Don't vorry about her," he said softly. "You're tired out. Chust close your eyes for a minute, Mary, un' I'll vake you vhen she comes." His shoulder was very comfortable. She closed her blue eyes. "You will wake me?" she murmured.