It was his girl of the apple, in old coat and knickerbockers, tom stockings, torn shirt open at the neck, a ragged felt hat over her short hair. Peter felt his resentment fading. He knew as he watched her move about the stage that she had the curious electric quality that is called personality. It was in her face and the poise of her head, in the lines of her body, in every easy movement. She had a great gift.. After this play the two went outside to smoke, very silent, suppressed even. Neither knew what to think or what to say. There Zanin found them (for Peter was, after all, a bit of a personage) and made them his guests. Thus it was that Peter found himself behind the scenes, meeting the youthful, preoccupied members of the company and watching with half-suppressed eagerness the narrow stairway by which Sue Wilde must sooner or later mount from the region of dressing-rooms below. Finally, just before the curtain was rung up on the second play, he was rewarded by the appearance of Betty Deane, followed by the tam o'shanter and the plaid coat of his apple girl. He wondered if her heart was jumping as his was. Surely the electric thrill of this meeting, here among heaps of scenery and properties, must have touched her, too. He could not believe that it began and ended with himself. There was magic in the occasion, such magic as an individual rarely generates alone. But if it touched her, she gave no outward sign. To Zanin's casual, “Oh, you know each other,” she responded with a quite matter-of-fact smile and nod. They went out into the audience, and up an aisle to seats in the rear of the hall--Betty first, then Sue and Peter, then Hy. Peter felt the thrill again in walking just behind her, aware through his very nerve-rips of her grace and charm of movement. When he stood aside to let her pass on to her seat her sleeve brushed his arm; and the arm, his body, his brain, tingled and flamed. Zanin joined them after the last play and led them to a basement restaurant near the Square. Hy paired off with Betty and made progress. But then, Betty was evidently more Hy's sort than Sue was. In the restaurant, Peter, silent, gloomy, watched his chance for a word aside with Sue. When it came, he said: “I'm very glad you told me to come.” “You liked it then?” “I liked you.” This appeared to silence her. “You have distinction Your performance was really interesting.” “I'm glad you think that.” “In some ways you are the most gifted girl I have ever seen. Listen! I must see you again.” She smiled. “Let's have a bite together one of these evenings--at the Parisian or Jim's. I want to talk with you.” “That would be pleasant,” said she, after a moment's hesitation. “To-morrow evening, perhaps?” Peter suggested. The question was not answered; for in some way the talk became general just then. Later Peter was sure that Sue herself had a hand in making it general.