The Nest Builder

been thrown into sharp relief by the crowded life of shipboard, smoothed themselves away at the touch of happiness and peace. No woman, Mary realized, could wish for a fuller cup of joy than Stef

life she had led before her marriage-hardly co

re, but immersed himself utterly in his present joy with an abandonment he had never experienced save in painti

uncounted. But on the ninth day Mary, incapable of a wholly carefre

month," he rep

uestioning her land

st impossible to get one. He says he has heard all the artists live round about Washington Square, but that even there rents are fear

my dealer's address is on Fourth, so he's in a very good neighborhood.

or not, it's evident we must get back before October

f her ear, which he had proclaimed to be entrancingly pretty. "I can'

om now, then,"

three more days

ed, "but," and she nestled to him, "it won't

t." They had left them, rolled, at Miss Mason's. "And I want to paint you-really paint you-not just silly little sketches and heads, but a big thing that I can o

ong lines cutting the water in her close English bathing dress. Three more evening walks along the shimmering sands. Three more nights in their moon-haunte

ually stopping train was made jocund by the lively antic

be painted under the inspiration of Mary's presence. His success in the Beaux Arts would be an Open Sesame to the dealers, and they would at once become prosperous,-for he had the exaggerated continental

ilated. "You shall be my wander-bride." And he sang her little snatches of gay song, i

future, each opening to new delights. Mary's followed, lured, dazzled, a little hesitant. Her own visions, unformulated though th

Square. The amount registered on the meter gave Mary an apprehensive chill, but Stefan paid it careles

was extraordinarily cheap for New York. While she freshened her face and hair he dashed downstairs, ignoring the elevator-which seemed to exist there only as an American afterthought-in search of a packet of French cigarettes. Finding them, he was completely in his element, and leant over the desk puff

was heated only by an open fire, and consisted of one large room with sufficient light, and a large closet in which was a single pane of glass high up. The studio contained an abandoned model throne, the closet a gas ring and a sink. The rent of the first apartmen

unds a year, was staggered at the price of these mean garrets, the better of which she felt to be quite beyond their reach. Even Ste

ing a goddess to house," and he pressed her arm. "For you there should be something spacious and bright en

have to take a lease, as we should in England." Her mind jumped to perceive any practical advantage. Already, mentally, she was arranging furniture in the cheaper place,

e, or a fine painting brilliant against its background of dull velvet. Instead, the number on Fourth Avenue proved a tumbledown house of two stories, with tattered awnings flapping above its shop-window, which was almost too grimy to disclose the wares within. These were a jumble of bric-a-brac, old furniture of doubtful value, stained prints, and one or two blackened oil paintings in ta

s it?" Stefan asked, feelin

an I do for you?" replied

h's brother?"

ally. Jensen came forward, pressing his ha

wrote to me about. I'd hoped you weren't coming, after

d. "Why," he stammered, "I th

; a man does not like to admit failure. I may be sold up any time now. I wanted Adolph not to guess, s

Yes, you are Adolph's friend, and I can't so much as buy a sketch from you. It's quite, quite over." And suddenly he sank his head in his hands, while Stefan stood, infinitely embarr

any harm, Mr. Byrd, but now of cours

o sympathy, hel

than you know. But why should I say anything? Let Adolph

at trembled. "Thank you," he said, and his eyes glistened

," said Stefan, to whom scenes were exqu

et of paper. "These are the best. Try them. My i

treet. Though half dazed by the sudden subsidence of his plans, unable to face as yet the possible