He went on gayly doing uncanny or charming things; her eyes were tired, dazzled, but not too weary to watch him, though she scarcely followed the marvelous objects that appeared and vanished and glittered and flamed under his ceaselessly busy hands.

She did notice with a shudder the appearance of an owl that sat for a while on his shoulder and then turned into a big fur muff which was all right as long as he held it, but walked away on four legs when he tossed it to the floor.

A shower of brilliant things followed like shooting stars; two or three rose trees grew, budded, and bloomed before her eyes; and he laid the fresh, sweet blossoms in her hands.  They turned to violets later, but that did not matter; nothing mattered any longer as long as she could lie there and gaze at him—­the most splendid man her maiden eyes had ever unclosed upon.

About two thousand yards of brilliant ribbons suddenly fell from the ceiling; she looked at him with something perilously close to a sigh.  Out of an old hat he produced a cage full of parrots; every parrot repeated her first name decorously, monotonously, until packed back into the hat and stuffed into a box which was then set on fire.

Her heart was pretty full now; for she was only eighteen and she had been considering his poverty.  So when in due time the box burned out and from the black and charred debris the parrots stepped triumphantly forth, gravely repeating her name in unison; and when she saw that the entertainment was at an end, she rose, setting her ice-cream soda upon a table, and, although the glass instantly changed into a teapot, she walked straight up to him and held out her hand.

“I’ve had a perfectly lovely time,” she said.  “And I want to say to you that I have been thinking of several things, and one is that it is perfectly ridiculous for you to be poor.”

“It is rather ridiculous,” he admitted, surprised.  “Isn’t it!  And no need of it at all.  Your father made a fortune for my father.  All you have to do is to let my father make a fortune for you.”

“Is that all?” he asked, laughing.

“Of course.  Why did you not tell him so?  Have you seen him?”

“No,” he said gravely.

“Why not?”

“I saw others—­I did not care to try—­any more—­friends.”

“Will you—­now?”

He shook his head.

“Then I will.”

“Please don’t,” he said quietly.  Her hand still lay in his; she looked up at him; her eyes were starry bright and a little moist.

“I simply can’t stand this,” she said, steadying her voice.

“What?”

“Your—­your distress—­” She choked; her sensitive mouth trembled.

“Good Heavens!” he breathed; “do you care!”

“Care—­care,” she stammered.  “You saved my life with a laugh!  You face st-starvation with a laugh!  Your father made mine!  Care?  Yes, I care!”

But she had bent her head; a bright tear fell, spangling his polished shoes; the pulsating seconds passed; he laid his other hand above both of hers which he held, and stood silent, stunned, scarcely daring to understand.