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232 Mr. Strong was attending to the publication of the story in book form. And it was to be on the Christmas stalls, appearing simultaneously with the last chapters of the magazine. He was already begging her to promise a new serial for the coming year.

It seemed incredible that so much could have happened to her in the ten months that she had been married to Jarvis. Her threatened career, which seemed such a joke to her family, was here; she was well launched upon it, with the two scoffers still in ignorance of the fact. So she mused, as she sat at her desk, the heap of completed last chapters piled before her. Ardelia broke in upon her meditations.

“Mr. Strong in here!”

“Who?”

“Mr. Strong!”

“Mr. Strong! Why, he sent me no word. I didn’t expect him!”

“I can’t help that. He’s here, settin’ in the liberry.”

“Dear me!” said Bambi. “Say I’ll be down at once. Wait! Help me to get into my gray gown before you go.”

“You look all right de way you is.”

“No, no. This man lives in New York, Ardelia. He’s used to real clothes.”

“I wish he’d stay in New York.”