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Rh with renewed ardour into the work. For the first time in many days they walked together, and he seemed more himself than he had been since Strong’s unfortunate visit. Was it the effect of this letter? He was beginning to be easily influenced by this supposed stranger! The idea was too fantastic.

“What kind of a woman do you imagine the author of ‘Francesca’ to be?” she asked him as they trudged along a wintry road. He started a little, she thought.

“I scarcely know,” he evaded. “I always think of her as tall and thin and frail, with a rather sad face, white, with humorous gray eyes, and a sensitive mouth.”

“I always think of her as little and fat and cuddly.”

“Oh, not cuddly!” he protested.

She laughed.

“Any news from her lately?”

“Yes. I had a letter to-day.”

“Did you ask if she was coming to rehearsals?”

“Not yet.”

“Haven’t you any curiosity about her?”

“In a way, yes. But I respect her desire in the matter.”

“I don’t. If I could get it out of Richard Strong who she is, I’d go look her up in a minute.”