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t…boys； and whose sympathy had gone out to him so freely。 He had written him of his good fortune； and Fred had replied； begging him to call upon him； and had appointed this same Friday night as the night of all others when he could entertain him best。
But Oliver is not the same boy who said good…by to Fred that moonlight night the week before。 His eyes are brighter； his face is a…glow with ill…concealed pleasure。 Even his step shows the old…time spring and lightness of the days at homeon his toes part of the time； as if restraining an almost uncontrollable impulse to stop and throw one or two hand… springs just to relieve the pressure on his nerves。
When he reached the bench in the Square where he had sat so many nights with his head in his hands； one of those quick outbursts of enthusiasm took possession of him； the kind that sets young hearts singing with joy when some sudden shift of hope's kaleidoscope opens a wide horizon brilliant with the light of future success。 With an exclamation of boyish glee he plumped himself down upon the hard planks of the bench； and jumped up again； pirouetting on his toe and slanting his hat over one eye as if in a spirit of sheer bravado against fate。 Then he sauntered out of the iron gate to Fred's house。
Even as he waited on the stone steps of Miss Teeturn's boarding…house for the dowdy servant…girl's returnsuch dirty； unkempt steps as they were； and such a dingy door…plate； spotted with rain and dust； not like Malachi's； he thoughthe could hardly restrain himself from beating Juba with his foot； a plantation trick Malachi had taught him； keeping time the while with the palms of his hands on his shapely legs。
Meanwhile another young enthusiast is coming downstairs three steps at a time； this one bare… headed； all out of breath； and without a coat； who pours out his heart to the first Juba…beating enthusiast as the two climb the stairs together to the second enthusiast's room on the very top floor。 He tells him of his delight at seeing him again and of the lot of fellows waiting to welcome him under the skylight； and of what a jolly lot the 〃Skylarkers〃 really are； and of Mr。 Slade； Oliver's employer； whom Fred knows and who comes from Fred's own town； and of how much Mr。 Slade likes a certain new clerk； one Oliver Horn； of Kennedy Square； he having said so the night before； this same Horn being the precise individual whose arm at that very moment was locked in Fred's own and which was now getting an extra squeeze merely for the purposes of identification。
All of this Fred poured into Oliver's willing ear without stopping to take breath； as they mounted the four long flights of stairs that led to the top floor； where； under the roof； there lived a group of Bohemians as unique in their personalities as could be found the great city over。
When the two pairs of feet had at last reached the last flight of steps under the flat roof of the house； the 〃Skylarkers〃 were singing 〃Old Dog Tray〃 at the top of their voices； to the accompaniment of a piano； and of some other instruments； the character of which our young hero failed to recognize； although the strains had grown louder and louder as the young men mounted the stairs。
As Oliver stood in the open doorway and looked in through the haze of tobacco…smoke upon the group； he instantly became conscious that a new world had opened before him； a world； as he had always pictured it； full of mystery and charm； peopled by a race as fascinating to him as any Mr。 Crocker had ever described； and as new and strange as if its members had been the denizens of another planet。
The interior was not a room； but a square low…ceiled hall into which opened some six or more small bedrooms； slept in； whenever sleep was possible； by an equal number of Miss Teetum's boarders。 The construction and appointments of this open garret； with two exceptions； were similar to those of all other garrets of its class： it had walls and ceiling； once whitewashed； and now discolored by roof… leaks from a weather…beaten skylight； its floor was bare of carpet； and its well…worn woodwork was stained with time and use。 Chairs； however； were scarce； most of the boarders and their guests being seated on the floor。
The two exceptions； already noted； were some crisp； telling sketches； big and little； in color and black…and… white； the work of the artist members of this coterie； which covered every square inch of the leak…stained surface of ceiling and wall； and the yellow…keyed； battered piano which occupied the centre of the open space and which stood immediately under two flaring gas…jets。 At the moment of Fred's and Oliver's arrival the top of this instrument was ornamented by two musically inclined gentlemen； one seated cross… legged like a Turk； voicing the misfortunes of Dog Tray； the other； with his legs resting on a chair； beating time to the melody with a cane。 This cane； at short intervals； he brought down upon the shoulders of any ambitious member who attempted to usurp his place。 The chief object of the gathering； so far as Oliver's hasty glance could determine； was undoubtedly the making of as much noise as possible。
While the young men stood looking into the room waiting for the song to cease prior to Oliver's entry and introduction； Fred whispered hurriedly into his guest's ear some of the names； occupations； and characteristics of the group before him。
The cross…legged man with the long neck； drooping mustache； and ropy black hair； was none other than Bowdoin； the artistthe only American who had taken a medal at Munich for landscape； but who was now painting portraits and starving slowly in consequence。 He mounted to this eyry every Friday night； so as to be reminded of the good old days at Schwartz's。 The short； big…mustached； bald… headed man swinging the cane； was BianchiJulius Bianchiknown to the Skylarkers as 〃The Pole；〃 and to the world at large as an accomplished lithographer and maker of mezzotints。 Bianchi was a piece of the early artistic driftwood cast upon our shoresan artist every inch of himdrawing from life； and handling the crayon like a master。
The pale…faced young fellow at the piano； with bulging watch…crystal eye…glasses and hair tucked behind his ears； was the well…known； all…round musician； Wenby Simmonsotherwise known as 〃Pussy Me…ow〃 a name associated in some way with the strings of his violin。 This virtuoso played in the orchestra at the Winter Garden； and occupied the bedroom next to Fred's。
The clean…shaven； well…groomed young Englishman standing behind Simmons and holding a coal… scuttle half full of coal which he shook with deafening jangle to help swell the chorus； was 〃My Lord Cockburn〃 so calledan exchange clerk in a banking… house。 He occupied the room opposite Fred's。
With the ending of the chorus Fred Stone stepped into the open space with his arm through that of his guest； and the noise was hushed long enough for the entire party to welcome the young Southernera welcome which kindled into a glow of enthusiasm when they caught the look of frank undisguised pleasure which lighted his face； and noticed the unaffected bow with which he entered the room； shaking hands with each one a