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of surprise； feeling that he had stepped from the glaring Wyoming
sunlight into some New York studio that he had always known。 He
wondered which it was of those countless studios； high up under
the roofs； over banks and shops and wholesale houses； that this
room resembled； and he looked incredulously out of the window at
the gray plain that ended in the great upheaval of the Rockies。
The haunting air of familiarity about the room perplexed
him。 Was it a copy of some particular studio he knew； or was it
merely the studio atmosphere that seemed so individual and
poignantly reminiscent here in Wyoming？ He sat down in a reading
chair and looked keenly about him。 Suddenly his eye fell upon a
large photograph of his brother above the piano。 Then it all
became clear to him： this was veritably his brother's room。 If
it were not an exact copy of one of the many studios that
Adriance had fitted up in various parts of the world； wearying of
them and leaving almost before the renovator's varnish had dried；
it was at least in the same tone。 In every detail Adriance's
taste was so manifest that the room seemed to exhale his
personality。
Among the photographs on the wall there was one of Katharine
Gaylord； taken in the days when Everett had known her； and when
the flash of her eye or the flutter of her skirt was enough to
set his boyish heart in a tumult。 Even now； he stood before the
portrait with a certain degree of embarrassment。 It was the face
of a woman already old in her first youth； thoroughly
sophisticated and a trifle hard； and it told of what her brother
had called her fight。 The camaraderie of her frank； confident
eyes was qualified by the deep lines about her mouth and the
curve of the lips； which was both sad and cynical。 Certainly she
had more good will than confidence toward the world； and the
bravado of her smile could not conceal the shadow of an unrest
that was almost discontent。 The chief charm of the woman； as
Everett had known her； lay in her superb figure and in her eyes；
which possessed a warm； lifegiving quality like the sunlight；
eyes which glowed with a sort of perpetual salutat to the
world。 Her head； Everett remembered as peculiarly well…shaped and
proudly poised。 There had been always a little of the imperatrix
about her； and her pose in the photograph revived all his old
impressions of her unattachedness； of how absolutely and valiantly
she stood alone。
Everett was still standing before the picture； his hands behind him
and his head inclined； when he heard the door open。 A very tall
woman advanced toward him； holding out her hand。 As she started to
speak； she coughed slightly； then； laughing； said； in a low； rich
voice； a trifle husky： 〃You see I make the traditional Camille
entrancewith the cough。 How good of you to come； Mr。 Hilgarde。〃
Everett was acutely conscious that while addressing him she
was not looking at him at all； and； as he assured her of his
pleasure in coming； he was glad to have an opportunity to collect
himself。 He had not reckoned upon the ravages of a long illness。
The long； loose folds of her white gown had been especially
designed to conceal the sharp outlines of her emaciated body； but
the stamp of her disease was there； simple and ugly and obtrusive；
a pitiless fact that could not be disguised or evaded。 The
splendid shoulders were stooped； there was a swaying unevenness in
her gait； her arms seemed disproportionately long； and her hands
were transparently white and cold to the touch。 The changes in her
face were less obvious； the proud carriage of the head； the warm；
clear eyes； even the delicate flush of color in her cheeks； all
defiantly remained； though they were all in a lower keyolder；
sadder； softer。
She sat down upon the divan and began nervously to arrange the
pillows。 〃I know I'm not an inspiring object to look upon； but you
must be quite frank and sensible about that and get used to it at
once； for we've no time to lose。 And if I'm a trifle irritable you
won't mind？for I'm more than usually nervous。〃
〃Don't bother with me this morning； if you are tired；〃 urged
Everett。 〃I can come quite as well tomorrow。〃
〃Gracious； no！〃 she protested； with a flash of that quick；
keen humor that he remembered as a part of her。 〃It's solitude
that I'm tired to death ofsolitude and the wrong kind of people。
You see； the minister； not content with reading the prayers for the
sick； called on me this morning。 He happened to be riding
by on his bicycle and felt it his duty to stop。 Of course； he
disapproves of my profession； and I think he takes it for granted
that I have a dark past。 The funniest feature of his conversation
is that he is always excusing my own vocation to mecondoning it；
you knowand trying to patch up my peace with my conscience by
suggesting possible noble uses for what he kindly calls my talent。〃
Everett laughed。 〃Oh！ I'm afraid I'm not the person to call
after such a serious gentlemanI can't sustain the situation。
At my best I don't reach higher than low comedy。 Have you
decided to which one of the noble uses you will devote yourself？〃
Katharine lifted her hands in a gesture of renunciation and
exclaimed： 〃I'm not equal to any of them； not even the least
noble。 I didn't study that method。〃
She laughed and went on nervously： 〃The parson's not so bad。
His English never offends me； and he has read Gibbon's Decline
and Fall； all five volumes； and that's something。 Then； he has
been to New York； and that's a great deal。 But how we are losing
time！ Do tell me about New York； Charley says you're just on from
there。 How does it look and taste and smell just now？ I think a
whiff of the Jersey ferry would be as flagons of cod…liver oil to
me。 Who conspicuously walks the Rialto now； and what does he or
she wear？ Are the trees still green in Madison Square； or have
they grown brown and dusty？ Does the chaste Diana on the Garden
Theatre still keep her vestal vows through all the exasperating
changes of weather？ Who has your brother's old studio now； and
what misguided aspirants practice their scales in the rookeries
about Carnegie Hall？ What do people go to see at the theaters；
and what do they eat and drink there in the world nowadays？ You
see； I'm homesick for it all； from the Battery to Riverside。 Oh；
let me die in Harlem！〃 She was interrupted by a violent attack
of coughing； and Everett； embarrassed by her discomfort； plunged
into g