Amarilly of Clothes-line Alley

The next morning Amarilly served Derry's breakfast in heavy-hearted

silence, replying in low-voiced monosyllables to his gay, conversational

advances. She performed her household duties about the studio listlessly

though with conscientious thoroughness. When it came time to prepare

luncheon, Derry called her into the studio.

"Come here to the light, where I can see you best, Amarilly."

Reluctantly she came.

He turned his searching, artist's eyes upon her unsparingly, noting the

violet shadows under the white-lidded eyes, and the hard, almost tragic

lines in the drooping of her mobile mouth. She bore his gaze

unflinchingly, with indrawn breath and clenched hands.

"What is it, Amarilly?" he asked gently. "You will tell me, _nicht

wahr_?"

These two last words were in deference to her new study of German.

At the genuine sympathy in his voice, Amarilly's composure gave way and

there was a rush of tears.

He led her to a divan and sat beside her.

"Yes, of course you will tell me, Amarilly. I knew there was an

emotional side to my practical, little maid, and I noticed at breakfast

that there was something wrong."

"Yes," she replied, with an effort, wiping away the rising tears, "I

will tell you, but no one else. If I told Mr. Vedder, he would not

understand; he would say I must do what was sensible. If I told Mr. St.

John, he would be shocked, and tell me that duty was hard, and that was

why it must be done,--to strengthen. Mrs. St. John would laugh, and say:

'Oh, what a foolish Amarilly!'"

"And what will I say, Amarilly?" he asked interestedly.

"You! Oh, you will understand what I feel, and you will be sorry."

"Then spin away, Amarilly. You'll have my sympathy and help in

everything that makes you feel bad, whether it's right or wrong."

"Oh, Mr. Derry, we are all going away--way off to the country--to live

on a farm!"

"Amarilly, you little city brat! You'd be a misfit on a farm. Tell me

what has sent the Jenkins family into the open."

Faithfully Amarilly enumerated the pros and cons of the agricultural

venture. When she had concluded her narrative, Derry, to her surprise

and sorrow, looked positively jubilant.

"And you don't want to live in the country, eh, Amarilly?"

"No, Mr. Derry," she protested. "I don't. I have never been there, but I

know the woods and the fields and--all that--must be beautiful--in

patches--but I couldn't bear it all the time--not to see all the bright

and white lights at night and the hurry, and the people, and the

theatres. No! I'd rather be the poorest little speck here than to own

and live on the biggest farm in the world."