The　‘‘they''　of　Perkins　comprised
  rival　managers；　rival　artists；　newspaper
  critics　and　everybody　at　large
  who　would　not　concede　that　the
  attractions　managed　by　Perkins　were　the
  ‘‘greatest　on　earth。''
  ‘‘We'll　never　see　his　like　again
  come　in！''　this　last　in　answer　to　a　knock。
  Diotti　appeared　at　the　open　door。
  Perkins　jumped　like　one　shot　from　a
  catapult；　and　rushing　toward　the　silent
  figure　in　the　doorway　exclaimed：　‘‘Bless
  my　soul；　are　you　a　ghost？''
  ‘‘A　substantial　one；''　said　Diotti　with
  a　smile。
  ‘‘Are　you　really　here？''　continued
  the　astonished　impresario；　using　Diotti's
  arm　as　a　pump　handle　and　pinching
  him　at　the　same　time。
  When　they　were　seated　Perkins　plied
  Diotti　with　all　manner　of　questions；
  ‘‘How　did　it　happen？''　‘‘How　did　you
  escape？''　and　the　like；　all　of　which　Diotti
  parried　with　monosyllabic　replies；　finally
  saying：　‘‘I　was　dissatisfied　with　my
  playing　and　went　away　to　study。''
  ‘‘Do　you　know　that　the　failure　to　fulfill
  your　contract　has　cost　me　at　least　ten
  thousand　dollars？''　said　the　shrewd
  manager；　the　commercial　side　of　his
  nature　asserting　itself。
  ‘‘All　of　which　I　will　pay；''　quietly
  replied　the　artist。　‘‘Besides　I　am　ready
  to　play　now；　and　you　can　announce　a
  concert　within　a　week　if　you　like。''
  ‘‘If　I　like？''　cried　the　hustling　Perkins。
  ‘‘Here；　James；''　calling　his　office
  boy；　‘‘run　down　to　the　printer's
  and　give　him　this；''　making　a　note　of
  the　various　sizes　of　‘‘paper''　he　desired；
  ‘‘and　tell　Mr。　Tompkins　that　Diotti　is
  back　and　will　give　a　concert　next　Tuesday。
  Tell　Smith　to　prepare　the　newspaper
  ‘ads'　and　notices　immediately。''
  In　an　hour　Perkins　had　the　entire
  machinery　of　his　office　in　motion。
  Within　twenty…four　hours　New　York
  had　several　versions　of　the　disappearance
  and　return；　all　leading　to　one
  common　pointthat　Diotti　would　give
  a　concert　the　coming　Tuesday　evening。
  The　announcement　of　the　reappearance
  of　the　Tuscan　contained　a　line
  to　the　effect　that　the　violinist　would　play
  for　the　first　time　his　new　suitea
  meditation　on　the　emotions。
  He　had　not　seen　Mildred。
  As　he　came　upon　the　stage　that　night
  the　lights　were　turned　low；　and　naught
  but　the　shadowy　outlines　of　player　and
  violin　were　seen。　His　reception　by　the
  audience　was　not　enthusiastic。　They
  evidently　remembered　the　disappointment
  caused　by　his　unexpected　disappearance；
  but　this　unfriendly　attitude
  soon　gave　way　to　evidences　of　kindlier
  feelings。
  Mildred　was　there；　more　beautiful
  than　ever；　and　to　gain　her　love　Diotti
  would　have　bartered　his　soul　that　moment。
  The　first　movement　of　the　suite　was
  entitled　‘‘Pity；''　and　the　music　flowed
  like　melodious　tears。　A　subdued　sob
  rose　and　fell　with　the　sadness　of　the
  theme。
  Mildred's　eyes　were　moistened　as
  she　fixed　them　on　the　lone　figure　of　the
  player。
  Now　the　theme　of　pity　changed　to
  hope；　and　hearts　grew　brighter　under　the
  spell。　The　next　movement　depicted　joy。
  As　the　virtuoso's　fingers　darted　here　and
  there；　his　music　seemed　the　very　laughter
  of　fairy　voices；　the　earth　looked　roses
  and　sunshine；　and　Mildred；　relaxing　her
  position　and　leaning　forward　in　the　box；
  with　lips　slightly　parted；　was　the　picture
  of　eager　happiness。
  The　final　movement　came。　Its　subject
  was　love。　The　introduction　depicted
  the　Arcadian　beauty　of　the
  trysting　place；　love…lit　eyes　sought　each
  other　intuitively　and　a　great　peace
  brooded　over　the　hearts　of　all。　Then
  followed　the　song　of　the　Passionate　Pilgrim：
  ‘‘If　music　and　sweet　poetry　agree；
  As　they　must　needs；　the　sister　and　the　brother；
  When　must　the　love　be　great　'twixt　thee　and　me
  Because　thou　lov'st　the　one；　and　I　the　other。
  ***
  Thou　lov'st　to　hear　the　sweet　melodious　sound
  That　Phoebus'　lute　（the　queen　of　music）　makes；
  And　I　in　deep　delight；　am　chiefly　drown'd
  When　as　himself　to　singing　he　betakes。
  One　god　is　god　of　both；　as　poets
  One　knight　loves　both；　and　both　in　thee　remain。''
  Grander　and　grander　the　melody
  rose；　voicing　love's　triumph　with　wondrous
  sweetness　and　palpitating　rhythm。
  Mildred；　her　face　flushed　with　excitement；
  a　heavenly　fire　in　her　eyes　and　in
  an　attitude　of　supplication；　reveled　in
  the　glory　of　a　new　found　emotion。
  As　the　violinist　concluded　his
  performance　an　oppressive　silence　pervaded
  the　house；　then　the　audience；　wild　with
  excitement；　burst　into　thunders　of
  applause。　In　his　dressing…room　Diotti
  was　besieged　by　hosts　of　people；
  congratulating　him　in　extravagant　terms。
  Mildred　Wallace　came；　extending　her
  hands。　He　took　them　almost　reverently。
  She　looked　into　his　eyes；　and
  he　knew　he　had　struck　the　chord　responsive
  in　her　soul。
  VIII
  The　sun　was　high　in　the　heavens
  when　the　violinist　awoke。　A　great
  weight　had　been　lifted　from　his　heart；
  he　had　passed　from　darkness　into　dawn。
  A　messenger　brought　him　this　note：
  My　Dear　Signor　DiottiI　am　at　home　this
  afternoon；　and　shall　be　delighted　to　see　you　and
  return　my　thanks　for　the　exquisite　pleasure　you
  gave　me　last　evening。　Music；　such　as　yours；
  is　indeed　the　voice　of　heaven。　　Sincerely；
  Mildred　Wallace。
  The　messenger　returned　with　this　reply：
  My　Dear　Miss　WallaceI　will　call　at　three　to…day。
  Gratefully；
  Angelo　Diotti。
  He　watched　the　hour　drag　from　eleven
  to　twelve；　then　counted　the　minutes　to
  one；　and　from　that　time　until　he　left　the
  hotel　each　second　was　tabulated　in　his
  mind。　Arriving　at　her　residence；　he
  was　ushered　into　the　drawing…room。　It
  was　fragrant　with　the　perfume　of　violets；
  and　he　stood　gazing　at　her　portrait
  expectant　of　her　coming。
  Dressed　in　simple　white；　entrancing
  in　her　youthful　freshness；　she　entered；
  her　face　glowing　with　happiness；　her
  eyes　languorous　and　expressive。　She
  hastened　to　him；　offering　both　hands。
  He　held　them　in　a　loving；　tender　grasp；
  and　for　a　moment　neither　spoke。　Then
  she；　gazing　clearly　and　fearlessly　into
  his　eyes；　said：　‘‘My　heart　has　found　its
  melody！''
  He；　kneeling　like　Sir　Gareth　of　old：
  ‘‘The　song　and　the　singer　are　yours
  forever。　''
  She；　bidding　him　arise：　‘‘And　I　forever
  yours。''　And　wondering　at　her
  boldness；　she　added；　‘‘I　know　and　feel
  that　you　love　meyour　eyes　confirmed
  your　love　before　you　spoke。''　Then；
  convincingly　and　ingenuously；　‘‘I　knew
  you　loved　me　the　moment　we　first　met。
  Then　I　did　not　understand　what　that
  meant　to　you；　now　I　do。''
  He　drew　her　gently　to　him；　and　the
  motive　of　their　happiness　was　defined
  in　sweet　confessions：　‘‘My　love；　my
  lifeMy　life；　my　love。''
  The　magic　of　his　music　had　changed
  her　very　being；　the　breath　of　love　was
  in　her　soul；　the　vision　of　love　was　dancing
  in　her　eyes。　The　child　of　marble；
  like　the　statue　of　old；　had　come　to　life：
  ‘‘And　not　long　since
  I　was　a　cold；　dull　stone！　I　recollect
  That　by　some　means　I　knew　that　I　was　stone；
  That　was　the　first　dull　gleam　of　consciousness；
  I　became　conscious　of　a　chilly　self；
  A　cold；　immovable　identity。
  I　knew　that　I　was　stone；　and　knew　no　more！
  Then；　by　an　imperceptible　advance；
  Came　the　dim　evidence　of　outer　things；
  Seendarkly　and　imperfectlyyet　seen
  The　walls　surrounding　me；　and　I；　alone。
  That　pedestalthat　curtainthen　a　voice
  That　called　on　Galatea！　At　that　word；
  Which　seemed　to　shake　my　marble　to　the　core；
  That　which　was　dim　before；　came　evident。
  Sounds；　that　had　hummed　around　me；　indistinct；
  Vague；　meaninglessseemed　to　resolve　themselves
  Into　a　language　I　could　understand；
  I　felt　my　frame　pervaded　by　a　glow
  That　seemed　to　thaw　my　marble　into　flesh；
  Its　cold；　hard　substance　throbbed　with　active　life；
  My　limbs　grew　supple；　and　I　movedI　lived！
  Lived　in　the　ecstasy　of　a　new…born　life！
  Lived　in　the　love　of　him　that　fashioned　me！
  Lived　in　a　thousand　tangled　thoughts　of　hope。''
  Day　after　day　he　came；　they　told　their
  love；　their　hopes；　their　ambitions。　She
  assumed　absolute　proprietorship　in　him。
  She　gloried　in　her　possession。
  He　was　born　into　the　world；　nurtured
  in　infancy；　trained　in　childhood　and
  matured　into　manhood；　for　one　express
  purposeto　be　hers　alone。　Her
  ownership　ranged　from　absolute　despotism
  to　humble　slavery；　and　he　was　happy
  through　it　all。
  One　day　she　said：　‘‘Angelo；　is　it　your　purpose
  to　follow　your　profession　always？''
  ‘‘Necessarily；　it　is　my　livelihood；''　he　replied。
  ‘‘But　do　you　not　think　that　after　we
  stand　at　the　altar；　we　never　should　be
  separated？''
  ‘‘We　will　be　together　always；''　said
  he；　holding　her　face　between　his　palms；
  and　looking　with　tender　expression　into
  her　inquiring　eyes。
  ‘‘But　I　notice　that　women　cluster
  around　you　after　your　concertsand
  shake　your　hand　longer　than　they
  shouldand　talk　to　you　longer　than
  they　shouldand　go　away　looking　self…
  satisfied！''　she　rep