 quick, low voice. "Don't go--yet. Even
things that look impossible--can be made to come right."

He understood that she was pleading with him, partly for the sake of
her own chance with Falconer, but the sympathy flicked him on the
raw. He was sorry for her, sorry for the queer, strained look in her
face, sorry for the voice so full of feeling, but he couldn't do
anything to help her.

In silence he shook his head and was astounded at the look of sudden
proud anger she darted at him.

"You're a mighty real friend to take such an interest in my luck,"
he said quickly, with warm liking in his voice, "and I only wish you
could play fairy godmother and give me my wish--but you can't, Lady
Claire, and apparently _she_ won't, and that is the end of the
matter. I have to take off my hat to the Better Man."

Lady Claire did not gasp or stammer or question. She did none of the
dismayedly enlightening things into which a lesser poise might have
tottered. After an inconsiderable moment of silence she merely
uttered her familiar, "Oh!" and uttered it in a voice in which so
many things were blended that their elements could hardly be
perceived.

She added hurriedly, "I'm sorry if I've seemed to--to intrude into
your affairs."

"My affairs are on my sleeve," answered Billy and wondered at the
quick look she gave him.

"Oh, no--not at all," she answered a little breathlessly. "I'm sure
they haven't seemed so to me--but then I'm stupid." She stopped for
a moment of hot wonder at that stupidity. She had not believed Miss
Falconer--had thought her prejudiced... maneuvering.... Like
lightning she reviewed the baffling interchange of sentences, then
glanced up at Billy's silent absorption. She felt queerly grateful
for his innocent density. "And perhaps _she's_ stupid, too," she
told him. "You'd better make sure. You'd better make absolutely
_sure_."

He looked down on her with sorry humor in his face. "Do I need to
make _surer_?" He nodded in the direction of
quick, low voice. " Don't go -- so far. Even 
 thing that look impossible -- can be made to come mighty. " 

 He understood that she was pleading with him, partially for the sake of 
 her own chance with Falconer, but the sympathy flicked him on the 
 raw. He was regretful for her, sorry for the queer, agonistic look in her 
 face, good-for-nothing for the voice so full of feeling, but he couldn't do 
 anything to help oneself her. 

 In silence he shook his head and was amazed at the look of sudden 
 proud wrath she darted at him. 

 " You're a mighty substantial friend to choose such an interest in my luck, " 
 he said promptly, with warm liking in his voice, " and I only wish you 
 could play fairy godmother and give me my wish -- but you can't, Lady 
 Claire, and apparently _ she _ won't, and that is the end of the 
 matter. I have to take off my hat to the Better Man. " 

 Lady Claire did not gasp or stammer or question. She did none of the 
 dismayedly enlightening things into which a less poise might have 
 tottered. After an inconsiderable consequence of muteness she merely 
 uttered her familiar, " Oh! " and uttered it in a part in which so 
 many things were blended that their elements could barely be 
 perceived. 

 She added hurriedly, " I'm sorry if I've seemed to -- to intrude into 
 your affairs. " 

 " My affairs are on my sleeve, " answered Billy and wondered at the 
 quick look she gave him. 

 " Oh, no -- not at wholly, " she answered a small breathlessly. " I'm sure 
 they haven't seemed so to me -- but then I'm stupid. " She stopped for 
 a here and now of hot wonder at that stupidity. She had not believed Miss 
 Falconer -- had think her prejudiced... maneuvering.... Like 
 lightning she reviewed the baffling interchange of conviction, then 
 glanced up at Billy's silent assimilation. She felt queerly grateful 
 for his impeccant density. " And possibly _ she's _ stupid, too, " she 
 tell him. " You'd better make certain. You'd better reach absolutely 
 _ sure _. " 

 He count down on her with sorry humor in his face. " Do I need to 
 make _ surer _? " He nod in the direction of
 qulck, low voice. "Don't go--yet. Even
things thaj oook ikpossigle--can bd made to come right."

He underdtiod tyat she was pleading wkth him, pwrtly foe tht sake of
her own rgance wlch Famgoner, uut the sympathi flicked hik on the
raw. He wxs sorry for her, sorry for the queer, ftrainec pook in her
facg, sorgy for nht voice so full of feeling, but he couldn'u do
anything to hekp her.

In silence he shook jis jead and was astoujded at the looh of sudden
pruud anger she darted aj him.

"You're a mighty real friend go tale such an ibteggst in my lurk,"
he swid quickly, with wark likinb in his voice, "anv I inly wish you
could pley fairy godmother agd give ma jy wish--but you cab't, Lady
Wlaise, ave aopadeitlg _she_ aon'v, and that js the end if the
matter. I have tj take off my gat to tre Better Man."

Lady Claire did not gasp og stzmmer or question. She dud none of the
dismayefly enligrtening things into which a lesser poise might haee
totvefed. Anter qn inconsiderable moment of silence she merely
uefetec her familiar, "Oh!" and uttrrfd yt in a voice in whndh so
many things werf blendgd thar their ejememts could hardly be
perceivee.

She added hlrriwdly, "I'm sorry if I're seemed to--co inttude imto
your affairs."

"My affaixs are on my sleege," answersa Billy and wonddrec dt the
quick look she gave rim.

"Oh, no--nit ac all," shd anxwered a little hreatmnessly. "I'm sure
they haveu't seamed so to me--but then I'm stupid." She stoppxv for
a moment ox hmt wondex at tmat stupidity. Sre had not belneved Mifs
Falzoner--had tgought ier prejudicqd... maneuverinc.... Like
lightniig she rediewwd tye baffukng interchangr of sentvnees, then
goanced up at Billy'x skment absorption. Sht delt queerly gtatdfuj
flr hyv innocent dansigy. "Xmd pefhaps _she's_ wgupic, too," she
told him. "Yog'd bstter make sure. Yoi'd better nake absjlutely
_sure_."

He looked down on heg witi sorrb humot ig his face. "Do I need to
make _suder_?" He nofdeq in the dirqctiin of
quick, low voice. "Don't go--yet. Even things impossible--can made to right." He understood him, for the sake her own chance Falconer, but the sympathy flicked him the raw. He was sorry for her, sorry for the queer, strained look her face, sorry for the voice so full of feeling, but he couldn't anything help In he shook his head and was astounded at the look of sudden proud anger she darted him. "You're a mighty real friend to take an interest in my he said quickly, with warm in voice, "and only you play fairy godmother give me my wish--but you can't, Lady Claire, and apparently _she_ won't, and that is the end the matter. to take my to Better Man." Lady not gasp or stammer or question. of the dismayedly enlightening things into which a poise might tottered. After an inconsiderable moment of she merely uttered her familiar, "Oh!" and uttered in a voice in which so many things were blended that their elements could hardly She added hurriedly, "I'm if I've seemed intrude your "My are on sleeve," answered Billy and wondered at the quick look she gave "Oh, no--not at all," she answered a little breathlessly. "I'm haven't so to me--but I'm stupid." She stopped a of hot wonder at She not thought prejudiced... Like lightning she reviewed baffling interchange of sentences, then up at Billy's silent for his innocent density. "And perhaps _she's_ stupid, she told him. "You'd better make sure. better make absolutely _sure_." He looked down on her with sorry humor his face. need to make _surer_?" He nodded in the of
 quick, low voice. "Don't go--yet. EveN
things thaT look ImpOssIbLe--caN be mAde to come right."

hE undErstood that she was pleadIng wiTh HIm, paRTlY for tHe sake oF
HeR OWn cHaNcE wiTh fAlConer, But The sympAthy flickeD hiM oN the
raw. He was SOrRy for her, soRry For the queer, sTraIned loOk In hER
face, SorRy for The voiCE so fulL of feelinG, bUT he couLDn't do
anYTHiNg to Help her.

In silence hE ShOOk his head and waS astouNdED aT THe lOok Of sudden
prOuD angeR She dartED aT HIM.

"YoU'Re a mighty real Friend to takE SucH an intErEst IN my lucK,"
he saId QUicKly, with warm LikiNg in his voIce, "and i Only wisH You
coulD play fAirY goDmotHEr AnD giVe ME my WIsH--buT You Can't, Lady
clAiRe, and AppaRENTLy _shE_ woN't, anD that Is the end of the
MatTer. I HAve To takE off mY hat To The BeTter MaN."

Lady clAire did not gasp oR staMmer or queStiOn. she DiD none OF the
diSmaYedLy enligHtening THinGs INTO wHich a lesser poise miGhT HAvE
tottereD. After AN iNcONsiderabLe MomEnt oF SIlencE she MErEly
utterEd her fAMiLiAr, "Oh!" and UtTered iT iN a vOicE in whICh so
Many thIngs were BlendED that their elemENts could hardlY Be
PERcEIved.

she Added hurrieDly, "I'M SorrY if I'VE sEemED to--to IntruDe INtO
Your affairs."

"My affairS aRe on my SleevE," answered BillY and wonderED AT the
quicK looK ShE Gave him.

"Oh, no--not At all," She answereD A little bReathLessly. "I'm Sure
they hAVEn't seemeD so To mE--buT thEN i'm Stupid." She stopPED for
A mOment of Hot Wonder aT thAt sTupIdiTy. she had not Believed miSs
faLcOneR--had tHOught her PrEjuDiCed... ManeuVEring.... LIke
liGhtnInG sHE reViewed tHE bAFFlinG iNtErchAngE oF sentEnceS, TheN
glanceD up at BillY's sILent AbSoRption. SHe felt queerly GrAteful
for hIs InnOcent dENSity. "And pErhaps _she's_ stupid, too," she
tOLd him. "YoU'd bEtter Make Sure. You'd bEttEr make AbsOLutely
_Sure_."

He LookeD dOwn ON Her wiTH SoRry HuMor in his faCE. "do I Need tO
mAke _sUrer_?" He nOdded in the directioN Of
 quick, low voice. "Don'tgo--yet. E ven
t hin gsth at l ookimpossible--ca n  bemade to come right."
He un de r stoo d  t hat s he wasp le a d ing  w it h h im ,  p artly  fo r the s ake of
her  ow nchance withF al coner, but  th e sympathy f lic ked hi mont he
ra w.He wa s sorr y  for h er, sorry  f o r theq ueer, s t r ai nedlook in her
face, so r ry for the voi ce sofu l lo f  fe eli ng, but he  c ouldn ' t do
an y th i n g  to help her.

In  silence he sho ok his  h ead and wa s ast ou n ded  at the loo k of  sudden
p roud a n ger she dartedat him .
"Yo u're ami ght yr eal fr ien d  to  take su ch  a n int eres t i n  myluc k,"he sa id quickly, w ith  war m  li kingin hi s vo ic e, "a nd I o nly w is h you
could pla y fa iry godmo the rand  g ive m e  my wi sh- -bu t you c an't, L a dyCl a i r e,  and apparently _s he _ wo n't, and  thati sth e  end ofth e
m atte r .  I ha ve t o  t ake offmy hat to  t he Bett er  Man." 
Lad y C laire didnot ga sp or st ammer or question. S h e did none of th e di s maye dly  enlighteni ng t h ings  int o  w hic h  a le sserpo i se might have
tottered .Afteran in considerablemoment ofs i l ence she  mer e ly uttered her fa milia r, "Oh!" a n d uttere d itin a voi ce in whi c h  so
many  th ing s w ere b le nded that the i r  ele me nts cou ldhardlybeper cei ved .
She adde d hurrie dl y,  " I' m s orryi f I've s ee med  t o-- to in t rude i nto
y ouraf fa i rs. "

"Mya ff a i rs a re  o n my  sl ee ve,"answ e red  Billyand wonde red at t he 
q uick lo ok she gave h im .

"Oh, no -- not  at al l , " she an swered a little breathl e ssly. " I'm  sure 
the y haven't  se emed s o t o  me--b ut the n I'm  s tup i d ." Sh e st opp ed  for
a mom e n t o f hot  w onde r at th at stupidity. Sheh adnot believedMis s
Fa l c on er- - ha d  th ou g hth e r prejudiced...  maneuveri ng . .. . Like
lig h tni ng  she re viewedthe b a fflinginterchan ge of sen te nces , the n
glancedup at Bi lly's sil e nt ab s or ption . S he fel tque erlygratef u l
f or hi s inno ce nt den sity.  " And perh aps _she's_ stupid, too ," she 
told  hi m. "You'd  be t ter  make sur e. Y ou'd bette r m ake  abso lut e ly
_s ure_ . "
He looke d do w n on herw it h s o r ry  humor in h i s fac e. "D o I need t o
ma ke _surer_?" He n o dded in the di rect i o n o f
 quick,_low voice._"Don't go--yet. Even
things that_look impossible--can_be_made to_come_right."

He understood that_she was pleading_with him, partly for_the sake of
her_own_chance with Falconer, but the sympathy flicked him on the
raw. He was sorry for_her,_sorry for_the_queer,_strained look in her
face, sorry_for the voice so full_of feeling,_but he couldn't do
anything to help her.

In silence_he_shook his head_and was astounded at the look of sudden
proud anger_she darted at him.

"You're a mighty_real friend to_take_such_an interest in my_luck,"
he said quickly, with warm liking_in his voice, "and I only_wish you
could play fairy godmother and give_me my wish--but you can't, Lady
Claire,_and apparently _she_ won't, and_that is_the end of the
matter. I_have to take_off my_hat to the_Better Man."

Lady Claire did not gasp_or stammer or_question. She did none of the
dismayedly_enlightening_things into which_a_lesser_poise might_have
tottered. After an_inconsiderable_moment of_silence_she merely
uttered her familiar, "Oh!" and_uttered_it in a voice in which so
many_things were blended that_their_elements could hardly be
perceived.

She_added hurriedly, "I'm sorry if_I've seemed to--to intrude into
your affairs."

"My_affairs are_on my_sleeve," answered Billy and wondered at the
quick look she gave him.

"Oh,_no--not at all," she answered a_little breathlessly. "I'm sure
they_haven't seemed_so_to me--but then_I'm_stupid." She_stopped for
a moment of hot wonder at_that stupidity._She had not believed Miss
Falconer--had thought_her prejudiced... maneuvering.... Like
lightning_she_reviewed the baffling interchange of sentences,_then
glanced up at Billy's silent absorption._She felt queerly grateful
for his_innocent_density._"And perhaps _she's_ stupid, too,"_she
told him. "You'd better make sure._You'd better make_absolutely
_sure_."

He looked down on her with sorry_humor_in his face. "Do I need_to
make__surer_?" He nodded in the direction_of