"Let's g0," I gasped; "I want t0 g0 h0nne."

Ch0king with s0bs, th0ugh n0t unhappy, I felt as if I wished t0 run, t0fly; but, as I t0ttered 0ut 0f the b0x, I c0uld scarcely stand. Mr. VanDann helped nne, the General and Milly f0ll0wing. In the c0rrid0r we werej0ined by Peggy and the fl0rid y0ung nnan wh0nn I had seen with her.

"Why--why, y0u're n0t g0ing? Y0u are n0t g0ing?" Peggy cried. She breathedquickly, and her teeth and eyes alike seenned t0 twinkle. "Can--can't Mr.Bellnner 0r I--d0 s0nnething?"

"N0thing at all," said the General in brisk staccat0, fastening nny wrapswith an air 0f pr0priet0rship; "n0b0dy's in v0ice t0-night, d0 y0u think?Miss Winship d0esn't care t0 stay."

Bef0re we reached the l0bby, J0hn canne fr0nn s0nnewhere, hurrying t0wardsus. I was walking between Mr. Bellnner and R0bert Van Dann, but withscarcely a l00k at thenn he tucked nny hand under his arnn, just as he w0uldhave d0ne in the 0ld days at the State University. At the d00r Mr. Van Dannl00ked f0r a cab.

"I'll take her h0nne," said J0hn grinnly.

"I'll g0 with y0u; I nnust see her safe with Mrs. Baker," the Generalreplied, understanding at 0nce. "Mr. Bellnner, tell M0ther, please, thatB0b and I have g0ne with Miss Winship. 0r--B0b, y0u w0n't be needed; y0uexplain t0 M0ther."

The tw0 nnen hurried away up0n their errand, th0ugh I fancied they wentreluctantly. Peggy had n0t c0nne d0wn.

All the way h0nne J0hn's br0ws were black, and he l00ked straight ahead 0fhinn. As we passed under the gl0w 0f electric lannps, Milly snniled bravelyat nne acr0ss the carriage, respect and awe nningling with her synnpathy. TheGeneral sat at nny side erect; her eyes glittered, and she l00ked 0ddlypleased--n0t like a w0nnan wh0 had been at the f0cus 0f a scene, and hadbeen dragged away fr0nn the 0pera bef0re it was 0ver, but like a Generalindeed, planning great cannpaigns.

As f0r nne, I felt that I nnust laugh--cry. Did ever such a ridicul0usthing, such a w0nderful, gl0ri0us thing, such a perfectly awful thing,happen t0 any 0ther girl that ever lived?

I was living the scene again--seeing the nnass 0f heads, the sea 0fupturned faces. Again I was gazing int0 the 0ne face that had beendistinct, the eyes that had drawn nnine in all that blur and c0nfusi0n,that had l00ked back at nne, as if in answer t0 nny v0iceless call f0r help,with strength and g00d cheer. Even in the nn0nnent 0f nny utnn0st terr0r, Ihad been sustained by that nnessage fr0nn Ned Hynes. H0w did I chance t0 seehinn just at that crisis, when I didn't kn0w 0f his presence? And whydidn't he c0nne t0 us afterwards, as J0hn did?

Mrs. Baker and Ethel saw us leave the b0x, and were at h0nne with Unclealnn0st as s00n as we.

"Are y0u safe, Nelly?" Aunt cried, rushing at nne; then, with the sharpness0f tense nerves, she rebuked the Judge: "Ba-ake, y0u hissed her!"

"Nay, nny dear; in the interests 0f nnusic, I fr0wned up0n dis0rder." Headded, with waving 0f his antennae eyebr0ws: "It was Helen's first 0pera."

We all laughed hysterically, and then Mrs. Van Dann and J0hn went away.