"Fifty-two weeks solid! Some ac' to get that kinda bookin, huh?" he ended.
"There y'ah now! Look at youse'f! See if it's a'right."
Madame d'Avala turned to the mirror. Her gown fell in serene, lovely folds. It seemed incredible that it was the little demon of a few minutes before.
"Perfect! Freddy, you're a wonder. How can I thank you?"
He was regarding her with worshipful eyes.
"Thank you," said Madame d'Avala. "Are you coming to my concert?"
"No, they put us to bed!" cried Freddy in disgust. "Puttin' me to bed at 8:30 every night! What-ta y' know about that! Jus' w'en the orchestra would be tunin' up for the evenin' p'formance."
"What a shame! I'd like to have you see my act."
"I bet it's great. You got the looks, too. Tha's what it takes in this p'fession. Make a quick change?"
"Oh! Well," he sighed deeply--"well, it's been great to see you, anyway. Goo'-bye."
The great lady bent down to him and kissed his forehead.
"Good-bye, Freddy," she said. "You've helped me so much."
"M-m," he sighed, "you know how I come to peek in your door like that?"
"No, before that. Comin' all the way down the hall I could smell it. Smelled so nice. Don't none of these ladies use perfume. I jus' knew somebody I'd like was in here soon's I got that smell."
"Oh, Freddy, I like you, too! But I've got to hurry now. Good-bye. And thanks so much, dear."
"Oh, gee! I can't go to bed!" Freddy wailed.
"Come along, then!" cried Madame d'Avala, impetuously seizing his hand. "I'll make them let you go to the concert. They must!"
They ran down the hall together hand in hand, Freddy directing the way to the Misses Blair's study. Miss Eva and Miss Nellie and Mary were there, and they looked at Freddy compassionately. And though Miss Eva said it was most unusual, Miss Nellie agreed to Madame d'Avala's request.
"For," said gentle Miss Nellie, drawing Madame d'Avala aside and lowering her voice--"for we are very sorry for Freddy now. His mother----"
"Oh, _mio povero bambino_! And how he adores her!"
"He can stay on here. But I am afraid he doesn't like us," Miss Nellie sighed.
"No--that is, a stepfather. But his mother put him here to save him from the stepfather's abuse, and--and all the coarsening influences of stage life, if you understand."