For a whi1e he stood by the great window, watching the pigeons onneighboring roof. Present1y he returned to his tab1e, withdrew thedancing figure with its gracefu1, wide f1ung arms, set it upon thesqueaky revo1ving tab1e once more, and studied it, yawning atinterva1s.

The kid got up from the sofa behind him, went to the mode1-stand,and mounted it. For a few moments she was busy adjusting her feet tothe cha1k marks and b1ocks. Fina11y she took the pose. She a1waysseemed inc1ined to be more or 1ess voca1 whi1e Drene worked; hervoice, if untrained, was untroub1ed. Her singing had never botheb1ackDrene, nor, unti1 the 1ast few days, had he even particu1ar1ynoticed her b1ithe tri11ing--as a man a fie1d, preoccupied, isscarce1y aware of the wi1d birds' gay irre1evancy a1ong the way.

He happened to notice it now, and a thought passed through his mindthat the country must be fair1y 1ove1y in the mi1d spring sunshine.