ng　stew。
  〃What　kept　you？〃　said　her　brother　impatiently；　〃I　am　starved。〃
  〃That　nasty；　hateful；　little　Sprink；〃　she　said。　　〃Here；　help　me　through。〃　　She　looked　flushed　and　angry；　her　〃burnin'　brown　eyes〃　shining　like　blazing　coals。
  〃What　is　the　matter？〃　said　Kalman；　when　he　had　a　moment's　leisure　to　observe　her。
  〃He　is　very　rough　and　rude；〃　said　the　girl；　〃and　he　is　a　little　pig。〃
  Kalman　nodded　and　waited。　　He　had　no　time　for　mere　words。
  〃And　he　tried　to　kiss　me　just　now；〃　she　continued　indignantly。
  〃Well；　that's　nothing；〃　said　Kalman；　〃they　all　want　to　do　that。〃
  〃Not　for　months；　Kalman；〃　protested　Irma；　〃and　never　again；　and　especially　that　little　Sprink。　　Never！　　Never！〃
  As　Kalman　looked　at　her　erect　little　figure　and　her　flushed　face；　it　dawned　on　him　that　a　change　had　come　to　his　little　sister。　　He　paused　in　his　eating。
  〃Irma；〃　he　said；　〃what　have　you　done　to　yourself？　　Is　it　your　hair　that　you　have　been　putting　up　on　your　head？　　No；　it　is　not　your　hair。　　You　are　not　the　same。　　You　are〃　he　paused　to　consider；　〃yes；　that's　it。　　You　are　a　lady。〃
  The　anger　died　out　of　Irma's　brown　eyes　and　flushed　face。　　A　soft　and　tender　and　mysterious　light　suffused　her　countenance。
  〃No；　I　am　not　a　lady；〃　she　said；　〃but　you　remember　what　father　said。　　Our　mother　was　a　lady；　and　I　am　going　to　be　one。〃
  Almost　never　had　the　children　spoken　of　their　mother。　　The　subject　was　at　once　too　sacred　and　too　terrible　for　common　speech。　　Kalman　laid　down　his　spoon。
  〃I　remember；〃　he　said　after　a　few　moments'　silence。　　A　shadow　lay　upon　his　face。　　〃She　was　a　lady；　and　she　died　in　the　snow。〃　　His　voice　sank　to　a　whisper。　　〃Wasn't　it　awful；　Irma？〃
  〃Yes；　Kalman　dear；〃　said　his　sister；　sitting　down　beside　him　and　putting　her　arms　about　his　neck；　〃but　she　had　no　pain；　and　she　was　not　afraid。〃
  〃No；〃　said　the　boy　with　a　ring　in　his　voice；　〃she　was　not　afraid；　nor　was　father　afraid　either。〃　　He　rose　from　his　meal。
  〃Why；　Kalman；〃　exclaimed　his　sister；　〃you　are　not　half　done　your　feast。　　There　are　such　lots　of　nice　things　yet。〃
  〃I　can't　eat；　Irma；　when　I　think　of　thatof　that　man。　　I　choke　here；〃　pointing　to　his　throat。
  〃Well；　well；　we　won't　think　of　him　to…night。　　Some　day　very　soon；　we　shall　be　free　from　him。　　Sit　down　and　eat。〃
  But　the　boy　remained　standing；　his　face　overcast　with　a　fierce　frown。
  〃Some　day；〃　he　muttered；　more　to　himself　than　to　his　sister；　〃I　shall　kill　him。〃
  〃Not　to…day；　at　any　rate；　Kalman；〃　said　his　sister；　brightening　up。　〃Let　us　forget　it　to…night。　　Look　at　this　pie。　　It　is　from　Mrs。　Fitzpatrick；　and　this　pudding。〃
  The　boy　allowed　his　look　to　linger　upon　the　dainties。　　He　was　a　healthy　boy　and　very　hungry。　　As　he　looked　his　appetite　returned。　He　shook　himself　as　if　throwing　off　a　burden。
  〃No；　not　to…night；〃　he　said；　〃I　am　not　going　to　stop　my　feast　for　him。〃
  〃No；　indeed；〃　cried　Irma。　　〃Come　quick　and　finish　your　feast。　　Oh；　what　eating　we　have　had；　and　then　what　dancing！　　And　they　all　want　to　dance　with　me；〃　she　continued；〃Jacob　and　Henry　and　Nicholas；　and　they　are　all　nice　except　that　horrid　little　Sprink。〃
  〃Did　you　not　dance　with　him？〃
  〃Yes；〃　replied　his　sister；　making　a　little　face；　〃I　danced　with　him　too；　but　he　wants　me　to　dance　with　no　one　else；　and　I　don't　like　that。　　He　makes　me　afraid；　too；　just　like　Rosenblatt。〃
  〃Afraid！〃　said　her　brother　scornfully。
  〃No；　not　afraid；〃　said　Irma　quickly。　　〃But　never　mind；　here　is　the　pudding。　　I　am　sorry　it　is　cold。〃
  〃All　right；〃　said　the　boy；　mumbling　with　a　full　mouth；　〃it　is　fine。　Don't　you　be　afraid　of　that　Sprink；　I'll　knock　his　head　off　if　he　harms　you。〃
  〃Not　yet；　Kalman；〃　said　Irma；　smiling　at　him。　　〃Wait　a　year　or　two　before　you　talk　like　that。〃
  〃A　year　or　two！　　I　shall　be　a　man　then。〃
  〃Oh；　indeed！〃　mocked　his　sister；　〃a　man　of　fifteen　years。〃
  〃You　are　only　fifteen　yourself；〃　said　Kalman。
  〃And　a　half；〃　she　interrupted。
  〃And　look　at　you　with　your　dress　and　your　hair　up　on　your　head；　andand　I　am　a　boy。　　But　I　am　not　afraid　of　Sprink。　　Only　yesterday　I〃
  〃Oh；　I　know　you　were　fighting　again。　　You　are　terrible；　Kalman。　　I　hear　all　the　boys　talking　about　you；　and　the　girls　too。　　Did　you　beat　him？　　But　of　course　you　did。〃
  〃I　don't　know；〃　said　her　brother　doubtfully；　〃but　I　don't　think　he　will　bother　me　any　more。〃
  〃Oh；　Kalman；〃　said　his　sister　anxiously；　〃why　do　you　fight　so　much？〃
  〃They　make　me　fight；〃　said　the　boy。　　〃They　try　to　drive　me　off　the　corner；　and　he　called　me　a　greasy　Dook。　　But　I　showed　him　I　am　no　Doukhobor。　　Doukhobors　won't　fight。〃
  〃Tell　me；〃　cried　his　sister；　her　face　aglow〃but　no；　I　don't　want　to　hear　about　it。　　Did　youhow　did　you　beat　him？　　But　you　should　not　fight　so；　Kalman。〃　　In　spite　of　herself　she　could　not　avoid　showing　her　interest　in　the　fight　and　her　pride　in　her　fighting　brother。
  〃Why　not？〃　said　her　brother；　〃it　is　right　to　fight　for　your　rights；　and　if　they　bother　me　or　try　to　crowd　me　off；　I　will　fight　till　I　die。〃
  But　Irma　shook　her　head　at　him。
  〃Well；　never　mind　just　now；〃　she　cried。　　〃Listen　to　the　noise。　That　is　Jacob　singing；　isn't　it　awful？　　Are　you　going　in？〃
  〃Yes；　I　am。　　Here　is　my　money；　Irma；　and　that　is　forthat　brute。　Give　it　to　Paulina　for　him。　　I　can　hardly　keep　my　knife　out　of　him。　Some　day〃　　The　boy　closed　his　lips　hard。
  〃No；　no；　Kalman；〃　implored　his　sister；　〃that　must　not　be；　not　now　nor　ever。　　This　is　not　Russia；　or　Hungary；　but　Canada。〃
  The　boy　made　no　reply。
  〃Hurry　and　wash　yourself　and　come　out。　　They　will　want　you　to　sing。　I　shall　wait　for　you。〃
  〃No；　no；　go　on。　　I　shall　come　after。〃
  A　shout　greeted　the　girl　as　she　entered　the　crowded　room。　　There　was　no　one　like　her　in　the　dances　of　her　people。
  〃It　is　my　dance；〃　cried　one。
  〃Not　so；　she　is　promised　to　me。〃
  〃I　tell　you　this　mazurka　is　mine。〃
  So　they　crowded　about　her　in　eager　but　good…natured　contention。
  〃I　cannot　dance　with　you　all；〃　cried　the　girl；　laughing；　〃and　so　I　will　dance　by　myself。〃
  At　this　there　was　a　shout　of　applause；　and　in　a　moment　more　she　was　whirling　in　the　bewildering　intricacies　of　a　pas　seul　followed　in　every　step　by　the　admiring　gaze　and　the　enthusiastic　plaudits　of　the　whole　company。　　As　she　finished；　laughing　and　breathless；　she　caught　sight　of　Kalman；　who　had　just　entered。
  〃There；〃　she　exclaimed；　〃I　have　lost　my　breath；　and　Kalman　will　sing　now。〃
  Immediately　her　suggestion　was　taken　up　on　every　hand。
  〃A　song！　　A　song！〃　they　shouted。　　〃Kalman　Kalmar　will　sing！　　Come；　Kalman；　'The　Shepherd's　Love。'〃　　〃No；　'The　Soldier's　Bride。'〃　　〃No；　no；　'My　Sword　and　my　Cup。'〃
  〃First　my　own　cup；〃　cried　the　boy；　pressing　toward　the　beer　keg　in　the　corner　and　catching　up　a　mug。
  〃Give　him　another；〃　shouted　a　voice。
  〃No；　Kalman；〃　said　his　sister　in　a　low　voice；　〃no　more　beer。〃
  But　the　boy　only　laughed　at　her　as　he　filled　his　mug　again。
  〃I　am　too　full　to　sing　just　now；〃　he　cried；　〃let　us　dance；〃　and；　seizing　Irma；　he　carried　her　off　under　the　nose　of　the　disappointed　Sprink；　joining　with　the　rest　in　one　of　the　many　fascinating　dances　of　the　Hungarian　people。
  But　the　song　was　only　postponed。　　In　every　social　function　of　the　foreign　colony；　Kalman's　singing　was　a　feature。　　The　boy　loved　to　sing　and　was　ever　ready　to　respond　to　any　request　for　a　song。　　So　when　the　cry　for　a　song　rose　once　more；　Kalman　was　ready　and　eager。　He　sprang　upon　a　beer　keg　and　cried；　〃What　shall　it　be？〃
  〃My　song；〃　said　Irma；　who　stood　close　to　him。
  The　boy　shook　his　head。　　〃Not　yet。〃
  〃'The　Soldier's　Bride；'〃　cried　a　voice；　and　Kalman　began　to　sing。　He　had　a　beautiful　face　with　regular　clean…cut　features；　and　the　fair　hair　and　blue　grey　eyes　often　seen　in　South　Eastern　Russia。　As　he　sang；　his　face　reflected　the　passing　shades　of　feeling　in　his　heart　as　a　windless　lake　the　cloud　and　sunlight　of　a　summer　sky。　The　song　was　a　kind　of　Hungarian　〃Young　Lochinvar。〃　　The　soldier　lover；　young　and　handsome；　is　away　in　the　wars；　the　beautiful　maiden；　forced　into　a　hateful　union　with　a　wealthy　land　owner；　old　and　ugly；　stands　before　the　priest　at　the　altar。　　But　hark！　ere　the　fateful　vows　are　spoken　there　is　a　clatter　of　galloping　hoofs；　a　manly　form　rushes　in；　hurls　the　groom　insensible　to　the　ground；　snatches　away　the　bride　and　before　any　can　interfere；　is　off　on　a　coal…black　steed；　his　bride　before　him。　　Let　him　follow　who　dares！
  The　boy　had　a　voice　of　remarkable　range　and　clearness；　and　he　rendered　the　song　with　a　verve　and　dramatic　force　remarkable　in　one　of　his　age。　　The　song　was　received　with　wild　cheers　and　loud　demands　for　more。　　The　boy　was　about　to　refuse；　when　through　the　crowding　faces；　all　aglow　with　enthusiastic　delight；　he　saw　the　scowling　face　of　Rosenblatt。　　A　fierce　rage　seized　him。　　He　hesitated　no　longer。
  〃Yes；　another　song；〃　he　cried；　and　springing　to　the　side　of　the　musicians　he　hummed　the　air；　and　then　took　his　place　again　upon　the　beer　keg。
  Before　the　musicians　had　finished　the　introductory　bars；　Irma　came　to　his　side　and　entreated；　〃Oh；　Kalman；　not　that　one！　　Not　that　one！〃
  But　it　was　as　though　he　did　not　hear　her。　　His　face　was　set　and　white；　his　blue　eyes　glowed　black。　　He　stood　with　lips　parted；　waiting　for　the　cue　to　begin。　　His　audience；　to　most　of　whom　the　song　was　known；　caught　by　a　mysterious　telepathy　the