or self-consciousness. “I could support the whole weight of a man’s body there without any difficulty—and lift him, too.”
“Not really!” Joel whispered in an astounded tone. “Simply incredible!”
“But not at all,” said George quietly. “It’s the easiest thing on earth if you’re used to it. Come here, Howard,” he said quietly, without moving from his arched position. “Sit down on me.”
“Sit down on you?” said Howard, in a comically bewildered tone. “Where, George?”
“On my stomach,” George replied. “Go on,” he said, smiling his fine, grave smile at sight of Howard’s hesitation. “It’s all right. You won’t hurt me at all. Sit down.”
“Like—like this?” said Howard, and squatted gingerly and gently, settling down finally upon George’s arched stomach and looking about with such a comically troubled and inquiring expression that everyone burst out in hearty laughter again. “Is that all right?” he said, turning anxiously and looking down at his supporter.
“Yes, perfectly,” said George. “Now draw your knees up and hold them with your arms so that your whole weight is on me…. Good!… Now! Are you ready?… One, two… One, two… One, two,” his lithe, whip-cord figure rose and fell, arched and straightened, with little Howard sitting on top of him, and looking around with the expression of a frightened, huddled mannikin. When the demonstration was finished, both young men got to their feet, and Joel’s face could be seen raised in an expression of radiant admiration, his voice could be heard in an astounded whisper, saying:
“Simply incredible!”
And Mrs. Pierce, her voice stronger, more powerful, and penetrating, in slow, decisive declaration:
“George! I—think—that—is—the—most—astonishing—I think—that—is—the—most—”
Words failed her, and as she looked at him, standing quietly composed before her, with all his beautiful, lithe grace and stillness, he smiled his grave, rare smile, and displayed his only playful raillery of the evening:
“But really, Ida,” he said quietly, as he smiled his fine, slow smile at her, “if you’re worried about that girlish figure you ought to try this some time.” With these words he bent over backward, as lithe and limber as a whip, and with his fingers arched upon the floor, suddenly, with
