the pit-第4部分

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ays　early　morning　and　where　there　was　soft　music。　　And　she　was　so　sorry　for　herself；　and　so　hurt　with　the　sheer　strength　of　her　longing　to　be　good　and　true；　and　noble　and　womanly；　that　as　she　sat　in　the　front　of　the　Cresslers'　box　on　that　marvellous　evening；　the　tears　ran　down　her　cheeks　again　and　again；　and　dropped　upon　her　tight…shut；　white…gloved　fingers。

But　the　contralto　had　disappeared；　and　in　her　place　the　tenor　held　the　stagea　stout；　short　young　man　in　red　plush　doublet　and　grey　silk　tights。　　His　chin　advanced；　an　arm　extended；　one　hand　pressed　to　his　breast；　he　apostrophised　the　pavilion；　that　now　and　then　swayed　a　little　in　the　draught　from　the　wings。

The　aria　was　received　with　furor；　thrice　he　was　obliged　to　repeat　it。　　Even　Corthell；　who　was　critical　to　extremes；　approved；　nodding　his　head。　　Laura　and　Page　clapped　their　hands　till　the　very　last。　　But　Landry　Court；　to　create　an　impression；　assumed　a　certain　disaffection。

〃He's　not　in　voice　to…night。　　Too　bad。　　You　should　have　heard　him　Friday　in　'Aida。'〃

The　opera　continued。　　The　great　soprano；　the　prima　donna；　appeared　and　delivered　herself　of　a　song　for　which　she　was　famous　with　astonishing　eclat。　　Then　in　a　little　while　the　stage　grew　dark；　the　orchestration　lapsed　to　a　murmur；　and　the　tenor　and　the　soprano　reentered。　　He　clasped　her　in　his　arms　and　sang　a　half…　dozen　bars；　then　holding　her　hand；　one　arm　still　about　her　waist；　withdrew　from　her　gradually；　till　she　occupied　the　front…centre　of　the　stage。　　He　assumed　an　attitude　of　adoration　and　wonderment；　his　eyes　uplifted　as　if　entranced；　and　she；　very　softly；　to　the　accompaniment　of　the　sustained；　dreamy　chords　of　the　orchestra；　began　her　solo。

Laura　shut　her　eyes。　　Never　had　she　felt　so　soothed；　so　cradled　and　lulled　and　languid。　　Ah；　to　love　like　that！　To　love　and　be　loved。　　There　was　no　such　love　as　that　to…day。　　She　wished　that　she　could　loose　her　clasp　upon　the　sordid；　material　modern　life　that；　perforce；　she　must　hold　to；　she　knew　not　why；　and　drift；　drift　off　into　the　past；　far　away；　through　rose…coloured　mists　and　diaphanous　veils；　or　resign　herself；　reclining　in　a　silver　skiff　drawn　by　swans；　to　the　gentle　current　of　some　smooth…flowing　river　that　ran　on　forever　and　forever。

But　a　discordant　element　developed。　　Close　bythe　lights　were　so　low　she　could　not　tell　wherea　conversation；　kept　up　in　low　whispers；　began　by　degrees　to　intrude　itself　upon　her　attention。　　Try　as　she　would；　she　could　not　shut　it　out；　and　now；　as　the　music　died　away　fainter　and　fainter；　till　voice　and　orchestra　blended　together　in　a　single；　barely　audible　murmur；　vibrating　with　emotion；　with　romance；　and　with　sentiment；　she　heard；　in　a　hoarse；　masculine　whisper；　the　words：

〃The　shortage　is　a　million　bushels　at　the　very　least。　Two　hundred　carloads　were　to　arrive　from　Milwaukee　last　night〃

She　made　a　little　gesture　of　despair；　turning　her　head　for　an　instant；　searching　the　gloom　about　her。　　But　she　could　see　no　one　not　interested　in　the　stage。　　Why　could　not　men　leave　their　business　outside；　why　must　the　jar　of　commerce　spoil　all　the　harmony　of　this　moment。

However；　all　sounds　were　drowned　suddenly　in　a　long　burst　of　applause。　　The　tenor　and　soprano　bowed　and　smiled　across　the　footlights。　　The　soprano　vanished；　only　to　reappear　on　the　balcony　of　the　pavilion；　and　while　she　declared　that　the　stars　and　the　night…bird　together　sang　〃He　loves　thee；〃　the　voices　close　at　hand　continued：

〃one　hundred　and　six　carloads〃

〃paralysed　the　bulls〃

〃fifty　thousand　dollars〃

Then　all　at　once　the　lights　went　up。　　The　act　was　over。

Laura　seemed　only　to　come　to　herself　some　five　minutes　later。　　She　and　Corthell　were　out　in　the　foyer　behind　the　boxes。　　Everybody　was　promenading。　　The　air　was　filled　with　the　staccato　chatter　of　a　multitude　of　women。　　But　she　herself　seemed　far　awayshe　and　Sheldon　Corthell。　　His　face；　dark；　romantic；　with　the　silky　beard　and　eloquent　eyes；　appeared　to　be　all　she　cared　to　see；　while　his　low　voice；　that　spoke　close　to　her　ear；　was　in　a　way　a　mere　continuation　of　the　melody　of　the　duet　just　finished。

Instinctively　she　knew　what　he　was　about　to　say；　for　what　he　was　trying　to　prepare　her。　　She　felt；　too；　that　he　had　not　expected　to　talk　thus　to　her　to…night。　　She　knew　that　he　loved　her；　that　inevitably；　sooner　or　later；　they　must　return　to　a　subject　that　for　long　had　been　excluded　from　their　conversations；　but　it　was　to　have　been　when　they　were　alone；　remote；　secluded；　not　in　the　midst　of　a　crowd；　brilliant　electrics　dazzling　their　eyes；　the　humming　of　the　talk　of　hundreds　assaulting　their　ears。　　But　it　seemed　as　if　these　important　things　came　of　themselves；　independent　of　time　and　place；　like　birth　and　death。　　There　was　nothing　to　do　but　to　accept　the　situation；　and　it　was　without　surprise　that　at　last；　from　out　the　murmur　of　Corthell's　talk；　she　was　suddenly　conscious　of　the　words：

〃So　that　it　is　hardly　necessary；　is　it；　to　tell　you　once　more　that　I　love　you？〃

She　drew　a　long　breath。

〃I　know。　　I　know　you　love　me。〃

They　had　sat　down　on　a　divan；　at　one　end　of　the　promenade；　and　Corthell；　skilful　enough　in　the　little　arts　of　the　drawing…room；　made　it　appear　as　though　they　talked　of　commonplaces；　as　for　Laura；　exalted；　all　but　hypnotised　with　this　marvellous　evening；　she　hardly　cared；　she　would　not　even　stoop　to　maintain　appearances。

〃Yes；　yes；〃　she　said；　〃I　know　you　love　me。〃

〃And　is　that　all　you　can　say？〃　he　urged。　　〃Does　it　mean　nothing　to　you　that　you　are　everything　to　me？〃

She　was　coming　a　little　to　herself　again。　　Love　was；　after　all；　sweeter　in　the　actualeven　in　this　crowded　foyer；　in　this　atmosphere　of　silk　and　jewels；　in　this　show…place　of　a　great　city's　societythan　in　a　mystic　garden　of　some　romantic　dreamland。　　She　felt　herself　a　woman　again；　modern；　vital；　and　no　longer　a　maiden　of　a　legend　of　chivalry。

〃Nothing　to　me？〃　she　answered。　　〃I　don't　know。　I　should　rather　have　you　love　me　thannot。〃

〃Let　me　love　you　then　for　always；〃　he　went　on。　　〃You　know　what　I　mean。　　We　have　understood　each　other　from　the　very　first。　　Plainly；　and　very　simply；　I　love　you　with　all　my　heart。　　You　know　now　that　I　speak　the　truth；　you　know　that　you　can　trust　me。　　I　shall　not　ask　you　to　share　your　life　with　mine。　　I　ask　you　for　the　great　happiness〃he　raised　his　head　sharply；　suddenly　proud〃the　great　honour　of　the　opportunity　of　giving　you　all　that　I　have　of　good。　　God　give　me　humility；　but　that　is　much　since　I　have　known　you。　　If　I　were　a　better　man　because　of　myself；　I　would　not　presume　to　speak　of　it；　but　if　I　am　in　anything　less　selfish；　if　I　am　more　loyal；　if　I　am　stronger；　or　braver；　it　is　only　something　of　you　that　has　become　a　part　of　me；　and　made　me　to　be　born　again。　　So　when　I　offer　myself　to　you；　I　am　only　bringing　back　to　you　the　gift　you　gave　me　for　a　little　while。　　I　have　tried　to　keep　it　for　you；　to　keep　it　bright　and　sacred　and　un…spotted。　　It　is　yours　again　now　if　you　will　have　it。〃

There　was　a　long　pause；　a　group　of　men　in　opera　hats　and　white　gloves　came　up　the　stairway　close　at　hand。　The　tide　of　promenaders　set　towards　the　entrances　of　the　theatre。　　A　little　electric　bell　shrilled　a　note　of　warning。

Laura　looked　up　at　length；　and　as　their　glances　met；　he　saw　that　there　were　tears　in　her　eyes。　　This　declaration　of　his　love　for　her　was　the　last　touch　to　the　greatest　exhilaration　of　happiness　she　had　ever　known。　　Ah　yes；　she　was　loved；　just　as　that　young　girl　of　the　opera　had　been　loved。　　For　this　one　evening；　at　least；　the　beauty　of　life　was　unmarred；　and　no　cruel　word　of　hers　should　spoil　it。　　The　world　was　beautiful。　All　people　were　good　and　noble　and　true。　　To…morrow；　with　the　material　round　of　duties　and　petty　responsibilities　and　cold；　calm　reason；　was　far；　far　away。

Suddenly　she　turned　to　him；　surrendering　to　the　impulse；　forgetful　of　consequences。

〃Oh；　I　am　glad；　glad；〃　she　cried；　〃glad　that　you　love　me！〃

But　before　Corthell　could　say　anything　more　Landry　Court　and　Page　came　up。

〃We've　been　looking　for　you；〃　said　the　young　girl　quietly。　　Page　was　displeased。　　She　took　herself　and　her　sisterin　fact；　the　whole　scheme　of　existence　with　extraordinary　seriousness。　　She　had　no　sense　of　humour。　　She　was　not　tolerant；　her　ideas　of　propriety　and　the　amenities　were　as　immutable　as　the　fixed　stars。　A　fine　way　for　Laura　to　act；　getting　off　into　corners　with　Sheldon　Corthell。　　It　would　take　less　than　that　to　make　talk。　　If　she　had　no　sense　of　her　obligations　to　Mrs。　Cressler；　at　least　she　ought　to　think　of　the　looks　of　things。

〃They're　beginning　again；〃　she　said　solemnly。　〃I　should　think　you'd　feel　as　though　you　had　missed　about　enough　of　this　opera。〃

They　returned　to　the　box。　　The　rest　of　the　party　were　reassembling。

〃Well；　Laura；〃　said　Mrs。　Cressler；　when　they　had　sat　down；　〃do　you　like　it？〃

〃I　don't　want　to　leave　itever；〃　she　answered。　〃I　could　stay　here　always。〃

〃I　like　the　young　man　best；〃　observed　Aunt　Wess'。　　〃The　one　who　seems　to　be　the　friend　of　the　tall　fellow　with　a　cloak。　　But　why　does　he　seem　so　sorry？　　Why　don't　he　marry　the　young　lady？　　Let's　see；　I　don't　remember　his　name。〃

〃Beastly　voice；〃　declared　Landry　Court。　　〃He　almost　broke　there　once。　　Too　bad。　　He's　not　what　he　used　to　be。　　It　seems　he's　terribly　dissipateddrinks。　　Yes；　sir；　like　a　fish。　　He　had　delirium　tremens　once　behind　the　scenes　in　Philadelphia；　and　stabbed　a　scene　shifter　with　his　stage　dagger。　　A　bad　lot；　to　say　the　least。〃

〃Now；　Landry；〃　protested　Mrs。　Cressler；　〃you're　making　it　up　as　you　go　along。〃　　And　in　the　laugh　that　followed　Landry　himself　joined。

〃After　all；〃　said　Corthell；　〃this　music　seems　to　be　just　the　right　medium　between　the　naive　melody　of　the　Italian　school　and　the　elaborate　complexity　of　Wagner。　I　can't　help　but　be　carried　away　with　it　at　timesin　spite　of　my　better　judgment。〃

Jadwin；　who　had　been　smoking　a　cigar　in　the　vestibule　during　the　_entr'acte；_　rubbed　his　chin　reflectively。

〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃it's　all　very　fine。　　I've　no　doubt　of　that；　but　I　give　you　my　word　I　would　rather　hear　my　old　governor　take　his　guitar　and　sing　'Father；　oh　father；　come　home　with　me　now；'　than　all　the　fiddle…faddle；　tweedle…deedle　opera　business　in　the　whole　world。〃

But　the　orchestra　was　returning；　the　musicians　crawling　out　one　by　one　from　a　little　d