the pit-第6部分

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a　fellow　money…captain　had　that　very　day　been　concluded；　the　Helmick　failure；　and　between　the　chords　and　bars　of　a　famous　opera　men　talked　in　excited　whispers；　and　one　great　leader　lay　at　that　very　moment；　broken　and　spent；　fighting　with　his　last　breath　for　bare　existence。　　Jadwin　had　seen　it　all。　　Uninvolved　in　the　crash；　he　had　none　the　less　been　close　to　it；　watching　it；　in　touch　with　it；　foreseeing　each　successive　collapse　by　which　it　reeled　fatally　to　the　final　catastrophe。　　The　voices　of　the　two　men　that　had　so　annoyed　her　in　the　early　part　of　the　evening　were　suddenly　raised　again：

〃It　was　terrific；　there　on　the　floor　of　the　Board　this　morning。　　By　the　Lord！　they　fought　each　other　when　the　Bears　began　throwing　the　grain　at　'emin　carload　lots。〃

And　abruptly；　midway　between　two　phases　of　that　music…　drama；　of　passion　and　romance；　there　came　to　Laura　the　swift　and　vivid　impression　of　that　other　drama　that　simultaneouslyeven　at　that　very　momentwas　working　itself　out　close　at　hand；　equally　picturesque；　equally　romantic；　equally　passionate；　but　more　than　that；　real；　actual；　modern；　a　thing　in　the　very　heart　of　the　very　life　in　which　she　moved。　　And　here　he　sat；　this　Jadwin；　quiet；　in　evening　dress；　listening　good…naturedly　to　this　beautiful　music；　for　which　he　did　not　care；　to　this　rant　and　fustian；　watching　quietly　all　this　posing　and　attitudinising。　　How　small　and　petty　it　must　all　seem　to　him！

Laura　found　time　to　be　astonished。　　What！　She　had　first　met　this　man　haughtily；　in　all　the　panoply　of　her　〃grand　manner；〃　and　had　promised　herself　that　she　would　humble　him；　and　pay　him　for　that　first　mistrustful　stare　at　her。　　And　now；　behold；　she　was　studying　him；　and　finding　the　study　interesting。　　Out　of　harmony　though　she　knew　him　to　be　with　those　fine　emotions　of　hers　of　the　early　part　of　the　evening；　she　nevertheless　found　much　in　him　to　admire。　　It　was　always　just　like　that。　　She　told　herself　that　she　was　forever　doing　the　unexpected　thing；　the　inconsistent　thing。　　Women　were　queer　creatures；　mysterious　even　to　themselves。

〃I　am　so　pleased　that　you　are　enjoying　it　all；〃　said　Corthell's　voice　at　her　shoulder。　　〃I　knew　you　would。　There　is　nothing　like　music　such　as　this　to　appeal　to　the　emotions；　the　heartand　with　your　temperament〃

Straightway　he　made　her　feel　her　sex。　　Now　she　was　just　a　woman　again；　with　all　a　woman's　limitations；　and　her　relations　with　Corthell　could　never　beso　she　realisedany　other　than　sex…relations。　　With　Jadwin　somehow　it　had　been　different。　　She　had　felt　his　manhood　more　than　her　womanhood；　her　sex　side。　　And　between　them　it　was　more　a　give…and…take　affair；　more　equality；　more　companionship。　　Corthell　spoke　only　of　her　heart　and　to　her　heart。　　But　Jadwin　made　her　feel　or　rather　she　made　herself　feel　when　he　talked　to　her　that　she　had　a　head　as　well　as　a　heart。

And　the　last　act　of　the　opera　did　not　wholly　absorb　her　attention。　　The　artists　came　and　went；　the　orchestra　wailed　and　boomed；　the　audience　applauded；　and　in　the　end　the　tenor；　fired　by　a　sudden　sense　of　duty　and　of　stern　obligation；　tore　himself　from　the　arms　of　the　soprano；　and　calling　out　upon　remorseless　fate　and　upon　heaven；　and　declaiming　about　the　vanity　of　glory；　and　his　heart　that　broke　yet　disdained　tears；　allowed　himself　to　be　dragged　off　the　scene　by　his　friend　the　basso。　　For　the　fifth　time　during　the　piece　the　soprano　fainted　into　the　arms　of　her　long…suffering　confidante。　The　audience；　suddenly　remembering　hats　and　wraps；　bestirred　itself；　and　many　parties　were　already　upon　their　feet　and　filing　out　at　the　time　the　curtain　fell。

The　Cresslers　and　their　friends　were　among　the　last　to　regain　the　vestibule。　　But　as　they　came　out　from　the　foyer；　where　the　first　draughts　of　outside　air　began　to　make　themselves　felt；　there　were　exclamations：

〃It's　raining。〃

〃Why；　it's　raining　right　down。〃

It　was　true。　　Abruptly　the　weather　had　moderated；　and　the　fine；　dry　snow　that　had　been　falling　since　early　evening　had　changed　to　a　lugubrious　drizzle。　　A　wave　of　consternation　invaded　the　vestibule　for　those　who　had　not　come　in　carriages；　or　whose　carriages　had　not　arrived。　　Tempers　were　lost；　women；　cloaked　to　the　ears；　their　heads　protected　only　by　fichus　or　mantillas；　quarrelled　with　husbands　or　cousins　or　brothers　over　the　question　of　umbrellas。　　The　vestibules　were　crowded　to　suffocation；　and　the　aigrettes　nodded　and　swayed　again　in　alternate　gusts；　now　of　moist；　chill　atmosphere　from　without；　and　now　of　stale；　hot　air　that　exhaled　in　long　puffs　from　the　inside　doors　of　the　theatre　itself。　　Here　and　there　in　the　press；　footmen；　their　top　hats　in　rubber　cases；　their　hands　full　of　umbrellas；　searched　anxiously　for　their　masters。

Outside　upon　the　sidewalks　and　by　the　curbs；　an　apparently　inextricable　confusion　prevailed；　policemen　with　drawn　clubs　laboured　and　objurgated：　anxious；　preoccupied　young　men；　their　opera　hats　and　gloves　beaded　with　rain；　hurried　to　and　fro；　searching　for　their　carriages。　　At　the　edge　of　the　awning；　the　caller；　a　gigantic　fellow　in　gold…faced　uniform；　shouted　the　numbers　in　a　roaring；　sing…song　that　dominated　every　other　sound。　　Coachmen；　their　wet　rubber　coats　reflecting　the　lamplight；　called　back　and　forth；　furious　quarrels　broke　out　between　hansom　drivers　and　the　police　officers；　steaming　horses　with　jingling　bits；　their　backs　covered　with　dark　green　cloths；　plunged　and　pranced；　carriage　doors　banged；　and　the　roll　of　wheels　upon　the　pavement　was　as　the　reverberation　of　artillery　caissons。

〃Get　your　carriage；　sir？〃　cried　a　ragged；　half…grown　arab　at　Cressler's　elbow。

〃Hurry　up；　then；〃　said　Cressler。　　Then；　raising　his　voice；　for　the　clamour　was　increasing　with　every　second：　〃What's　your　number；　Laura？　　You　girls　first。　Ninety…three？　　Get　that；　boy？　　Ninety…three。　　Quick　now。〃

The　carriage　appeared。　　Hastily　they　said　good…by；　hastily　Laura　expressed　to　Mrs。　Cressler　her　appreciation　and　enjoyment。　　Corthell　saw　them　to　the　carriage；　and　getting　in　after　them　shut　the　door　behind　him。　　They　departed。

Laura　sank　back　in　the　cool　gloom　of　the　carriage's　interior　redolent　of　damp　leather　and　upholstery。

〃What　an　evening！　What　an　evening！〃　she　murmured。

On　the　way　home　both　she　and　Page　appealed　to　the　artist；　who　knew　the　opera　well；　to　hum　or　whistle　for　them　the　arias　that　had　pleased　them　most。　Each　time　they　were　enthusiastic。　　Yes；　yes；　that　was　the　air。　Wasn't　it　pretty；　wasn't　it　beautiful？

But　Aunt　Wess'　was　still　unsatisfied。

〃I　don't　see　yet；〃　she　complained；　〃why　the　young　man；　the　one　with　the　pointed　beard；　didn't　marry　that　lady　and　be　done　with　it。　　Just　as　soon　as　they'd　seem　to　have　it　all　settled；　he'd　begin　to　take　on　again；　and　strike　his　breast　and　go　away。　　I　declare；　I　think　it　was　all　kind　of　foolish。〃

〃Why；　the　dukedon't　you　see。　　The　one　who　sang　bass〃　Page　laboured　to　explain。

〃Oh；　I　didn't　like　him　at　all；〃　said　Aunt　Wess'。　〃He　stamped　around　so。〃　　But　the　audience　itself　had　interested　her；　and　the　decollete　gowns　had　been　particularly　impressing。

〃I　never　saw　such　dressing　in　all　my　life；〃　she　declared。　　〃And　that　woman　in　the　box　next　ours。　　Well！　did　you　notice　_that！_〃　She　raised　her　eye…brows　and　set　her　lips　together。　　〃Well；　I　don't　want　to　say　anything。〃

The　carriage　rolled　on　through　the　darkened　downtown　streets；　towards　the　North　Side；　where　the　Dearborns　lived。　　They　could　hear　the　horses　plashing　through　the　layer　of　slushmud；　half…melted　snow　and　rainthat　encumbered　the　pavement。　　In　the　gloom　the　girls'　wraps　glowed　pallid　and　diaphanous。　　The　rain　left　long；　slanting　parallels　on　the　carriage　windows。　　They　passed　on　down　Wabash　Avenue；　and　crossed　over　to　State　Street　and　Clarke　Street；　dark；　deserted。

Laura；　after　a　while；　lost　in　thought；　spoke　but　little。　　It　had　been　a　great　eveningbecause　of　other　things　than　mere　music。　　Corthell　had　again　asked　her　to　marry　him；　and　she；　carried　away　by　the　excitement　of　the　moment；　had　answered　him　encouragingly。　　On　the　heels　of　this　she　had　had　that　little　talk　with　the　capitalist　Jadwin；　and　somehow　since　then　she　had　been　steadied；　calmed。　　The　cold　air　and　the　rain　in　her　face　had　cooled　her　flaming　cheeks　and　hot　temples。　She　asked　herself　now　if　she　did　really；　honestly　love　the　artist。　　No；　she　did　not；　really　and　honestly　she　did　not；　and　now　as　the　carriage　rolled　on　through　the　deserted　streets　of　the　business　districts；　she　knew　very　well　that　she　did　not　want　to　marry　him。　　She　had　done　him　an　injustice；　but　in　the　matter　of　righting　herself　with　him；　correcting　his　false　impression；　she　was　willing　to　procrastinate。　　She　wanted　him　to　love　her；　to　pay　her　all　those　innumerable　little　attentions　which　he　managed　with　such　faultless　delicacy。　　To　say：　〃No；　Mr。　Corthell；　I　do　not　love　you；　I　will　never　be　your　wife；〃　wouldthis　timebe　final。　　He　would　go　away；　and　she　had　no　intention　of　allowing　him　to　do　that。

But　abruptly　her　reflections　were　interrupted。　　While　she　thought　it　all　over　she　had　been　looking　out　of　the　carriage　window　through　a　little　space　where　she　had　rubbed　the　steam　from　the　pane。　　Now；　all　at　once；　the　strange　appearance　of　the　neighbourhood　as　the　carriage　turned　north　from　out　Jackson　Street　into　La　Salle；　forced　itself　upon　her　attention。　　She　uttered　an　exclamation。

The　office　buildings　on　both　sides　of　the　street　were　lighted　from　basement　to　roof。　　Through　the　windows　she　could　get　glimpses　of　clerks　and　book…keepers　in　shirt…　sleeves　bending　over　desks。　　Every　office　was　open；　and　every　one　of　them　full　of　a　feverish　activity。　　The　sidewalks　were　almost　as　crowded　as　though　at　noontime。　Messenger　boys　ran　to　and　fro；　and　groups　of　men　stood　on　the　corners　in　earnest　conversation。　The　whole　neighbourhood　was　alive；　and　this；　though　it　was　close　upon　one　o'clock　in　the　morning！

〃Why；　what　is　it　all？〃　she　murmured。

Corthell　could　not　explain；　but　all　at　once　Page　cried：

〃Oh；　oh；　I　know。　　See　this　is　Jackson　and　La　Salle　streets。　　Landry　was　telling　me。　　The　'commission　district；'　he　called　it。　　And　these　are　the　brokers'　offices　working　overtimethat　Helmick　deal；　you　know。〃

Laura　looked；　suddenly　stupefied。　　Here　it　was；　then；　that　other　drama；　that　other　tragedy；　working　on　there　furiously；　fiercely　through　the　night；　while　she