Hislookwasonewithwhichheusedtowatchherlongago，andwhich，eveninthinkingabouther，hadbecomeahabitofhisface。Itwasfullofsolicitude，andakindofsecretgratitude，asiftothankherforsomeinexpressiblepleasureoftheheart。Theaturnedpresentlytowardthepianoandbegansoftlytowakenanoldair：——
　　"Ca’theyowestotheknowes，Ca’themwheretheheathergrows，Ca’themwheretheburnierowes，Mybonniedear—ie。"
　　Archiesatdownandshadedhiseyeswithhishand。Sheturnedherheadandspoketohimoverhershoulder。
　　"Comeon，youknowthewordsbetterthanI。That’sright。"
　　"We’llgaedownbyClouden’sside，Throughthehazelsspreadingwide，O’erthewavesthatsweetlyglide，Tothemoonsaeclearly。
　　Ghaistnorbogleshaltthoufear，Thou’rttoloveandHeav’nsaedear，Nochtofillmaycometheenear，Mybonniedear—ie！"
　　"WecangetonwithoutLandry。Let’stryitagain，I
　　haveallthewordsnow。Thenwe’llhave`SweetAfton。’
　　Come：`CA’THEYOWESTOTHEKNOWES’——"
　　X
　　OTTENBURGdismissedhistaxicabatthe91stStreetentranceoftheParkandflounderedacrossthedrivethroughawildspringsnowstorm。WhenhereachedthereservoirpathhesawTheaaheadofhim，walkingrapidlyagainstthewind。Exceptforthatonefigure，thepathwasdeserted。Aflockofgullswerehoveringoverthereservoir，seemingbewilderedbythedrivingcurrentsofsnowthatwhirledabovetheblackwaterandthendisappearedwith—
　　init。WhenhehadalmostovertakenThea，Fredcalledtoher，andsheturnedandwaitedforhimwithherbacktothewind。Herhairandfurswerepowderedwithsnow—
　　flakes，andshelookedlikesomerich—peltedanimal，withwarmblood，thathadruninoutofthewoods。Fredlaughedashetookherhand。
　　"Nouseaskinghowyoudo。Yousurelyneedn’tfeelmuchanxietyaboutFriday，whenyoucanlooklikethis。"
　　Shemovedclosetotheironfencetomakeroomforhimbesideher，andfacedthewindagain。"Oh，I’mWELLenough，insofarasthatgoes。ButI’mnotluckyaboutstageappearances。I’measilyupset，andthemostperversethingshappen。"
　　"What’sthematter？Doyoustillgetnervous？"
　　"OfcourseIdo。Idon’tmindnervessomuchasgettingnumbed，"Theamuttered，shelteringherfaceforamo—
　　mentwithhermuff。"I’munderaspell，youknow，hoo—
　　dooed。It’sthethingIWANTtodothatIcanneverdo。
　　AnyothereffectsIcangeteasilyenough。"
　　"Yes，yougeteffects，andnotonlywithyourvoice。
　　That’swhereyouhaveitoveralltherestofthem；you’reasmuchathomeonthestageasyouweredownin
　　PantherCanyon——asifyou’djustbeenletoutofacage。
　　Didn’tyougetsomeofyourideasdownthere？"
　　Theanodded。"Oh，yes！Forheroicparts，atleast。Outoftherocks，outofthedeadpeople。Youmeantheideaofstandingupunderthings，don’tyou，meetingcatas—
　　trophe？Nofussiness。Seemstometheymusthavebeenareserved，somberpeople，withonlyamuscularlanguage，alltheirmovementsforapurpose；simple，strong，asiftheyweredealingwithfatebare—handed。"SheputherglovedfingersonFred’sarm。"Idon’tknowhowIcaneverthankyouenough。Idon’tknowifI’deverhavegotanywherewithoutPantherCanyon。Howdidyouknowthatwastheonethingtodoforme？It’sthesortofthingnobodyeverhelpsoneto，inthisworld。Onecanlearnhowtosing，butnosingingteachercangiveanybodywhatI
　　gotdownthere。Howdidyouknow？"
　　"Ididn’tknow。Anythingelsewouldhavedoneaswell。
　　Itwasyourcreativehour。Iknewyouweregettingalot，butIdidn’trealizehowmuch。"
　　Theawalkedoninsilence。Sheseemedtobethinking。
　　"Doyouknowwhattheyreallytaughtme？"shecameoutsuddenly。"Theytaughtmetheinevitablehardnessofhumanlife。Noartistgetsfarwhodoesn’tknowthat。Andyoucan’tknowitwithyourmind。Youhavetorealizeitinyourbody，somehow；deep。It’sananimalsortoffeeling。Isometimesthinkit’sthestrongestofall。DoyouknowwhatI’mdrivingat？"
　　"Ithinkso。Evenyouraudiencesfeelit，vaguely：thatyou’vesometimeorotherfacedthingsthatmakeyoudifferent。"
　　Theaturnedherbacktothewind，wipingawaythesnowthatclungtoherbrowsandlashes。"Ugh！"sheexclaimed；
　　"nomatterhowlongabreathyouhave，thestormhasalonger。Ihaven’tsignedfornextseason，yet，Fred。I’mholdingoutforabigcontract：fortyperformances。Neckerwon’tbeabletodomuchnextwinter。It’sgoingtobeone
　　ofthosebetweenseasons；theoldsingersaretooold，andthenewonesaretoonew。Theymightaswellriskmeasanybody。SoIwantgoodterms。Thenextfiveorsixyearsaregoingtobemybest。"
　　"You’llgetwhatyoudemand，ifyouareuncompro—
　　mising。I’msafeincongratulatingyounow。"
　　Thealaughed。"It’salittleearly。Imaynotgetitatall。Theydon’tseemtobebreakingtheirneckstomeetme。IcangobacktoDresden。"
　　Astheyturnedthecurveandwalkedwestwardtheygotthewindfromtheside，andtalkingwaseasier。
　　Fredloweredhiscollarandshookthesnowfromhisshoulders。"Oh，Idon’tmeanonthecontractparticularly。
　　Icongratulateyouonwhatyoucando，Thea，andonallthatliesbehindwhatyoudo。Onthelifethat’sleduptoit，andonbeingabletocaresomuch。That，afterall，istheunusualthing。"
　　Shelookedathimsharply，withacertainapprehension。
　　"Care？Whyshouldn’tIcare？IfIdidn’t，I’dbeinabadway。WhatelsehaveIgot？"Shestoppedwithachallenginginterrogation，butOttenburgdidnotreply。
　　"Youmean，"shepersisted，"thatyoudon’tcareasmuchasyouusedto？"
　　"Icareaboutyoursuccess，ofcourse。"Fredfellintoaslowerpace。Theafeltatoncethathewastalkingseri—
　　ouslyandhaddroppedthetoneofhalf—ironicalexaggera—
　　tionhehadusedwithheroflateyears。"AndI’mgratefultoyouforwhatyoudemandfromyourself，whenyoumightgetoffsoeasily。Youdemandmoreandmoreallthetime，andyou’lldomoreandmore。Oneisgratefultoanybodyforthat；itmakeslifeingeneralalittlelesssordid。Butasamatteroffact，I’mnotmuchinterestedinhowanybodysingsanything。"
　　"That’stoobadofyou，whenI’mjustbeginningtoseewhatisworthdoing，andhowIwanttodoit！"Theaspokeinaninjuredtone。
　　"That’swhatIcongratulateyouon。That’sthegreatdifferencebetweenyourkindandtherestofus。It’showlongyou’reabletokeepitupthattellsthestory。Whenyouneededenthusiasmfromtheoutside，Iwasabletogiveittoyou。Nowyoumustletmewithdraw。"
　　"I’mnottyingyou，amI？"sheflashedout。"Butwith—
　　drawtowhat？Whatdoyouwant？"
　　Fredshrugged。"Imightaskyou，WhathaveIgot？
　　Iwantthingsthatwouldn’tinterestyou；thatyouprob—
　　ablywouldn’tunderstand。Foronething，Iwantasontobringup。"
　　"Icanunderstandthat。Itseemstomereasonable。
　　Haveyoualsofoundsomebodyyouwanttomarry？"
　　"Notparticularly。"Theyturnedanothercurve，whichbroughtthewindtotheirbacks，andtheywalkedonincomparativecalm，withthesnowblowingpastthem。"It’snotyourfault，Thea，butI’vehadyoutoomuchinmymind。I’venotgivenmyselfafairchanceinotherdirec—
　　tions。IwasinRomewhenyouandNordquistwerethere。
　　Ifthathadkeptup，itmighthavecuredme。"
　　"Itmighthavecuredagoodmanythings，"remarkedTheagrimly。
　　Frednoddedsympatheticallyandwenton。"InmylibraryinSt。Louis，overthefireplace，IhaveapropertyspearIhadcopiedfromoneinVenice，——oh，yearsago，afteryoufirstwentabroad，whileyouwerestudying。
　　You’llprobablybesingingBRUNNHILDEprettysoonnow，andI’llsenditontoyou，ifImay。Youcantakeitanditshistoryforwhatthey’reworth。ButI’mnearlyfortyyearsold，andI’veservedmyturn。You’vedonewhatIhopedforyou，whatIwashonestlywillingtoloseyoufor——then。I’moldernow，andIthinkIwasanass。I
　　wouldn’tdoitagainifIhadthechance，notmuch！ButI’mnotsorry。Ittakesagreatmanypeopletomakeone——BRUNNHILDE。"
　　Theastoppedbythefenceandlookedoverintothe
　　blackchoppinessonwhichthesnowflakesfellanddis—
　　appearedwithmagicalrapidity。Herfacewasbothangryandtroubled。"SoyoureallyfeelI’vebeenungrateful。
　　Ithoughtyousentmeouttogetsomething。Ididn’tknowyouwantedmetobringinsomethingeasy。I
　　thoughtyouwantedsomething——"Shetookadeepbreathandshruggedhershoulders。"Butthere！nobodyonGod’searthwantsit，REALLY！Ifoneotherpersonwantedit，"——shethrustherhandoutbeforehimandclenchedit，——"myGod，whatIcoulddo！"
　　Fredlaugheddismally。"EveninmyashesIfeelmy—
　　selfpushingyou！Howcananybodyhelpit？Mydeargirl，can’tyouseethatanybodyelsewhowanteditasyoudowouldbeyourrival，yourdeadliestdanger？Can’tyouseethatit’syourgreatgoodfortunethatotherpeoplecan’tcareaboutitsomuch？"
　　ButTheaseemednottotakeinhisprotestatall。Shewentonvindicatingherself。"It’stakenmealongwhiletodoanything，ofcourse，andI’veonlybeguntoseeday—
　　light。Butanythinggoodis——expensive。Ithasn’tseemedlong。I’vealwaysfeltresponsibletoyou。"
　　Fredlookedatherfaceintently，throughtheveilofsnowflakes，andshookhishead。"Tome？Youareatruth—
　　fulwoman，andyoudon’tmeantolietome。Butaftertheoneresponsibilityyoudofeel，Idoubtifyou’veenoughlefttofeelresponsibletoGod！Still，ifyou’veeverinanidlehourfooledyourselfwiththinkingIhadanythingtodowithit，HeavenknowsI’mgrateful。"
　　"EvenifI’dmarriedNordquist，"Theawenton，turn—
　　ingdownthepathagain，"therewouldhavebeensome—
　　thingleftout。Therealwaysis。Inaway，I’vealwaysbeenmarriedtoyou。I’mnotveryflexible；neverwasandnevershallbe。Youcaughtmeyoung。Icouldneverhavethatoveragain。Onecan’t，afteronebeginstoknowanything。
　　ButIlookbackonit。Mylifehasn’tbeenagayone，anymorethanyours。IfIshutthingsoutfromyou，youshut
　　themoutfromme。We’vebeenahelpandahindrancetoeachother。Iguessit’salwaysthatway，thegoodandthebadallmixedup。There’sonlyonethingthat’sallbeau—
　　tiful——andalwaysbeautiful！That’swhymyinterestkeepsup。"
　　"Yes，Iknow。"Fredlookedsidewiseattheoutlineofherheadagainstthethickeningatmosphere。"Andyougiveonetheimpressionthatthatisenough。I’vegradu—
　　ally，graduallygivenyouup。"
　　"See，thelightsarecomingout。"Theapointedtowheretheyflickered，flashesofvioletthroughthegraytree—tops。
　　Lowerdowntheglobesalongthedriveswerebecomingapalelemoncolor。"Yes，Idon’tseewhyanybodywantstomarryanartist，anyhow。IrememberRayKennedyusedtosayhedidn’tseehowanywomancouldmarryagambler，forshewouldonlybemarryingwhatthegameleft。"Sheshookhershouldersimpatiently。"Whomarrieswhoisasmallmatter，afterall。ButIhopeIcanbringbackyourinterestinmywork。You’vecaredlongerandmorethananybodyelse，andI’dliketohavesomebodyhumantomakeareporttoonceinawhile。Youcansendmeyourspear。I’lldomybest。Ifyou’renotinterested，I’lldomybestanyhow。I’veonlyafewfriends，butI
　　canloseeveryoneofthem，ifithastobe。Ilearnedhowtolosewhenmymotherdied。——Wemusthurrynow。Mytaximustbewaiting。"
　　Thebluelightaboutthemwasgrowingdeeperanddarker，andthefallingsnowandthefainttreeshadbe—
　　comeviolet。Tothesouth，overBroadway，therewasanorangereflectionintheclouds。Motorsandcarriagelightsflashedbyonthedrivebelowthereservoirpath，andtheairwasstridentwithhornsandshrieksfromthewhistlesofthemountedpolicemen。
　　FredgaveTheahisarmastheydescendedfromtheembankment。"Iguessyou’llnevermanagetolosemeorArchie，Thea。Youdopickupqueerones。Butloving
　　youisaheroicdiscipline。Itwearsamanout。Tellmeonething：couldIhavekeptyou，once，ifI’dputoneveryscrew？"
　　Theahurriedhimalong，talkingrapidly，asiftogetitover。"Youmighthavekeptmeinmiseryforawhile，perhaps。Idon’tknow。Ihavetothinkwellofmyself，towork。Youcouldhavemadeithard。I’mnotungrateful。
　　Iwasadifficultpropositiontodealwith。Iunderstandnow，ofcourse。Sinceyoudidn’ttellmethetruthinthebe—
　　ginning，youcouldn’tverywellturnbackafterI’dsetmyhead。Atleast，ifyou’dbeenthesortwhocould，youwouldn’thavehadto，——forI’dnothavecaredabuttonforthatsort，eventhen。"Shestoppedbesideacarthatwaitedatthecurbandgavehimherhand。"There。Wepartfriends？"
　　Fredlookedather。"Youknow。Tenyears。"
　　"I’mnotungrateful，"Thearepeatedasshegotintohercab。
　　"Yes，"shereflected，asthetaxicutintotheParkcarriageroad，"wedon’tgetfairytalesinthisworld，andhehas，afterall，caredmoreandlongerthananybodyelse。"Itwasdarkoutsidenow，andthelightfromthelampsalongthedriveflashedintothecab。Thesnowflakeshoveredlikeswarmsofwhitebeesabouttheglobes。
　　Theasatmotionlessinonecornerstaringoutofthewindowatthecablightsthatwoveinandoutamongthetrees，allseemingtobebentuponjoyouscourses。
　　TaxicabswerestillnewinNewYork，andthethemeofpopularminstrelsy。LandryhadsungheradittyheheardinsometheateronThirdAvenue，about"Buttherepassedhimabright—eyedtaxiWiththegirlofhisheartinside。"
　　AlmostinaudiblyTheabegantohumtheair，thoughshewasthinkingofsomethingserious，somethingthathadtouchedherdeeply。Atthebeginningoftheseason，when
　　shewasnotsingingoften，shehadgoneoneafternoontohearPaderewski’srecital。InfrontofhersatanoldGer—
　　mancouple，evidentlypoorpeoplewhohadmadesacri—
　　ficestopayfortheirexcellentseats。Theirintelligentenjoymentofthemusic，andtheirfriendlinesswitheachother，hadinterestedhermorethananythingonthepro—
　　gramme。WhenthepianistbeganalovelymelodyinthefirstmovementoftheBeethovenDminorsonata，theoldladyputoutherplumphandandtouchedherhus—
　　band’ssleeveandtheylookedateachotherinrecognition。
　　Theybothworeglasses，butsuchalook！Likeforget—me—
　　nots，andsofullofhappyrecollections。Theawantedtoputherarmsaroundthemandaskthemhowtheyhadbeenabletokeepafeelinglikethat，likeanosegayinaglassofwater。
　　XI
　　DR。ARCHIEsawnothingofTheaduringthefollow—
　　ingweek。Afterseveralfruitlessefforts，hesucceededingettingawordwithheroverthetelephone，butshesoundedsodistractedanddriventhathewasgladtosaygood—nightandhanguptheinstrument。Therewere，shetoldhim，rehearsalsnotonlyfor"Walkure，"butalsofor"Gotterdammerung，"inwhichshewastosingWALTRAUTE
　　twoweekslater。
　　OnThursdayafternoonTheagothomelate，afteranexhaustingrehearsal。Shewasinnohappyframeofmind。
　　MadameNecker，whohadbeenverygracioustoherthatnightwhenshewentontocompleteGloeckler’sperformanceofSIEGLINDE，had，sinceTheawascasttosingthepartinsteadofGloecklerintheproductionofthe"Ring，"beenchillyanddisapproving，distinctlyhostile。
　　TheahadalwaysfeltthatsheandNeckerstoodforthesamesortofendeavor，andthatNeckerrecognizeditandhadacordialfeelingforher。InGermanyshehadseveraltimessungBRANGAENAtoNecker’sISOLDE，andtheolderartisthadletherknowthatshethoughtshesangitbeau—
　　tifully。ItwasabitterdisappointmenttofindthattheapprovalofsohonestanartistasNeckercouldnotstandthetestofanysignificantrecognitionbythemanagement。
　　MadameNeckerwasforty，andhervoicewasfailingjustwhenherpowerswereattheirheight。Everyfreshyoungvoicewasanenemy，andthisonewasaccompaniedbygiftswhichshecouldnotfailtorecognize。
　　Theahadherdinnersentuptoherapartment，anditwasaverypoorone。Shetastedthesoupandthenindig—
　　nantlyputonherwrapstogooutandhuntadinner。Asshewasgoingtotheelevator，shehadtoadmitthatshe
　　wasbehavingfoolishly。Shetookoffherhatandcoatandorderedanotherdinner。Whenitarrived，itwasnobetterthanthefirst。Therewasevenaburntmatchunderthemilktoast。Shehadasorethroat，whichmadeswal—
　　lowingpainfulandbodedillforthemorrow。Althoughshehadbeenspeakinginwhispersalldaytosaveherthroat，shenowperverselysummonedthehousekeeperandde—
　　mandedanaccountofsomelaundrythathadbeenlost。
　　Thehousekeeperwasindifferentandimpertinent，andTheagotangryandscoldedviolently。Sheknewitwasverybadforhertogetintoaragejustbeforebedtime，andafterthehousekeeperleftsherealizedthatfortendollars’
　　worthofunderclothingshehadbeenunfittingherselfforaperformancewhichmighteventuallymeanmanythous—
　　ands。Thebestthingnowwastostopreproachingherselfforherlackofsense，butshewastootiredtocontrolherthoughts。
　　Whileshewasundressing——TheresewasbrushingoutherSIEGLINDEwiginthetrunk—room——shewentonchid—
　　ingherselfbitterly。"AndhowamIevergoingtogettosleepinthisstate？"shekeptaskingherself。"IfIdon’tsleep，I’llbeperfectlyworthlessto—morrow。I’llgodownthereto—morrowandmakeafoolofmyself。IfI’dletthatlaundryalonewithwhateverniggerhasstolenit——WHY
　　didIundertaketoreformthemanagementofthishotelto—night？Afterto—morrowIcouldpackupandleavetheplace。There’sthePhillamon——Ilikedtheroomstherebetter，anyhow——andtheUmberto——"Shebegangoingovertheadvantagesanddisadvantagesofdifferentapart—
　　menthotels。Suddenlyshecheckedherself。"WhatAM
　　Idoingthisfor？Ican’tmoveintoanotherhotelto—night。
　　I’llkeepthisuptillmorning。Ishan’tsleepawink。"
　　Shouldshetakeahotbath，orshouldn’tshe？Some—
　　timesitrelaxedher，andsometimesitrousedherandfairlyputherbesideherself。Betweentheconvictionthatshemustsleepandthefearthatshecouldn’t，shehungpara—
　　lyzed。Whenshelookedatherbed，sheshrankfromitineverynerve。Shewasmuchmoreafraidofitthanshehadeverbeenofthestageofanyoperahouse。Ityawnedbe—
　　foreherlikethesunkenroadatWaterloo。
　　Sherushedintoherbathroomandlockedthedoor。Shewouldriskthebath，anddefertheencounterwiththebedalittlelonger。Shelayinthebathhalfanhour。Thewarmthofthewaterpenetratedtoherbones，inducedpleasantreflectionsandafeelingofwell—being。ItwasverynicetohaveDr。ArchieinNewYork，afterall，andtoseehimgetsomuchsatisfactionoutofthelittlecompanionshipshewasabletogivehim。Shelikedpeoplewhogoton，andwhobecamemoreinterestingastheygrewolder。TherewasFred；hewasmuchmoreinterestingnowthanhehadbeenatthirty。Hewasintelligentaboutmusic，andhemustbeveryintelligentinhisbusiness，orhewouldnotbeattheheadoftheBrewers’Trust。Sherespectedthatkindofintelligenceandsuccess。Anysuccesswasgood。
　　Sheherselfhadmadeagoodstart，atanyrate，andnow，ifshecouldgettosleep——Yes，theywereallmoreinter—
　　estingthantheyusedtobe。LookatHarsanyi，whohadbeensolongretarded；whataplacehehadmadeforhim—
　　selfinVienna。Ifshecouldgettosleep，shewouldshowhimsomethingto—morrowthathewouldunderstand。
　　Shegotquicklyintobedandmovedaboutfreelybe—
　　tweenthesheets。Yes，shewaswarmallover。Acold，drybreezewascominginfromtheriver，thankgoodness！
　　ShetriedtothinkaboutherlittlerockhouseandtheAri—
　　zonasunandthebluesky。Butthatledtomemorieswhichwerestilltoodisturbing。Sheturnedonherside，closedhereyes，andtriedanolddevice。
　　Sheenteredherfather’sfrontdoor，hungherhatandcoatontherack，andstoppedintheparlortowarmherhandsatthestove。Thenshewentoutthroughthedining—
　　room，wheretheboysweregettingtheirlessonsatthelongtable；throughthesitting—room，whereThorwasasleepin
　　hiscotbed，hisdressandstockinghangingonachair。Inthekitchenshestoppedforherlanternandherhotbrick。
　　Shehurriedupthebackstairsandthroughthewindylofttoherownglacialroom。Theillusionwasmarredonlybytheconsciousnessthatsheoughttobrushherteethbeforeshewenttobed，andthatsheneverusedtodoit。Why——？
　　Thewaterwasfrozensolidinthepitcher，soshegotoverthat。Oncebetweentheredblanketstherewasashort，fiercebattlewiththecold；then，warmer——warmer。Shecouldhearherfathershakingdownthehard—coalburnerforthenight，andthewindrushingandbangingdownthevillagestreet。Theboughsofthecottonwood，hardasbone，rattledagainsthergable。Thebedgrewsofterandwarmer。Everybodywaswarmandwelldownstairs。Thesprawlingoldhousehadgatheredthemallin，likeahen，andhadsettleddownoveritsbrood。Theywereallwarminherfather’shouse。Softerandsofter。Shewasasleep。
　　Sheslepttenhourswithoutturningover。Fromsleeplikethat，oneawakesinshiningarmor。
　　OnFridayafternoontherewasaninspiringaudience；
　　therewasnotanemptychairinthehouse。OttenburgandDr。Archiehadseatsintheorchestracircle，gotfromaticketbroker。Landryhadnotbeenabletogetaseat，soheroamedaboutinthebackofthehouse，whereheusuallystoodwhenhedroppedinafterhisownturninvaudevillewasover。Hewastheresooftenandatsuchirregularhoursthattheushersthoughthewasasinger’shusband，orhadsomethingtodowiththeelectricalplant。
　　Harsanyiandhiswifewereinabox，nearthestage，inthesecondcircle。Mrs。Harsanyi’shairwasnoticeablygray，butherfacewasfullerandhandsomerthaninthoseearlyyearsofstruggle，andshewasbeautifullydressed。
　　Harsanyihimselfhadchangedverylittle。Hehadputonhisbestafternooncoatinhonorofhispupil，andworea
　　pearlinhisblackascot。Hishairwaslongerandmorebushythanheusedtowearit，andtherewasnowonegraylockontherightside。Hehadalwaysbeenanelegantfigure，evenwhenhewentaboutinshabbyclothesandwascrushedwithwork。Beforethecurtainrosehewasrestlessandnervous，andkeptlookingathiswatchandwishinghehadgotafewmorelettersoffbeforehelefthishotel。HehadnotbeeninNewYorksincetheadventofthetaxicab，andhadallowedhimselftoomuchtime。Hiswifeknewthathewasafraidofbeingdisappointedthisafternoon。Hedidnotoftengototheoperabecausethestupidthingsthatsingersdidvexedhimso，anditalwaysputhiminarageiftheconductorheldthetempoorinanywayaccommodatedthescoretothesinger。
　　WhenthelightswentoutandtheviolinsbegantoquavertheirlongDagainsttherudefigureofthebasses，Mrs。Harsanyisawherhusband’sfingersflutteringonhiskneeinarapidtattoo。AtthemomentwhenSIEGLINDE
　　enteredfromthesidedoor，sheleanedtowardhimandwhisperedinhisear，"Oh，thelovelycreature！"Buthemadenoresponse，eitherbyvoiceorgesture。Throughoutthefirstscenehesatsunkinhischair，hisheadforwardandhisoneyelloweyerollingrestlesslyandshininglikeatiger’sinthedark。HiseyefollowedSIEGLINDEaboutthestagelikeasatellite，andasshesatatthetablelisteningtoSIEGMUND’Slongnarrative，itneverlefther。WhenshepreparedthesleepingdraughtanddisappearedafterHUNDING，Harsanyibowedhisheadstilllowerandputhishandoverhiseyetorestit。Thetenor，——ayoungmanwhosangwithgreatvigor，wenton：——
　　"WALSE！WALSE！