the pit-第5节

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ith　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　door　beneath　the　stage　hardly　bigger　than　the　entrance　of　a　rabbit　hutch。　They　settled　themselves　in　front　of　their　racks；　adjusting　their　coat…tails；　fingering　their　sheet　music。　　Soon　they　began　to　tune　up；　and　a　vague　bourdon　of　many　soundsthe　subdued　snarl　of　the　cornets；　the　dull　mutter　of　the　bass　viols；　the　liquid　gurgling　of　the　flageolets　and　wood…wind　instruments；　now　and　then　pierced　by　the　strident　chirps　and　cries　of　the　violins；　rose　into　the　air　dominating　the　incessant　clamour　of　conversation　that　came　from　all　parts　of　the　theatre。

Then　suddenly　the　house　lights　sank　and　the　foot…lights　rose。　　From　all　over　the　theatre　came　energetic　whispers　of　〃Sh！　Sh！〃　Three　strokes；　as　of　a　great　mallet；　sepulchral；　grave；　came　from　behind　the　wings；　the　leader　of　the　orchestra　raised　his　baton；　then　brought　it　slowly　down；　and　while　from　all　the　instruments　at　once　issued　a　prolonged　minor　chord；　emphasised　by　a　muffled　roll　of　the　kettle…drum；　the　curtain　rose　upon　a　mediaeval　public　square。　　The　soprano　was　seated　languidly　upon　a　bench。　　Her　_grande　scene_　occurred　in　this　act。　　Her　hair　was　un…bound；　she　wore　a　loose　robe　of　cream　white；　with　flowing　sleeves；　which　left　the　arms　bare　to　the　shoulder。　At　the　waist　it　was　caught　in　by　a　girdle　of　silk　rope。

〃This　is　the　great　act；〃　whispered　Mrs。　Cressler；　leaning　over　Laura's　shoulder。　　〃She　is　superb　later　on。　　Superb。〃

〃I　wish　those　_men_　would　stop　talking；〃　murmured　Laura；　searching　the　darkness　distressfully；　for　between　the　strains　of　the　music　she　had　heard　the　words：

〃Clearing　House　balance　of　three　thousand　dollars。〃

Meanwhile　the　prima　donna；　rising　to　her　feet；　delivered　herself　of　a　lengthy　recitative；　her　chin　upon　her　breast；　her　eyes　looking　out　from　under　her　brows；　an　arm　stretched　out　over　the　footlights。　　The　baritone　entered；　striding　to　the　left　of　the　footlights；　apostrophising　the　prima　donna　in　a　rage。　She　clasped　her　hands　imploringly；　supplicating　him　to　leave　her；　exclaiming　from　time　to　time：


　　　　　〃Ya　via；　va　via　　　　　　Vel　chieco　per　pieta。〃


Then　all　at　once；　while　the　orchestra　blared；　they　fell　into　each　other's　arms。

〃Why　do　they　do　that？〃　murmured　Aunt　Wess'　perplexed。　〃I　thought　the　gentleman　with　the　beard　didn't　like　her　at　all。〃

〃Why；　that's　the　duke；　don't　you　see；　Aunt　Wess'？〃　said　Laura　trying　to　explain。　　〃And　he　forgives　her。　　I　don't　know　exactly。　　Look　at　your　libretto。〃

〃a　conspiracy　of　the　Bears　。。。　　seventy　cents　。。。　and　naturally　he　busted。〃

The　mezzo…soprano；　the　confidante　of　the　prima　donna；　entered；　and　a　trio　developed　that　had　but　a　mediocre　success。　　At　the　end　the　baritone　abruptly　drew　his　sword；　and　the　prima　donna　fell　to　her　knees；　chanting：


　　　　　〃Io　tremo；　ahime！〃


〃And　now　he's　mad　again；〃　whispered　Aunt　Wess'；　consulting　her　libretto；　all　at　sea　once　more。　　〃I　can't　understand。　　She　saysthe　opera　book　_says_　she　says；　'I　tremble。'　I　don't　see　why。〃

〃Look　now；〃　said　Page；　〃here　comes　the　tenor。　　Now　they're　going　to　have　it　out。〃

The　tenor；　hatless；　debouched　suddenly　upon　the　scene；　and　furious；　addressed　himself　to　the　baritone；　leaning　forward；　his　hands　upon　his　chest。　　Though　the　others　sang　in　Italian；　the　tenor；　a　Parisian；　used　the　French　book　continually；　and　now　villified　the　baritone；　crying　out：


　　　　　〃O　traitre　infame　　　　　　　O　lache　et　coupable〃


〃I　don't　see　why　he　don't　marry　the　young　lady　and　be　done　with　it；〃　commented　Aunt　Wess'。

The　act　drew　to　its　close。　　The　prima　donna　went　through　her　〃great　scene；〃　wherein　her　voice　climbed　to　C　in　alt；　holding　the　note　so　long　that　Aunt　Wess'　became　uneasy。　　As　she　finished；　the　house　rocked　with　applause；　and　the　soprano；　who　had　gone　out　supported　by　her　confidante；　was　recalled　three　times。　　A　duel　followed　between　the　baritone　and　tenor；　and　the　latter；　mortally　wounded；　fell　into　the　arms　of　his　friends　uttering　broken；　vehement　notes。　　The　chorus　made　up　of　the　city　watch　and　town's　peoplecrowded　in　upon　the　back　of　the　stage。　　The　soprano　and　her　confidante　returned。　　The　basso；　a　black…bearded；　bull　necked　man；　sombre；　mysterious；　parted　the　chorus　to　right　and　left；　and　advanced　to　the　footlights。　　The　contralto；　dressed　as　a　boy；　appeared。　　The　soprano　took　stage；　and　abruptly　the　closing　scene　of　the　act　developed。

The　violins　raged　and　wailed　in　unison；　all　the　bows　moving　together　like　parts　of　a　well…regulated　machine。　The　kettle…drums；　marking　the　cadences；　rolled　at　exact　intervals。　　The　director　beat　time　furiously；　as　though　dragging　up　the　notes　and　chords　with　the　end　of　his　baton；　while　the　horns　and　cornets　blared；　the　bass　viols　growled；　and　the　flageolets　and　piccolos　lost　themselves　in　an　amazing　complication　of　liquid　gurgles　and　modulated　roulades。

On　the　stage　every　one　was　singing。　　The　soprano　in　the　centre；　vocalised　in　her　highest　register；　bringing　out　the　notes　with　vigorous　twists　of　her　entire　body；　and　tossing　them　off　into　the　air　with　sharp　flirts　of　her　head。　　On　the　right；　the　basso；　scowling；　could　be　heard　in　the　intervals　of　the　music　repea