IV
　　ONEbrightmorninglateinFebruaryDr。ArchiewasbreakfastingcomfortablyattheWaldorf。HehadgotintoJerseyCityonanearlytrain，andared，windysunriseovertheNorthRiverhadgivenhimagoodappetite。Heconsultedthemorningpaperwhilehedrankhiscoffeeandsawthat"Lohengrin"wastobesungattheoperathatevening。Inthelistoftheartistswhowouldappearwasthename"Kronborg。"Suchabruptnessratherstartledhim。"Kronborg"：itwasimpressiveandyet，somehow，disrespectful；somewhatrudeandbrazen，onthebackpageofthemorningpaper。Afterbreakfasthewenttothehotelticketofficeandaskedthegirlifshecouldgivehimsome—
　　thingfor"Lohengrin，""nearthefront。"Hismannerwasatrifleawkwardandhewonderedwhetherthegirlnoticedit。Evenifshedid，ofcourse，shecouldscarcelysuspect。
　　Beforetheticketstandhesawabunchofbluepostersannouncingtheoperacastsfortheweek。Therewas"Lohengrin，"andunderithesaw：——
　　ELSAVONBRABANT……TheaKronborg。
　　Thatlookedbetter。Thegirlgavehimaticketforaseatwhichshesaidwasexcellent。Hepaidforitandwentouttothecabstand。HementionedtothedriveranumberonRiversideDriveandgotintoataxi。Itwouldnot，ofcourse，betherightthingtocalluponTheawhenshewasgoingtosingintheevening。Heknewthatmuch，thankgoodness！FredOttenburghadhintedtohimthat，morethanalmostanythingelse，thatwouldputoneinwrong。
　　Whenhereachedthenumbertowhichhedirectedhisletters，hedismissedthecabandgotoutforawalk。The
　　houseinwhichThealivedwasasimpersonalastheWaldorf，andquiteaslarge。Itwasabove116thStreet，wheretheDrivenarrows，andinfrontofittheshelvingbankdroppedtotheNorthRiver。AsArchiestrolledaboutthepathswhichtraversedthisslope，belowthestreetlevel，thefourteenstoriesoftheapartmenthotelroseabovehimlikeaperpendicularcliff。HehadnoideaonwhichfloorThealived，buthereflected，ashiseyeranoverthemanywindows，thattheoutlookwouldbefinefromanyfloor。
　　TheforbiddinghugenessofthehousemadehimfeelasifhehadexpectedtomeetTheainacrowdandhadmissedher。Hedidnotreallybelievethatshewashiddenawaybehindanyofthoseglitteringwindows，orthathewastohearherthisevening。Hiswalkwascuriouslyuninspiringandunsuggestive。PresentlyrememberingthatOttenburghadencouragedhimtostudyhislesson，hewentdowntotheoperahouseandboughtalibretto。Hehadevenbroughthisold"Adler’sGermanandEnglish"inhistrunk，andafterluncheonhesettleddowninhisgildedsuiteattheWaldorfwithabigcigarandthetextof"Lohengrin。"
　　Theoperawasannouncedforseven—forty—five，butathalf—pastsevenArchietookhisseatintherightfrontoftheorchestracircle。HehadneverbeeninsidetheMetropoli—
　　tanOperaHousebefore，andtheheightoftheaudienceroom，therichcolor，andthesweepofthebalconieswerenotwithouttheireffectuponhim。Hewatchedthehousefillwithagrowingfeelingofexpectation。Whenthesteelcurtainroseandthemenoftheorchestratooktheirplaces，hefeltdistinctlynervous。Theburstofapplausewhichgreetedtheconductorkeyedhimstillhigher。Hefoundthathehadtakenoffhisglovesandtwistedthemtoastring。Whenthelightswentdownandtheviolinsbegantheoverture，theplacelookedlargerthanever；agreatpit，shadowyandsolemn。Thewholeatmosphere，hereflected，wassomehowmoreseriousthanhehadanticipated。
　　Afterthecurtainsweredrawnbackuponthescenebeside
　　theScheldt，hegotreadilyintotheswingofthestory。HewassomuchinterestedinthebasswhosangKINGHENRY
　　thathehadalmostforgottenforwhathewaswaitingsonervously，whentheHERALDbeganinstentoriantonestosummonELSAVONBRABANT。Thenhebegantorealizethathewasratherfrightened。Therewasaflutterofwhiteatthebackofthestage，andwomenbegantocomein：two，four，six，eight，butnottherightone。Itflashedacrosshimthatthiswassomethinglikebuck—fever，theparalyz—
　　ingmomentthatcomesuponamanwhenhisfirstelklooksathimthroughthebushes，underitsgreatantlers；
　　themomentwhenaman’smindissofullofshootingthatheforgetstheguninhishanduntilthebucknodsadieutohimfromadistanthill。
　　Allatonce，beforethebuckhadlefthim，shewasthere。
　　Yes，unquestionablyitwasshe。Hereyesweredowncast，butthehead，thecheeks，thechin——therecouldbenomistake；sheadvancedslowly，asifshewerewalkinginhersleep。Someonespoketoher；sheonlyinclinedherhead。Hespokeagain，andshebowedherheadstilllower。
　　Archiehadforgottenhislibretto，andhehadnotcountedupontheselongpauses。Hehadexpectedhertoappearandsingandreassurehim。Theyseemedtobewaitingforher。Didsheeverforget？Whyinthunderdidn’tshe——
　　Shemadeasound，afaintone。Thepeopleonthestagewhisperedtogetherandseemedconfounded。Hisnervous—
　　nesswasabsurd。Shemusthavedonethisoftenbefore；
　　sheknewherbearings。Shemadeanothersound，buthecouldmakenothingofit。ThentheKingsangtoher，andArchiebegantorememberwheretheywereinthestory。
　　Shecametothefrontofthestage，liftedhereyesforthefirsttime，claspedherhandsandbegan，"EINSAMINTRUBEN
　　TAGEN。"
　　Yes，itwasexactlylikebuck—fever。Herfacewasthere，towardthehousenow，beforehiseyes，andhepositivelycouldnotseeit。Shewassinging，atlast，andhepositively
　　couldnothearher。Hewasconsciousofnothingbutanuncomfortabledreadandasenseofcrushingdisappoint—
　　ment。Hehad，afterall，missedher。Whateverwasthere，shewasnotthere——forhim。
　　TheKinginterruptedher。Shebeganagain，"INLICHTER
　　WAFFENSCHEINE。"Archiedidnotknowwhenhisbuck—
　　feverpassed，butpresentlyhefoundthathewassittingquietlyinadarkenedhouse，notlisteningtobutdreaminguponariverofsilversound。Hefeltapartfromtheothers，driftingaloneonthemelody，asifhehadbeenalonewithitforalongwhileandhadknownitallbefore。Hispowerofattentionwasnotgreatjustthen，butinsofarasitwentheseemedtobelookingthroughanexaltedcalmnessatabeautifulwomanfromfaraway，fromanothersortoflifeandfeelingandunderstandingthanhisown，whohadinherfacesomethinghehadknownlongago，muchbrightenedandbeautified。Asaladheusedtobelievethatthefacesofpeoplewhodiedwerelikethatinthenextworld；thesamefaces，butshiningwiththelightofanewunderstand—
　　ing。No，Ottenburghadnotpreparedhim！
　　Whathefeltwasadmirationandestrangement。Thehomelyreunion，thathehadsomehowexpected，nowseemedfoolish。Insteadoffeelingproudthatheknewherbetterthanallthesepeopleabouthim，hefeltchagrinedathisowningenuousness。Forhedidnotknowherbetter。
　　Thiswomanhehadneverknown；shehadsomehowde—
　　vouredhislittlefriend，asthewolfateupRedRidinghood。
　　Beautiful，radiant，tenderasshewas，shechilledhisoldaffection；thatsortoffeelingwasnotappropriate。Sheseemedmuch，muchfartherawayfromhimthanshehadseemedallthoseyearswhenshewasinGermany。Theoceanhecouldcross，buttherewassomethingherehecouldnotcross。Therewasamoment，whensheturnedtotheKingandsmiledthatrare，sunrisesmileofherchild—
　　hood，whenhethoughtshewascomingbacktohim。AftertheHERALD’Ssecondcallforherchampion，whensheknelt
　　inherimpassionedprayer，therewasagainsomethingfamiliar，akindofwildwonderthatshehadhadthepowertocalluplongago。ButshemerelyremindedhimofThea；
　　thiswasnotthegirlherself。
　　Afterthetenorcameon，thedoctorceasedtryingtomakethewomanbeforehimfitintoanyofhischerishedrecollections。Hetookher，insofarashecould，forwhatshewasthenandthere。Whentheknightraisedthekneelinggirlandputhismailedhandonherhair，whensheliftedtohimafacefullofworshipandpassionatehumility，Archiegaveuphislastreservation。Heknewnomoreaboutherthandidthehundredsaroundhim，whosatintheshadowandlookedon，ashelooked，somewithmoreunderstanding，somewithless。HeknewasmuchaboutORTRUDEorLOHENGRINasheknewaboutELSA——more，be—
　　causeshewentfurtherthanthey，shesustainedtheleg—
　　endarybeautyofherconceptionmoreconsistently。Evenhecouldseethat。Attitudes，movements，herface，herwhitearmsandfingers，everythingwassuffusedwitharosytenderness，awarmhumility，agraciousandyet——
　　tohim——whollyestrangingbeauty。
　　Duringthebalconysinginginthesecondactthedoctor’sthoughtswereasfarawayfromMoonstoneasthesinger’sdoubtlesswere。Hehadbegun，indeed，tofeeltheexhila—
　　rationofgettingfreefrompersonalities，ofbeingreleasedfromhisownpastaswellasfromTheaKronborg’s。Itwasverymuch，hetoldhimself，likeamilitaryfuneral，exaltingandimpersonal。Somethingolddiedinone，andoutofitsomethingnewwasborn。DuringtheduetwithORTRUDE，andthesplendorsoftheweddingprocessional，thisnewfeelinggrewandgrew。AttheendoftheactthereweremanycurtaincallsandELSAacknowledgedthem，brilliant，gracious，spirited，withherfar—breakingsmile；butonthewholeshewasharderandmoreself—containedbeforethecurtainthanshewasinthescenebehindit。Archiedidhispartintheapplausethatgreetedher，butitwasthenew
　　andwonderfulheapplauded，nottheoldanddear。Hispersonal，proprietaryprideinherwasfrozenout。
　　HewalkedaboutthehouseduringtheENTR’ACTE，andhereandthereamongthepeopleinthefoyerhecaughtthename"Kronborg。"Onthestaircase，infrontofthecoffee—
　　room，along—hairedyouthwithafatfacewasdiscoursingtoagroupofoldwomenabout"dieKronborg。"Dr。Archiegatheredthathehadcrossedontheboatwithher。
　　Aftertheperformancewasover，ArchietookataxiandstartedforRiversideDrive。Hemeanttoseeitthroughto—night。Whenheenteredthereceptionhallofthehotelbeforewhichhehadstrolledthatmorning，thehallporterchallengedhim。HesaidhewaswaitingforMissKronborg。
　　Theporterlookedathimsuspiciouslyandaskedwhetherhehadanappointment。Heansweredbrazenlythathehad。Hewasnotusedtobeingquestionedbyhallboys。
　　Archiesatfirstinonetapestrychairandtheninanother，keepingasharpeyeonthepeoplewhocameinandwentupintheelevators。Hewalkedaboutandlookedathiswatch。Anhourdraggedby。Noonehadcomeinfromthestreetnowforabouttwentyminutes，whentwowomenen—
　　tered，carryingagreatmanyflowersandfollowedbyatallyoungmaninchauffeur’suniform。Archieadvancedto—
　　wardthetallerofthetwowomen，whowasveiledandcarriedherheadveryfirmly。Heconfrontedherjustasshereachedtheelevator。Althoughhedidnotstanddi—
　　rectlyinherway，somethinginhisattitudecompelledhertostop。Shegavehimapiercing，defiantglancethroughthewhitescarfthatcoveredherface。Thensheliftedherhandandbrushedthescarfbackfromherhead。Therewasstillblackonherbrowsandlashes。Shewasverypaleandherfacewasdrawnanddeeplylined。Shelooked，thedoctortoldhimselfwithasinkingheart，fortyyearsold。
　　Hersuspicious，mystifiedstareclearedslowly。
　　"Pardonme，"thedoctormurmured，notknowingjusthowtoaddressherherebeforetheporters，"Icameup
　　fromtheopera。Imerelywantedtosaygood—nighttoyou。"
　　Withoutspeaking，stilllookingincredulous，shepushedhimintotheelevator。Shekeptherhandonhisarmwhilethecageshotup，andshelookedawayfromhim，frowning，asifsheweretryingtorememberorrealizesomething。
　　Whenthecagestopped，shepushedhimoutoftheelevatorthroughanotherdoor，whichamaidopened，intoasquarehall。Thereshesankdownonachairandlookedupathim。
　　"Whydidn’tyouletmeknow？"sheaskedinahoarsevoice。
　　Archieheardhimselflaughingtheold，embarrassedlaughthatseldomhappenedtohimnow。"Oh，Iwantedtotakemychancewithyou，likeanybodyelse。It’sbeensolong，now！"
　　Shetookhishandthroughherthickgloveandherheaddroppedforward。"Yes，ithasbeenlong，"shesaidinthesamehuskyvoice，"andsomuchhashappened。"
　　"Andyouaresotired，andIamaclumsyoldfellowtobreakinonyouto—night，"thedoctoraddedsympathetic—
　　ally。"Forgiveme，thistime。"Hebentoverandputhishandsoothinglyonhershoulder。Hefeltastrongshudderrunthroughherfromheadtofoot。
　　Stillbundledinherfurcoatasshewas，shethrewbotharmsabouthimandhuggedhim。"Oh，Dr。Archie，DR。ARCHIE，"——sheshookhim，——"don’tletmego。Holdon，nowyou’rehere，"shelaughed，breakingawayfromhimatthesamemomentandslidingoutofherfurcoat。
　　Sheleftitforthemaidtopickupandpushedthedoctorintothesitting—room，wheresheturnedonthelights。"LetmeLOOKatyou。Yes；hands，feet，head，shoulders——justthesame。You’vegrownnoolder。Youcan’tsayasmuchforme，canyou？"
　　Shewasstandinginthemiddleoftheroom，inawhitesilkshirtwaistandashortblackvelvetskirt，whichsome—
　　howsuggestedthattheyhad`cutoffherpetticoatsallroundabout。’Shelookeddistinctlyclippedandplucked。
　　Herhairwaspartedinthemiddleanddoneveryclosetoherhead，asshehadwornitunderthewig。Shelookedlikeafugitive，whohadescapedfromsomethinginclothescaughtupathazard。ItflashedacrossDr。Archiethatshewasrunningawayfromtheotherwomandownattheoperahouse，whohadusedherhardly。
　　Hetookasteptowardher。"Ican’ttellathingintheworldaboutyou，Thea——ifImaystillcallyouthat。"
　　Shetookholdofthecollarofhisovercoat。"Yes，callmethat。Do：Iliketohearit。Youfrightenmealittle，butIexpectIfrightenyoumore。I’malwaysascarecrowafterIsingalongpartlikethat——sohigh，too。"Sheabsentlypulledoutthehandkerchiefthatprotrudedfromhisbreastpocketandbegantowipetheblackpaintoffhereyebrowsandlashes。"Ican’ttakeyouinmuchto—night，butImustseeyouforalittlewhile。"Shepushedhimtoachair。"Ishallbemorerecognizableto—morrow。Youmustn’tthinkofmeasyouseemeto—night。Comeatfourto—morrowafternoonandhaveteawithme。Canyou？
　　That’sgood。"
　　Shesatdowninalowchairbesidehimandleanedfor—
　　ward，drawinghershoulderstogether。Sheseemedtohiminappropriatelyyoungandinappropriatelyold，shornofherlongtressesatoneendandofherlongrobesattheother。
　　"Howdoyouhappentobehere？"sheaskedabruptly。
　　"Howcanyouleaveasilvermine？Icouldn’t！Surenobody’llcheatyou？Butyoucanexplaineverythingto—
　　morrow。"Shepaused。"Yourememberhowyousewedmeupinapoultice，once？Iwishyoucouldto—night。I
　　needapoultice，fromtoptotoe。Somethingverydisagree—
　　ablehappeneddownthere。Yousaidyouwereoutfront？
　　Oh，don’tsayanythingaboutit。Ialwaysknowexactlyhowitgoes，unfortunately。Iwasrotteninthebalcony。
　　Inevergetthat。Youdidn’tnoticeit？Probablynot，butIdid。"
　　Herethemaidappearedatthedoorandhermistressrose。"Mysupper？Verywell，I’llcome。I’daskyoutostay，doctor，buttherewouldn’tbeenoughfortwo。Theyseldomsendupenoughforone，"——shespokebitterly。
　　"Ihaven’tgotasenseofyouyet，"——turningdirectlytoArchieagain。"Youhaven’tbeenhere。You’veonlyan—
　　nouncedyourself，andtoldmeyouarecomingto—morrow。
　　Youhaven’tseenme，either。ThisisnotI。ButI’llbeherewaitingforyouto—morrow，mywholeworks！Good—
　　night，tillthen。"Shepattedhimabsentlyonthesleeveandgavehimalittleshovetowardthedoor。
　　V
　　WHENArchiegotbacktohishotelattwoo’clockinthemorning，hefoundFredOttenburg’scardunderhisdoor，withamessagescribbledacrossthetop："Whenyoucomein，pleasecalluproom811，thishotel。"Amo—
　　mentlaterFred’svoicereachedhimoverthetelephone。
　　"Thatyou，Archie？Won’tyoucomeup？I’mhavingsomesupperandI’dlikecompany。Late？Whatdoesthatmatter？Iwon’tkeepyoulong。"
　　Archiedroppedhisovercoatandsetoutforroom811。
　　HefoundOttenburgintheactoftouchingamatchtoachafing—dish，atatablelaidfortwoinhissitting—room。
　　"I’mcateringhere，"heannouncedcheerfully。"Iletthewaiteroffatmidnight，afterhe’dsetmeup。You’llhavetoaccountforyourself，Archie。"
　　Thedoctorlaughed，pointingtothreewine—coolersunderthetable。"Areyouexpectingguests？"
　　"Yes，two。"Ottenburghelduptwofingers，——"you，andmyhigherself。He’sathirstyboy，andIdon’tinvitehimoften。Hehasbeenknowntogivemeaheadache。
　　Now，wherehaveyoubeen，Archie，untilthisshockinghour？"
　　"Bah，you’vebeenbanting！"thedoctorexclaimed，pullingouthiswhiteglovesashesearchedforhishandker—
　　chiefandthrowingthemintoachair。Ottenburgwasineveningclothesandverypointeddressshoes。Hiswhitewaistcoat，uponwhichthedoctorhadfixedachallengingeye，wentdownstraightfromthetopbutton，andheworeacamelia。Hewasconspicuouslybrushedandtrimmedandpolished。Hissmoothlycontrolledexcitementwaswhollydifferentfromhisusualeasycordiality，thoughhehadhisface，aswellashisfigure，wellinhand。Onthe
　　serving—tabletherewasanemptychampagnepintandaglass。Hehadbeenhavingalittlestarter，thedoctortoldhimself，andwouldprobablyberunningonhighgearbeforehegotthrough。Therewasevennowanairofspeedabouthim。
　　"Been，Freddy？"——thedoctoratlasttookuphisques—
　　tion。"IexpectI’vebeenexactlywhereyouhave。Whydidn’tyoutellmeyouwerecomingon？"
　　"Iwasn’t，Archie。"Fredliftedthecoverofthechafing—
　　dishandstirredthecontents。Hestoodbehindthetable，holdingthelidwithhishandkerchief。"Ihadneverthoughtofsuchathing。ButLandry，ayoungchapwhoplaysheraccompanimentsandwhokeepsaneyeoutforme，tele—
　　graphedmethatMadameRheineckerhadgonetoAtlanticCitywithabadthroat，andTheamighthaveachancetosingELSA。Shehassungitonlytwiceherebefore，andI
　　misseditinDresden。SoIcameon。Igotinatfourthisafternoonandsawyouregistered，butIthoughtIwouldn’tbuttin。Howluckyyougotherejustwhenshewascomingonforthis。Youcouldn’thavehitabettertime。"
　　Ottenburgstirredthecontentsofthedishfasterandputinmoresherry。"Andwherehaveyoubeensincetwelveo’clock，mayIask？"
　　Archielookedratherself—conscious，ashesatdownonafragilegiltchairthatrockedunderhim，andstretchedouthislonglegs。"Well，ifyou’llbelieveme，Ihadthebru—
　　talitytogotoseeher。Iwantedtoidentifyher。Couldn’twait。"
　　Ottenburgplacedthecoverquicklyonthechafing—dishandtookastepbackward。"Youdid，oldsport？Myword！
　　Nonebutthebravedeservethefair。Well，"——hestoopedtoturnthewine，——"andhowwasshe？"
　　"Sheseemedratherdazed，andprettywellusedup。Sheseemeddisappointedinherself，andsaidshehadn’tdoneherselfjusticeinthebalconyscene。"
　　"Well，ifshedidn’t，she’snotthefirst。Beastlystuffto
　　singrightinthere；liesjustonthe`break’inthevoice。"
　　Fredpulledabottleoutoftheiceanddrewthecork。
　　LiftinghisglasshelookedmeaninglyatArchie。"Youknowwho，doctor。Heregoes！"Hedrankoffhisglasswithasighofsatisfaction。Afterhehadturnedthelamplowunderthechafing—dish，heremainedstanding，lookingpensivelydownatthefoodonthetable。"Well，sheratherpulleditoff！Asabacker，you’reawinner，Archie。
　　Icongratulateyou。"Fredpouredhimselfanotherglass。
　　"Nowyoumusteatsomething，andsomustI。Here，getoffthatbirdcageandfindasteadychair。Thisstuffoughttoberathergood；headwaiter’ssuggestion。Smellsallright。"Hebentoverthechafing—dishandbegantoservethecontents。"Perfectlyinnocuous：mushroomsandtruf—
　　flesandalittlecrab—meat。Andnow，onthelevel，Archie，howdidithityou？"
　　Archieturnedafranksmiletohisfriendandshookhishead。"Itwasallmilesbeyondme，ofcourse，butitgavemeapulse。Thegeneralexcitementgotholdofme，Isup—
　　pose。Ilikeyourwine，Freddy。"Heputdownhisglass。
　　"Itgoestothespotto—night。SheWASallright，then？
　　Youweren’tdisappointed？"
　　"Disappointed？MydearArchie，that’sthehighvoicewedreamof；sopureandyetsovirileandhuman。Thatcombinationhardlyeverhappenswithsopranos。"Otten—
　　burgsatdownandturnedtothedoctor，speakingcalmlyandtryingtodispelhisfriend’smanifestbewilderment。
　　"Yousee，Archie，there’sthevoiceitself，sobeautifulandindividual，andthenthere’ssomethingelse；thethinginitwhichrespondstoeveryshadeofthoughtandfeeling，spontaneously，almostunconsciously。Thatcolorhastobeborninasinger，itcan’tbeacquired；lotsofbeautifulvoiceshaven’tavestigeofit。It’salmostlikeanothergift——therarestofall。Thevoicesimplyisthemindandistheheart。Itcan’tgowrongininterpretation，becauseithasinitthethingthatmakesallinterpretation。That’s
　　whyyoufeelsosureofher。Afteryou’velistenedtoherforanhourorso，youaren’tafraidofanything。Allthelittledreadsyouhavewithotherartistsvanish。Youleanbackandyousaytoyourself，`No，THATvoicewillneverbe—
　　tray。’TREULICHGEFUHRT，TREULICHBEWACHT。"
　　ArchielookedenvyinglyatFred’sexcited，triumphantface。Howsatisfactoryitmustbe，hethought，toreallyknowwhatshewasdoingandnottohavetotakeitonhearsay。Hetookuphisglasswithasigh。"Iseemtoneedagooddealofcoolingoffto—night。I’djustasliefforgettheReformPartyforonce。
　　"Yes，Fred，"hewentonseriously；"Ithoughtitsoundedverybeautiful，andIthoughtshewasverybeautiful，too。Ineverimaginedshecouldbeasbeautifulasthat。"
　　"Wasn’tshe？Everyattitudeapicture，andalwaystherightkindofpicture，fullofthatlegendary，supernaturalthingshegetsintoit。Ineverheardtheprayersunglikethatbefore。Thatlookthatcameinhereyes；itwentrightoutthroughthebackoftheroof。Ofcourse，yougetanELSAwhocanlookthroughwallslikethat，andvisionsandGrail—knightshappennaturally。Shebecomesanabbess，thatgirl，afterLOHENGRINleavesher。She’smadetolivewithideasandenthusiasms，notwithahusband。"Fredfoldedhisarms，leanedbackinhischair，andbegantosingsoftly：——
　　"Doesn’tshedie，then，attheend？"thedoctoraskedguardedly。
　　Fredsmiled，reachingunderthetable。"SomeELSASdo；
　　shedidn’t。Sheleftmewiththedistinctimpressionthatshewasjustbeginning。Now，doctor，here’sacoldone。"
　　Hetwirledanapkinsmoothlyaboutthegreenglass，thecorkgaveandslippedoutwithasoftexplosion。"Andnowwemusthaveanothertoast。It’suptoyou，thistime。"
　　Thedoctorwatchedtheagitationinhisglass。"Thesame，"hesaidwithoutliftinghiseyes。"That’sgoodenough。Ican’traiseyou。"
　　Fredleanedforward，andlookedsharplyintohisface。
　　"That’sthepoint；howCOULDyouraiseme？Onceagain！"
　　"Onceagain，andalwaysthesame！"Thedoctorputdownhisglass。"Thisdoesn’tseemtoproduceanysymp—
　　tomsinmeto—night。"Helitacigar。"Seriously，Freddy，IwishIknewmoreaboutwhatshe’sdrivingat。Itmakesmejealous，whenyouaresoinitandI’mnot。"