Theanodded。"Yes；sometimesImakehimsinghismostfoolishthingsforme。It’srestful，ashedoesit。
　　That’swhenI’mhomesick，Dr。Archie。"
　　"YouknewhiminGermany，Thea？"Dr。Archiehadquietlyabandonedhiscigaretteasacomfortlessarticle。
　　"Whenyoufirstwentover？"
　　"Yes。Hewasagoodfriendtoagreengirl。HehelpedmewithmyGermanandmymusicandmygeneraldiscourage—
　　ment。Seemedtocaremoreaboutmygettingonthanabouthimself。Hehadnomoney，either。Anoldaunthadloanedhimalittletostudyon。——Willyouanswerthat，Fred？"
　　FredcaughtupthetelephoneandstoppedthebuzzwhileTheawentontalkingtoDr。ArchieaboutLandry。
　　Tellingsomeonetoholdthewire，hepresentlyputdowntheinstrumentandapproachedTheawithastartledex—
　　pressiononhisface。
　　"It’sthemanagement，"hesaidquietly。"Gloecklerhasbrokendown：faintingfits。MadameRheineckerisinAt—
　　lanticCityandSchrammissinginginPhiladelphiato—
　　night。TheywanttoknowwhetheryoucancomedownandfinishSIEGLINDE。"
　　"Whattimeisit？"
　　"Eightfifty—five。Thefirstactisjustover。Theycanholdthecurtaintwenty—fiveminutes。"
　　Theadidnotmove。"Twenty—fiveandthirty—fivemakessixty，"shemuttered。"TellthemI’llcomeiftheyholdthecurtaintillIaminthedressing—room。SayI’llhavetowearhercostumes，andthedressermusthaveeverythingready。
　　Thencallataxi，please。"
　　Theahadnotchangedherpositionsincehefirstinter—
　　ruptedher，butshehadgrownpaleandwasopeningandshuttingherhandsrapidly。Shelooked，Fredthought，ter—
　　rified。Hehalfturnedtowardthetelephone，buthungononefoot。
　　"Haveyoueversungthepart？"heasked。
　　"No，butI’verehearsedit。That’sallright。Getthecab。"Stillshemadenomove。Shemerelyturnedper—
　　fectlyblankeyestoDr。Archieandsaidabsently，"It’scurious，butjustatthisminuteIcan’trememberabarof’Walkure’afterthefirstact。AndIletmymaidgoout。"
　　ShesprangupandbeckonedArchiewithoutsomuch，hefeltsure，asknowingwhohewas。"Comewithme。"Shewentquicklyintohersleeping—chamberandthrewopenadoorintoatrunk—room。"Seethatwhitetrunk？It’snotlocked。It’sfullofwigs，inboxes。Lookuntilyoufindonemarked`Ring2。’Bringitquick！"Whileshedirectedhim，shethrewopenasquaretrunkandbegantossingoutshoesofeveryshapeandcolor。
　　Ottenburgappearedatthedoor。"CanIhelpyou？"
　　Shethrewhimsomewhitesandalswithlonglacesandsilkstockingspinnedtothem。"Putthoseinsomething，andthengotothepianoandgivemeafewmeasuresinthere——youknow。"Shewasbehavingsomewhatlikeacyclonenow，andwhileshewrenchedopendrawersandclosetdoors，Ottenburggottothepianoasquicklyaspos—
　　sibleandbegantoheraldthereappearanceoftheVolsungpair，trustingtomemory。
　　InafewmomentsTheacameoutenvelopedinherlongfurcoatwithascarfoverherheadandknittedwoolenglovesonherhands。HerglassyeyetookinthefactthatFredwasplayingfrommemory，andeveninherdistractedstate，afaintsmileflickeredoverhercolorlesslips。Shestretchedoutawoollyhand，"Thescore，please。Behindyou，there。"
　　Dr。Archiefollowedwithacanvasboxandasatchel。Astheywentthroughthehall，themencaughtuptheirhatsandcoats。Theyleftthemusic—room，Frednoticed，justsevenminutesafterhegotthetelephonemessage。IntheelevatorTheasaidinthathuskywhisperwhichhadsoper—
　　plexedDr。Archiewhenhefirstheardit，"Tellthedriver
　　hemustdoitintwentyminutes，lessifhecan。Hemustleavethelightoninthecab。Icandoagooddealintwentyminutes。Ifonlyyouhadn’tmademeeat——Damnthatduck！"shebrokeoutbitterly；"whydidyou？"
　　"WishIhaditback！Butitwon’tbotheryou，to—night。
　　Youneedstrength，"hepleadedconsolingly。
　　Butsheonlymutteredangrilyunderherbreath，"Idiot，idiot！"
　　Ottenburgshotaheadandinstructedthedriver，whilethedoctorputTheaintothecabandshutthedoor。Shedidnotspeaktoeitherofthemagain。Asthedriverscram—
　　bledintohisseatsheopenedthescoreandfixedhereyesuponit。Herface，inthewhitelight，lookedasbleakasastonequarry。
　　Ashercabslidaway，OttenburgshovedArchieintoasecondtaxithatwaitedbythecurb。"We’dbettertrailher，"heexplained。"Theremightbeahold—upofsomekind。"Asthecabwhizzedoffhebrokeintoaneruptionofprofanity。
　　"What’sthematter，Fred？"thedoctorasked。Hewasagooddealdazedbytherapidevolutionsofthelasttenminutes。
　　"Matterenough！"Fredgrowled，buttoninghisover—
　　coatwithashiver。"Whatawaytosingapartforthefirsttime！Thatduckreallyisonmyconscience。Itwillbeawonderifshecandoanythingbutquack！Scramblingoninthemiddleofaperformancelikethis，withnorehearsal！
　　Thestuffshehastosinginthereisafright——rhythm，pitch，——andterriblydifficultintervals。"
　　"Shelookedfrightened，"Dr。Archiesaidthoughtfully，"butIthoughtshelooked——determined。"
　　Fredsniffed。"Oh，determined！That’sthekindofroughdealthatmakessavagesofsingers。Here’sapartshe’sworkedonandgotreadyforforyears，andnowtheygiveherachancetogoonandbutcherit。Goodnessknowswhenshe’slookedatthescorelast，orwhethershecanuse
　　thebusinessshe’sstudiedwiththiscast。Necker’ssingingBRUNNHILDE；shemayhelpher，ifit’snotoneofhersorenights。"
　　"IsshesoreatThea？"Dr。Archieaskedwonderingly。
　　"Mydearman，Necker’ssoreateverything。She’sbreakingup；tooearly；justwhensheoughttobeatherbest。There’sonestorythatsheisstrugglingundersomeseriousmalady，anotherthatshelearnedabadmethodatthePragueConservatoryandhasruinedherorgan。She’sthesorestthingintheworld。Ifsheweathersthiswinterthrough，it’llbeherlast。She’spayingforitwiththelastragsofhervoice。Andthen——"Fredwhistledsoftly。
　　"Well，whatthen？"
　　"Thenourgirlmaycomeinforsomeofit。It’sdogeatdog，inthisgameasineveryother。"
　　ThecabstoppedandFredandDr。Archiehurriedtotheboxoffice。TheMonday—nighthousewassoldout。TheyboughtstandingroomandenteredtheauditoriumjustasthepressrepresentativeofthehousewasthankingtheaudiencefortheirpatienceandtellingthemthatalthoughMadameGloecklerwastooilltosing，MissKronborghadkindlyconsentedtofinishherpart。Thisannouncementwasmetwithvehementapplausefromtheuppercirclesofthehouse。
　　"Shehasher——constituents，"Dr。Archiemurmured。
　　"Yes，upthere，wherethey’reyoungandhungry。Thesepeopledownherehavedinedtoowell。Theywon’tmind，however。TheylikefiresandaccidentsandDIVERTISSEMENTS。
　　TwoSIEGLINDESaremoreunusualthanone，sothey’llbesatisfied。"
　　AfterthefinaldisappearanceofthemotherofSiegfried，Ottenburgandthedoctorslippedoutthroughthecrowdandleftthehouse。NearthestageentranceFredfoundthedriverwhohadbroughtTheadown。Hedismissedhimandgotalargercar。HeandArchiewaitedonthesidewalk，
　　andwhenKronborgcameoutalonetheygatheredherintothecabandspranginafterher。
　　Theasankbackintoacornerofthebackseatandyawned。"Well，Igotthrough，eh？"Hertonewasreas—
　　suring。"Onthewhole，IthinkI’vegivenyougentlemenaprettylivelyevening，foronewhohasnosocialaccomplish—
　　ments。"
　　"Rather！Therewassomethinglikeapopularuprisingattheendofthesecondact。ArchieandIcouldn’tkeepitupaslongastherestofthemdid。Ahowllikethatoughttoshowthemanagementwhichwaythewindisblowing。Youprobablyknowyouweremagnificent。"
　　"Ithoughtitwentprettywell，"shespokeimpartially。
　　"Iwasrathersmarttocatchhistempothere，atthebegin—
　　ningofthefirstrecitative，whenhecameintoosoon，don’tyouthink？It’strickyinthere，withoutarehearsal。Oh，Iwasallright！Hetookthatsyncopationtoofastinthebeginning。Somesingerstakeitfastthere——thinkitsoundsmoreimpassioned。That’soneway！"Shesniffed，andFredshotamirthfulglanceatArchie。Herboastful—
　　nesswouldhavebeenchildishinaschoolboy。Inthelightofwhatshehaddone，ofthestraintheyhadlivedthroughduringthelasttwohours，itmadeonelaugh，——almostcry。Shewenton，robustly："AndIdidn’tfeelmydin—
　　ner，really，Fred。Iamhungryagain，I’mashamedtosay，——andIforgottoorderanythingatmyhotel。"
　　Fredputhishandonthedoor。"Whereto？Youmusthavefood。"
　　"Doyouknowanyquietplace，whereIwon’tbestaredat？I’vestillgotmake—upon。"
　　"Ido。NiceEnglishchop—houseonForty—fourthStreet。
　　Nobodythereatnightbuttheaterpeopleaftertheshow，andafewbachelors。"Heopenedthedoorandspoketothedriver。
　　Asthecarturned，TheareachedacrosstothefrontseatanddrewDr。Archie’shandkerchiefoutofhisbreastpocket。
　　"Thiscomestomenaturally，"shesaid，rubbinghercheeksandeyebrows。"WhenIwaslittleIalwayslovedyourhandkerchiefsbecausetheyweresilkandsmelledofCol—
　　ognewater。IthinktheymusthavebeentheonlyreallycleanhandkerchiefsinMoonstone。Youwerealwayswipingmyfacewiththem，whenyoumetmeoutinthedust，Iremember。DidIneverhaveany？"
　　"Ithinkyou’dnearlyalwaysusedyoursuponyourbabybrother。"
　　Theasighed。"Yes，Thorhadsuchawayofgettingmessy。Yousayhe’sagoodchauffeur？"Sheclosedhereyesforamomentasiftheyweretired。Suddenlyshelookedup。"Isn’titfunny，howwetravelincircles？Hereyouare，stillgettingmeclean，andFredisstillfeedingme。
　　Iwouldhavediedofstarvationatthatboarding—houseonIndianaAvenueifhehadn’ttakenmeouttotheBucking—
　　hamandfilledmeuponceinawhile。WhatacavernIwastofill，too。Thewaitersusedtolookastonished。I’mstillsingingonthatfood。"
　　FredalightedandgaveTheahisarmastheycrossedtheicysidewalk。Theyweretakenupstairsinanantiquatedliftandfoundthecheerfulchop—roomhalffullofsupperparties。AnEnglishcompanyplayingattheEmpirehadjustcomein。Thewaiters，inredwaistcoats，werehurry—
　　ingabout。Fredgotatableatthebackoftheroom，inacorner，andurgedhiswaitertogettheoystersonatonce。
　　"Takesafewminutestoopenthem，sir，"themanex—
　　postulated。
　　"Yes，butmakeitasfewaspossible，andbringthelady’sfirst。Thengrilledchopswithkidneys，andsalad。"
　　Theabeganeatingcelerystalksatonce，fromthebasetothefoliage。"Neckersaidsomethingnicetometo—
　　night。Youmighthavethoughtthemanagementwouldsaysomething，butnotthey。"ShelookedatFredfromunderherblackenedlashes。"ItWASastunt，tojumpin
　　andsingthatsecondactwithoutrehearsal。Itdoesn’tsingitself。"
　　Ottenburgwaswatchingherbrillianteyesandherface。
　　Shewasmuchhandsomerthanshehadbeenearlyintheevening。Excitementofthissortenrichedher。Itwasonlyundersuchexcitement，hereflected，thatshewasentirelyilluminated，orwhollypresent。Atothertimestherewassomethingalittlecoldandempty，likeabigroomwithnopeopleinit。Eveninhermostgenialmoodstherewasashadowofrestlessness，asifshewerewaitingforsomethingandwereexercisingthevirtueofpatience。Duringdinnershehadbeenaskindassheknewhowtobe，tohimandtoArchie，andhadgiventhemasmuchofherselfasshecould。
　　But，clearly，sheknewonlyonewayofbeingreallykind，fromthecoreofherheartout；andtherewasbutonewayinwhichshecouldgiveherselftopeoplelargelyandgladly，spontaneously。Evenasagirlshehadbeenatherbestinvigorouseffort，heremembered；physicaleffort，whentherewasnootherkindathand。Shecouldbeexpansiveonlyinexplosions。OldNathanmeyerhadseenit。IntheveryfirstsongFredhadeverheardhersing，shehadunconsciouslydeclaredit。
　　TheaKronborgturnedsuddenlyfromhertalkwithArchieandpeeredsuspiciouslyintothecornerwhereOtten—
　　burgsatwithfoldedarms，observingher。"What’sthematterwithyou，Fred？I’mafraidofyouwhenyou’requiet，——fortunatelyyoualmostneverare。Whatareyouthinkingabout？"
　　"Iwaswonderinghowyougotrightwiththeorchestrasoquickly，thereatfirst。Ihadaflashofterror，"here—
　　pliedeasily。
　　Sheboltedherlastoysterandduckedherhead。"SohadI！Idon’tknowhowIdidcatchit。Desperation，I
　　suppose；samewaytheIndianbabiesswimwhenthey’rethrownintotheriver。IHADto。Nowit’sover，I’mgladI
　　hadto。Ilearnedawholelotto—night。"
　　Archie，whousuallyfeltthatitbehoovedhimtobesilentduringsuchdiscussions，wasencouragedbyhergenialitytoventure，"Idon’tseehowyoucanlearnanythinginsuchaturmoil；orhowyoucankeepyourmindonit，forthatmatter。"
　　Theaglancedabouttheroomandsuddenlyputherhanduptoherhair。"Mercy，I’venohaton！Whydidn’tyoutellme？AndIseemtobewearingarumpleddinnerdress，withallthispaintonmyface！ImustlooklikesomethingyoupickeduponSecondAvenue。IhopetherearenoColoradoreformersabout，Dr。Archie。Whatadreadfuloldpairthesepeoplemustbethinkingyou！Well，Ihadtoeat。"Shesniffedthesavorofthegrillasthewaiteruncov—
　　eredit。"Yes，draughtbeer，please。No，thankyou，Fred，NOchampagne。——Togobacktoyourquestion，Dr。Archie，youcanbelieveIkeepmymindonit。That’sthewholetrick，insofarasstageexperiencegoes；keepingrightthereeverysecond。IfIthinkofanythingelseforaflash，I’mgone，donefor。Butatthesametime，onecantakethingsin——withanotherpartofyourbrain，maybe。It’sdifferentfromwhatyougetinstudy，morepracticalandconclusive。
　　Therearesomethingsyoulearnbestincalm，andsomeinstorm。Youlearnthedeliveryofapartonlybeforeanaudience。"
　　"Heavenhelpus，"gaspedOttenburg。"Weren’tyouhungry，though！It’sbeautifultoseeyoueat。"
　　"Gladyoulikeit。OfcourseI’mhungry。Areyoustay—
　　ingoverfor`Rheingold’Fridayafternoon？"
　　"MydearThea，"——Fredlitacigarette，——"I’maseri—
　　ousbusinessmannow。Ihavetosellbeer。I’mdueinChicagoonWednesday。I’dcomebacktohearyou，butFRICKAisnotanalluringpart。"
　　"Thenyou’veneverhearditwelldone。"Shespokeuphotly。"FatGermanwomanscoldingherhusband，eh？
　　That’snotmyidea。WaittillyouhearmyFRICKA。It’sabeautifulpart。"Thealeanedforwardonthetableand
　　touchedArchie’sarm。"Youremember，Dr。Archie，howmymotheralwaysworeherhair，partedinthemiddleanddonelowonherneckbehind，soyougottheshapeofherheadandsuchacalm，whiteforehead？IwearminelikethatforFRICKA。Alittlemorecoroneteffect，builtupalit—
　　tlehigheratthesides，buttheidea’sthesame。Ithinkyou’llnoticeit。"SheturnedtoOttenburgreproachfully：
　　"It’snoblemusic，Fred，fromthefirstmeasure。There’snothinglovelierthantheWONNIGERHAUSRATH。It’sallsuchcomprehensivesortofmusic——fateful。Ofcourse，FRICKA
　　KNOWS，"Theaendedquietly。
　　Fredsighed。"There，you’vespoiledmyitinerary。
　　NowI’llhavetocomeback，ofcourse。Archie，you’dbet—
　　tergetbusyaboutseatsto—morrow。"
　　"Icangetyouboxseats，somewhere。Iknownobodyhere，andIneveraskforany。"Theabeganhuntingamongherwraps。"Oh，howfunny！I’veonlytheseshortwoolengloves，andnosleeves。Putonmycoatfirst。ThoseEng—
　　lishpeoplecan’tmakeoutwhereyougotyourlady，she’ssomadeupofcontradictions。"SheroselaughingandplungedherarmsintothecoatDr。Archieheldforher。Asshesettledherselfintoitandbuttoneditunderherchin，shegavehimanoldsignalwithhereyelid。"I’dliketosinganotherpartto—night。ThisisthesortofeveningI
　　fancy，whenthere’ssomethingtodo。Letmesee：Ihavetosingin`Trovatore’Wednesdaynight，andtherearere—
　　hearsalsforthe`Ring’everydaythisweek。ConsidermedeaduntilSaturday，Dr。Archie。IinviteyoubothtodinewithmeonSaturdaynight，thedayafter`Rheingold。’
　　AndFredmustleaveearly，forIwanttotalktoyoualone。
　　You’vebeenherenearlyaweek，andIhaven’thadaseri—
　　ouswordwithyou。TAKFORMAD，Fred，astheNorwegianssay。"
　　VIII
　　THE"RingoftheNiebelungs"wastobegivenattheMetropolitanonfoursuccessiveFridayafternoons。
　　Afterthefirstoftheseperformances，FredOttenburgwenthomewithLandryfortea。Landrywasoneofthefewpub—
　　licentertainerswhoownrealestateinNewYork。Helivedinalittlethree—storybrickhouseonJaneStreet，inGreen—
　　wichVillage，whichhadbeenlefttohimbythesameauntwhopaidforhismusicaleducation。
　　Landrywasborn，andspentthefirstfifteenyearsofhislife，onarockyConnecticutfarmnotfarfromCosCob。
　　Hisfatherwasanignorant，violentman，abunglingfarmerandabrutalhusband。Thefarmhouse，dilapidatedanddamp，stoodinahollowbesideamarshypond。Oliverhadworkedhardwhilehelivedathome，althoughhewasnevercleanorwarminwinterandhadwretchedfoodalltheyearround。Hisspare，dryfigure，hisprominentlarynx，andthepeculiarredofhisfaceandhandsbelongedtothechore—
　　boyhehadneveroutgrown。Itwasasifthefarm，knowinghewouldescapefromitasearlyashecould，hadgrounditsmarkonhimdeep。WhenhewasfifteenOliverranawayandwenttolivewithhisCatholicaunt，onJaneStreet，whomhismotherwasneverallowedtovisit。ThepriestofSt。Joseph’sParishdiscoveredthathehadavoice。
　　LandryhadanaffectionforthehouseonJaneStreet，wherehehadfirstlearnedwhatcleanlinessandorderandcourtesywere。Whenhisauntdiedhehadtheplacedoneover，gotanIrishhousekeeper，andlivedtherewithagreatmanybeautifulthingshehadcollected。Hislivingex—
　　penseswereneverlarge，buthecouldnotrestrainhimselffrombuyinggracefulanduselessobjects。Hewasacollec—
　　torformuchthesamereasonthathewasaCatholic，and
　　hewasaCatholicchieflybecausehisfatherusedtositinthekitchenandreadaloudtohishiredmendisgusting"exposures"oftheRomanChurch，enjoyingequallythehideousstoriesandtheoutragetohiswife’sfeelings。
　　AtfirstLandryboughtbooks；thenrugs，drawings，china。HehadabeautifulcollectionofoldFrenchandSpanishfans。HekepttheminanescritoirehehadbroughtfromSpain，buttherewerealwaysafewofthemlyingaboutinhissitting—room。
　　WhileLandryandhisguestwerewaitingfortheteatobebrought，Ottenburgtookuponeofthesefansfromthelowmarblemantel—shelfandopeneditinthefirelight。Onesidewaspaintedwithapearlyskyandfloatingclouds。
　　Ontheotherwasaformalgardenwhereanelegantshep—
　　herdesswithamaskandcrookwasfleeingonhighheelsfromasatin—coatedshepherd。
　　"Yououghtnottokeepthesethingsabout，likethis，Oliver。Thedustfromyourgratemustgetatthem。"
　　"Itdoes，butIgetthemtoenjoythem，nottohavethem。They’repleasanttoglanceatandtoplaywithatoddtimeslikethis，whenoneiswaitingforteaorsome—
　　thing。"
　　Fredsmiled。TheideaofLandrystretchedoutbeforehisfireplayingwithhisfans，amusedhim。Mrs。McGinnisbroughttheteaandputitbeforethehearth：oldteacupsthatwerevelvetytothetouchandapot—belliedsilvercreampitcherofanEarlyGeorgianpattern，whichwasalwaysbrought，thoughLandrytookrum。
　　Freddrankhisteawalkingabout，examiningLandry’ssumptuouswriting—tableinthealcoveandtheBoucherdrawinginredchalkoverthemantel。"Idon’tseehowyoucanstandthisplacewithoutaheroine。Itwouldgivemearagingthirstforgallantries。"
　　Landrywashelpinghimselftoasecondcupoftea。
　　"Worksquitetheotherwaywithme。Itconsolesmeforthelackofher。It’sjustfeminineenoughtobepleasantto
　　returnto。Notanymoretea？Thensitdownandplayforme。I’malwaysplayingforotherpeople，andIneverhaveachancetositherequietlyandlisten。"
　　Ottenburgopenedthepianoandbegansoftlytoboomforththeshadowyintroductiontotheoperatheyhadjustheard。"Willthatdo？"heaskedjokingly。"Ican’tseemtogetitoutofmyhead。"
　　"Oh，excellently！Theatoldmeitwasquitewonderful，thewayyoucandoWagnerscoresonthepiano。Sofewpeoplecangiveoneanyideaofthemusic。Goahead，aslongasyoulike。Icansmoke，too。"Landryflattenedhim—
　　selfoutonhiscushionsandabandonedhimselftoeasewiththecircumstanceofonewhohasnevergrownquiteaccus—
　　tomedtoease。
　　Ottenburgplayedon，ashehappenedtoremember。HeunderstoodnowwhyTheawishedhimtohearherin"Rheingold。"IthadbeencleartohimassoonasFRICKA
　　rosefromsleepandlookedoutovertheyoungworld，stretchingonewhitearmtowardthenewGotterburgshiningontheheights。"WOTAN！GEMAHL！ERWACHE！"ShewaspureScandinavian，thisFRICKA："Swedishsummer"！
　　herememberedoldMr。Nathanmeyer’sphrase。Shehadwishedhimtoseeherbecauseshehadadistinctkindoflovelinessforthispart，ashiningbeautylikethelightofsunsetondistantsails。Sheseemedtotakeonthelookofimmortalloveliness，theyouthofthegoldenapples，theshiningbodyandtheshiningmind。FRICKAhadbeenajealousspousetohimforsolongthathehadforgotshemeantwisdombeforeshemeantdomesticorder，andthat，inanyevent，shewasalwaysagoddess。TheFRICKAofthatafternoonwassoclearandsunny，sonoblyconceived，thatshemadeawholeatmosphereaboutherselfandquiteredeemedfromshabbinessthehelplessnessandunscrupu—
　　lousnessofthegods。HerreproachestoWOTANwerethepleadingsofatemperedmind，aconsistentsenseofbeauty。
　　Inthelongsilencesofherpart，hershiningpresencewasa
　　visiblecomplementtothediscussionoftheorchestra。Asthethemeswhichweretohelpinweavingthedramatoitsendfirstcamevaguelyupontheear，onesawtheirimportandtendencyinthefaceofthisclearest—visionedofthegods。
　　InthescenebetweenFRICKAandWOTAN，Ottenburgstopped。"Ican’tseemtogetthevoices，inthere。"
　　Landrychuckled。"Don’ttry。Iknowitwellenough。
　　IexpectI’vebeenoverthatwithherathousandtimes。I
　　wasplayingforheralmosteverydaywhenshewasfirstworkingonit。Whenshebeginswithapartshe’shardtoworkwith：soslowyou’dthinkshewasstupidifyoudidn’tknowher。Ofcoursesheblamesitallonheraccompanist。
　　Itgoesonlikethatforweekssometimes。Thisdid。Shekeptshakingherheadandstaringandlookinggloomy。
　　Allatonce，shegotherline——itusuallycomessuddenly，afterstretchesofnotgettinganywhereatall——andafterthatitkeptchangingandclearing。Assheworkedhervoiceintoit，itgotmoreandmoreofthat`gold’qualitythatmakesherFRICKAsodifferent。"
　　FredbeganFRICKA’Sfirstariaagain。"It’scertainlydifferent。Curioushowshedoesit。Suchabeautifulidea，outofapartthat’salwaysbeensoungrateful。She’salovelything，butshewasneversobeautifulasthat，really。