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suggest character； she knows the thing at the root； and lets
the musical pattern take care of her。 The score pours her
into all those lovely postures； makes the light and shadow
go over her face； lifts her and drops her。 She lies on it； the
way she used to lie on the Rhine music。 Talk about
rhythm！〃
The doctor frowned dubiously as a third bottle made its
appearance above the cloth。 〃Aren't you going in rather
strong？〃
Fred laughed。 〃No； I'm becoming too sober。 You see
this is breakfast now； kind of wedding breakfast。 I feel
rather weddingish。 I don't mind。 You know；〃 he went on
as the wine gurgled out； 〃I was thinking to…night when
they sprung the wedding music； how any fool can have
that stuff played over him when he walks up the aisle with
some dough…faced little hussy who's hooked him。 But it
isn't every fellow who can seewell； what we saw to…
night。 There are compensations in life； Dr。 Howard Archie；
though they come in disguise。 Did you notice her when she
came down the stairs？ Wonder where she gets that bright…
and…morning star look？ Carries to the last row of the
family circle。 I moved about all over the house。 I'll tell
you a secret； Archie： that carrying power was one of the
first things that put me wise。 Noticed it down there in
Arizona； in the open。 That； I said； belongs only to the big
ones。〃 Fred got up and began to move rhythmically about
the room； his hands in his pockets。 The doctor was aston…
ished at his ease and steadiness； for there were slight lapses
in his speech。 〃You see； Archie； ELSA isn't a part that's
particularly suited to Thea's voice at all； as I see her voice。
It's over…lyrical for her。 She makes it； but there's nothing
in it that fits her like a glove； except； maybe； that long
duet in the third act。 There； of course；〃he held out his
hands as if he were measuring something；〃we know
exactly where we are。 But wait until they give her a chance
at something that lies properly in her voice； and you'll see
me rosier than I am to…night。〃
Archie smoothed the tablecloth with his hand。 〃I am
sure I don't want to see you any rosier； Fred。〃
Ottenburg threw back his head and laughed。 〃It's en…
thusiasm； doctor。 It's not the wine。 I've got as much in…
flated as this for a dozen trashy things： brewers' dinners
and political orgies。 You； too； have your extravagances；
Archie。 And what I like best in you is this particular
enthusiasm； which is not at all practical or sensible； which
is downright Quixotic。 You are not altogether what you
seem； and you have your reservations。 Living among the
wolves； you have not become one。 LUPIBUS VIVENDI NON
LUPUS SUM。〃
The doctor seemed embarrassed。 〃I was just thinking
how tired she looked； plucked of all her fine feathers； while
we get all the fun。 Instead of sitting here carousing； we
ought to go solemnly to bed。〃
〃I get your idea。〃 Ottenburg crossed to the window and
threw it open。 〃Fine night outside； a hag of a moon just
setting。 It begins to smell like morning。 After all； Archie；
think of the lonely and rather solemn hours we've spent
waiting for all this； while she's beenreveling。〃
Archie lifted his brows。 〃I somehow didn't get the idea
to…night that she revels much。〃
〃I don't mean this sort of thing。〃 Fred turned toward
the light and stood with his back to the window。 〃That；〃
with a nod toward the wine…cooler； 〃is only a cheap imita…
tion； that any poor stiff…fingered fool can buy and feel his
shell grow thinner。 But take it from me； no matter what
she pays； or how much she may see fit to lie about it； the
real； the master revel is hers。〃 He leaned back against the
window sill and crossed his arms。 〃Anybody with all that
voice and all that talent and all that beauty； has her hour。
Her hour；〃 he went on deliberately； 〃when she can say；
'there it is； at last； WIE IM TRAUM ICH
〃‘As in my dream I dreamed it；
As in my will it was。'〃
He stood silent a moment； twisting the flower from his
coat by the stem and staring at the blank wall with hag…
gard abstraction。 〃Even I can say to…night； Archie；〃 he
brought out slowly；
〃‘As in my dream I dreamed it；
As in my will it was。'
Now； doctor； you may leave me。 I'm beautifully drunk；
but not with anything that ever grew in France。〃
The doctor rose。 Fred tossed his flower out of the win…
dow behind him and came toward the door。 〃I say；〃 he
called； 〃have you a date with anybody？〃
The doctor paused； his hand on the knob。 〃With Thea；
you mean？ Yes。 I'm to go to her at four this afternoon
if you haven't paralyzed me。〃
〃Well； you won't eat me； will you； if I break in and send
up my card？ She'll probably turn me down cold； but that
won't hurt my feelings。 If she ducks me； you tell her for me；
that to spite me now she'd have to cut off more than she
can spare。 Good…night； Archie。〃
VI
IT was late on the morning after the night she sang ELSA；
when Thea Kronborg stirred uneasily in her bed。 The
room was darkened by two sets of window shades； and the
day outside was thick and cloudy。 She turned and tried
to recapture unconsciousness； knowing that she would not
be able to do so。 She dreaded waking stale and disap…
pointed after a great effort。 The first thing that came was
always the sense of the futility of such endeavor； and of
the absurdity of trying too hard。 Up to a certain point；
say eighty degrees； artistic endeavor could be fat and
comfortable； methodical and prudent。 But if you went
further than that； if you drew yourself up toward ninety
degrees； you parted with your defenses and left yourself
exposed to mischance。 The legend was that in those upper
reaches you might be divine； but you were much likelier
to be ridiculous。 Your public wanted just about eighty
degrees； if you gave it more it blew its nose and put a
crimp in you。 In the morning； especially； it seemed to
her very probable that whatever struggled above the good
average was not quite sound。 Certainly very little of that
superfluous ardor； which cost so dear； ever got across the
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