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average was not quite sound。 Certainly very little of that
superfluous ardor； which cost so dear； ever got across the
footlights。 These misgivings waited to pounce upon her
when she wakened。 They hovered about her bed like
vultures。
She reached under her pillow for her handkerchief； with…
out opening her eyes。 She had a shadowy memory that
there was to be something unusual； that this day held more
disquieting possibilities than days commonly held。 There
was something she dreaded； what was it？ Oh； yes； Dr。
Archie was to come at four。
A reality like Dr。 Archie； poking up out of the past； re…
minded one of disappointments and losses； of a freedom
that was no more： reminded her of blue； golden mornings
long ago； when she used to waken with a burst of joy at
recovering her precious self and her precious world； when
she never lay on her pillows at eleven o'clock like some…
thing the waves had washed up。 After all； why had he
come？ It had been so long； and so much had happened。
The things she had lost； he would miss readily enough。
What she had gained； he would scarcely perceive。 He； and
all that he recalled； lived for her as memories。 In sleep；
and in hours of illness or exhaustion； she went back to
them and held them to her heart。 But they were better
as memories。 They had nothing to do with the struggle
that made up her actual life。 She felt drearily that she
was not flexible enough to be the person her old friend
expected her to be； the person she herself wished to be
with him。
Thea reached for the bell and rang twice；a signal to
her maid to order her breakfast。 She rose and ran up the
window shades and turned on the water in her bathroom；
glancing into the mirror apprehensively as she passed it。
Her bath usually cheered her； even on low mornings like
this。 Her white bathroom； almost as large as her sleeping…
room； she regarded as a refuge。 When she turned the key
behind her； she left care and vexation on the other side of
the door。 Neither her maid nor the management nor her
letters nor her accompanist could get at her now。
When she pinned her braids about her head； dropped
her nightgown and stepped out to begin her Swedish move…
ments； she was a natural creature again； and it was so that
she liked herself best。 She slid into the tub with anticipa…
tion and splashed and tumbled about a good deal。 What…
ever else she hurried； she never hurried her bath。 She
used her brushes and sponges and soaps like toys； fairly
playing in the water。 Her own body was always a cheer…
ing sight to her。 When she was careworn； when her mind
felt old and tired； the freshness of her physical self； her
long； firm lines； the smoothness of her skin； reassured her。
This morning； because of awakened memories； she looked
at herself more carefully than usual； and was not discour…
aged。 While she was in the tub she began to whistle
softly the tenor aria； 〃AH！ FUYEZ； DOUCE IMAGE；〃 somehow
appropriate to the bath。 After a noisy moment under the
cold shower； she stepped out on the rug flushed and glow…
ing； threw her arms above her head； and rose on her toes；
keeping the elevation as long as she could。 When she
dropped back on her heels and began to rub herself with
the towels； she took up the aria again； and felt quite in the
humor for seeing Dr。 Archie。 After she had returned to her
bed； the maid brought her letters and the morning papers
with her breakfast。
〃Telephone Mr。 Landry and ask him if he can come at
half…past three； Theresa； and order tea to be brought up
at five。〃
When Howard Archie was admitted to Thea's apart…
ment that afternoon； he was shown into the music…room
back of the little reception room。 Thea was sitting in a
davenport behind the piano； talking to a young man whom
she later introduced as her friend Mr。 Landry。 As she
rose； and came to meet him； Archie felt a deep relief； a
sudden thankfulness。 She no longer looked clipped and
plucked； or dazed and fleeing。
Dr。 Archie neglected to take account of the young man
to whom he was presented。 He kept Thea's hands and
held her where he met her； taking in the light； lively sweep
of her hair； her clear green eyes and her throat that came
up strong and dazzlingly white from her green velvet gown。
The chin was as lovely as ever； the cheeks as smooth。
All the lines of last night had disappeared。 Only at the
outer corners of her eyes； between the eye and the temple；
were the faintest indications of a future attackmere
kitten scratches that playfully hinted where one day the
cat would claw her。 He studied her without any embar…
rassment。 Last night everything had been awkward； but
now； as he held her hands； a kind of harmony came between
them； a reestablishment of confidence。
〃After all； Thea；in spite of all； I still know you；〃 he
murmured。
She took his arm and led him up to the young man who
was standing beside the piano。 〃Mr。 Landry knows all
about you； Dr。 Archie。 He has known about you for many
years。〃 While the two men shook hands she stood between
them； drawing them together by her presence and her
glances。 〃When I first went to Germany； Landry was
studying there。 He used to be good enough to work with
me when I could not afford to have an accompanist for
more than two hours a day。 We got into the way of work…
ing together。 He is a singer； too； and has his own career to
look after； but he still manages to give me some time。 I
want you to be friends。〃 She smiled from one to the
other。
The rooms； Archie noticed； full of last night's flowers；
were furnished in light colors； the hotel bleakness of them
a little softened by a magnificent Steinway piano； white
bookshelves full of books and scores； some drawings of
ballet dancers； and the very deep sofa behind the piano。
〃Of course；〃 Archie asked apologetically； 〃you have
seen the papers？〃
〃Very cordial； aren't they？ They evidently did not
expect as much as I did。 ELSA is not really in my voice。
I can sing the music； but I have to go after it。〃
〃That is exactly；〃 the doctor came out boldly； 〃what
Fred Ottenburg said this morning。〃
They had remained standing； the three of them； by the
piano； where the gray afternoon light was strongest