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shrugged impatiently。 〃For one thing； they change the
cast at the eleventh hour and then rehearse the life out of
me。〃
Ottenburg put down his cup with exaggerated care。
〃Still； you really want to do it； you know。〃
〃Want to？〃 she repeated indignantly； 〃of course I want
to！ If this were only next Thursday night But between
now and Friday I'll do nothing but fret away my strength。
Oh； I'm not saying I don't need the rehearsals！ But I
don't need them strung out through a week。 That sys…
tem's well enough for phlegmatic singers； it only drains
me。 Every single feature of operatic routine is detri…
mental to me。 I usually go on like a horse that's been
fixed to lose a race。 I have to work hard to do my worst；
let alone my best。 I wish you could hear me sing well；
once；〃 she turned to Fred defiantly； 〃I have； a few times
in my life； when there was nothing to gain by it。〃
Fred approached her again and held out his hand。 〃I
recall my instructions； and now I'll leave you to fight it out
with Archie。 He can't possibly represent managerial stu…
pidity to you as I seem to have a gift for doing。〃
As he smiled down at her； his good humor； his good
wishes； his understanding； embarrassed her and recalled
her to herself。 She kept her seat； still holding his hand。
〃All the same； Fred； isn't it too bad； that there are so
many things〃 She broke off with a shake of the head。
〃My dear girl； if I could bridge over the agony between
now and Friday for you But you know the rules of the
game； why torment yourself？ You saw the other night
that you had the part under your thumb。 Now walk； sleep；
play with Archie； keep your tiger hungry； and she'll spring
all right on Friday。 I'll be there to see her； and there'll be
more than I； I suspect。 Harsanyi's on the Wilhelm der
Grosse； gets in on Thursday。〃
〃Harsanyi？〃 Thea's eye lighted。 〃I haven't seen him
for years。 We always miss each other。〃 She paused； hesi…
tating。 〃Yes； I should like that。 But he'll be busy； may…
be？〃
〃He gives his first concert at Carnegie Hall； week after
next。 Better send him a box if you can。〃
〃Yes； I'll manage it。〃 Thea took his hand again。 〃Oh；
I should like that； Fred！〃 she added impulsively。 〃Even
if I were put out； he'd get the idea；〃she threw back
her head；〃for there is an idea！〃
〃Which won't penetrate here；〃 he tapped his brow and
began to laugh。 〃You are an ungrateful huzzy； COMME LES
AUTRES！〃
Thea detained him as he turned away。 She pulled a
flower out of a bouquet on the piano and absently drew
the stem through the lapel of his coat。 〃I shall be walking
in the Park to…morrow afternoon； on the reservoir path；
between four and five； if you care to join me。 You know
that after Harsanyi I'd rather please you than anyone else。
You know a lot； but he knows even more than you。〃
〃Thank you。 Don't try to analyze it。 SCHLAFEN SIE
WOHL！〃 he kissed her fingers and waved from the door；
closing it behind him。
〃He's the right sort； Thea。〃 Dr。 Archie looked warmly
after his disappearing friend。 〃I've always hoped you'd
make it up with Fred。〃
〃Well； haven't I？ Oh； marry him； you mean！ Perhaps
it may come about； some day。 Just at present he's not
in the marriage market any more than I am； is he？〃
〃No； I suppose not。 It's a damned shame that a man
like Ottenburg should be tied up as he is； wasting all the
best years of his life。 A woman with general paresis ought
to be legally dead。〃
〃Don't let us talk about Fred's wife； please。 He had no
business to get into such a mess； and he had no business to
stay in it。 He's always been a softy where women were
concerned。〃
〃Most of us are； I'm afraid；〃 Dr。 Archie admitted
meekly。
〃Too much light in here； isn't there？ Tires one's eyes。
The stage lights are hard on mine。〃 Thea began turning
them out。 〃We'll leave the little one； over the piano。〃
She sank down by Archie on the deep sofa。 〃We two have
so much to talk about that we keep away from it altogether；
have you noticed？ We don't even nibble the edges。 I wish
we had Landry here to…night to play for us。 He's very
comforting。〃
〃I'm afraid you don't have enough personal life； outside
your work； Thea。〃 The doctor looked at her anxiously。
She smiled at him with her eyes half closed。 〃My dear
doctor； I don't have any。 Your work becomes your per…
sonal life。 You are not much good until it does。 It's like
being woven into a big web。 You can't pull away； because
all your little tendrils are woven into the picture。 It takes
you up； and uses you； and spins you out； and that is your
life。 Not much else can happen to you。〃
〃Didn't you think of marrying； several years ago？〃
〃You mean Nordquist？ Yes； but I changed my mind。
We had been singing a good deal together。 He's a splendid
creature。〃
〃Were you much in love with him； Thea？〃 the doctor
asked hopefully。
She smiled again。 〃I don't think I know just what that
expression means。 I've never been able to find out。 I
think I was in love with you when I was little； but not
with any one since then。 There are a great many ways of
caring for people。 It's not； after all； a simple state； like
measles or tonsilitis。 Nordquist is a taking sort of man。
He and I were out in a rowboat once in a terrible storm。
The lake was fed by glaciers；ice water；and we
couldn't have swum a stroke if the boat had filled。 If we
hadn't both been strong and kept our heads； we'd have
gone down。 We pulled for every ounce there was in us；
and we just got off with our lives。 We were always being
thrown together like that； under some kind of pressure。
Yes； for a while I thought he would make everything
right。〃 She paused and sank back； resting her head on a
cushion； pressing her eyelids down with her fingers。 〃You
see；〃 she went on abruptly； 〃he had a wife and two chil…
dren。 He hadn't lived with her for several years； but
when she heard that he wanted to marry again； she began
to make trouble。 He earned a good deal of money； but he
was careless and always wretchedly in debt。 He came to
me one day and told me he thought his wife would settle