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performance of SIEGLINDE； had； since Thea was cast to sing
the part instead of Gloeckler in the production of the
〃Ring；〃 been chilly and disapproving； distinctly hostile。
Thea had always felt that she and Necker stood for the
same sort of endeavor； and that Necker recognized it and
had a cordial feeling for her。 In Germany she had several
times sung BRANGAENA to Necker's ISOLDE； and the older
artist had let her know that she thought she sang it beau…
tifully。 It was a bitter disappointment to find that the
approval of so honest an artist as Necker could not stand
the test of any significant recognition by the management。
Madame Necker was forty； and her voice was failing just
when her powers were at their height。 Every fresh young
voice was an enemy； and this one was accompanied by
gifts which she could not fail to recognize。
Thea had her dinner sent up to her apartment； and it
was a very poor one。 She tasted the soup and then indig…
nantly put on her wraps to go out and hunt a dinner。 As
she was going to the elevator； she had to admit that she
was behaving foolishly。 She took off her hat and coat
and ordered another dinner。 When it arrived； it was no
better than the first。 There was even a burnt match under
the milk toast。 She had a sore throat； which made swal…
lowing painful and boded ill for the morrow。 Although she
had been speaking in whispers all day to save her throat；
she now perversely summoned the housekeeper and de…
manded an account of some laundry that had been lost。
The housekeeper was indifferent and impertinent； and
Thea got angry and scolded violently。 She knew it was
very bad for her to get into a rage just before bedtime； and
after the housekeeper left she realized that for ten dollars'
worth of underclothing she had been unfitting herself for
a performance which might eventually mean many thous…
ands。 The best thing now was to stop reproaching herself
for her lack of sense； but she was too tired to control her
thoughts。
While she was undressingTherese was brushing out
her SIEGLINDE wig in the trunk…roomshe went on chid…
ing herself bitterly。 〃And how am I ever going to get to
sleep in this state？〃 she kept asking herself。 〃If I don't
sleep； I'll be perfectly worthless to…morrow。 I'll go down
there to…morrow and make a fool of myself。 If I'd let that
laundry alone with whatever nigger has stolen it WHY
did I undertake to reform the management of this hotel
to…night？ After to…morrow I could pack up and leave the
place。 There's the PhillamonI liked the rooms there
better； anyhowand the Umberto〃 She began going
over the advantages and disadvantages of different apart…
ment hotels。 Suddenly she checked herself。 〃What AM
I doing this for？ I can't move into another hotel to…night。
I'll keep this up till morning。 I shan't sleep a wink。〃
Should she take a hot bath； or shouldn't she？ Some…
times it relaxed her； and sometimes it roused her and fairly
put her beside herself。 Between the conviction that she
must sleep and the fear that she couldn't； she hung para…
lyzed。 When she looked at her bed； she shrank from it in
every nerve。 She was much more afraid of it than she had
ever been of the stage of any opera house。 It yawned be…
fore her like the sunken road at Waterloo。
She rushed into her bathroom and locked the door。 She
would risk the bath； and defer the encounter with the bed a
little longer。 She lay in the bath half an hour。 The warmth
of the water penetrated to her bones； induced pleasant
reflections and a feeling of well…being。 It was very nice to
have Dr。 Archie in New York； after all； and to see him get
so much satisfaction out of the little companionship she
was able to give him。 She liked people who got on； and
who became more interesting as they grew older。 There
was Fred； he was much more interesting now than he had
been at thirty。 He was intelligent about music； and he
must be very intelligent in his business； or he would not
be at the head of the Brewers' Trust。 She respected that
kind of intelligence and success。 Any success was good。
She herself had made a good start； at any rate； and now；
if she could get to sleep Yes； they were all more inter…
esting than they used to be。 Look at Harsanyi； who had
been so long retarded； what a place he had made for him…
self in Vienna。 If she could get to sleep； she would show
him something to…morrow that he would understand。
She got quickly into bed and moved about freely be…
tween the sheets。 Yes； she was warm all over。 A cold；
dry breeze was coming in from the river； thank goodness！
She tried to think about her little rock house and the Ari…
zona sun and the blue sky。 But that led to memories which
were still too disturbing。 She turned on her side； closed
her eyes； and tried an old device。
She entered her father's front door； hung her hat and
coat on the rack； and stopped in the parlor to warm her
hands at the stove。 Then she went out through the dining…
room； where the boys were getting their lessons at the long
table； through the sitting…room； where Thor was asleep in
his cot bed； his dress and stocking hanging on a chair。 In
the kitchen she stopped for her lantern and her hot brick。
She hurried up the back stairs and through the windy loft
to her own glacial room。 The illusion was marred only by
the consciousness that she ought to brush her teeth before
she went to bed； and that she never used to do it。 Why？
The water was frozen solid in the pitcher； so she got over
that。 Once between the red blankets there was a short；
fierce battle with the cold； then； warmerwarmer。 She
could hear her father shaking down the hard…coal burner
for the night； and the wind rushing and banging down the
village street。 The boughs of the cottonwood； hard as
bone； rattled against her gable。 The bed grew softer and
warmer。 Everybody was warm and well downstairs。 The
sprawling old house had gathered them all in； like a hen；
and had settled down over its brood。 They were all warm
in her father's house。 Softer and softer。 She was asleep。
She slept ten hours without turning over。 From sleep like
that； one awakes in shining armor。
On Friday afternoon there was an inspiring audience；
there was not an empty chair in the house。 Ottenburg
and Dr。 Archie had seats in the