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Men； Women and Ghosts
most excellent。 The scenery and the costumes were applauded； The latter it
was whispered had been sent From Italy。 The Herr Direktor spent A
fortune on them； so the gossips said。 Charlotta felt a lightness in her head。
When the next act began； her eyes were swimming； Her prodded ears
were aching and confused。 The first notes from the orchestra sent
skimming Her outward consciousness。 Her brain was fused Into the
music； Theodore's music！ Used To hear him play； she caught his single
tone。 For all she noticed they two were alone。
Part Fourth
Frau Altgelt waited in the chilly street； Hustled by lackeys who ran up
and down Shouting their coachmen's names； forced to retreat A pace or
two by lurching chairmen； thrown Rudely aside by linkboys； boldly shown
The ogling rapture in two bleary eyes Thrust close to hers in most
unpleasant wise。
Escaping these； she hit a liveried arm； Was sworn at by this glittering
gentleman And ordered off。 However； no great harm Came to her。 But
she looked a trifle wan When Theodore； her belated guardian； Emerged。
She snuggled up against him； trembling； Half out of fear； half out of the
assembling
Of all the thoughts and needs his playing had given。 Had she enjoyed
herself； he wished to know。 〃Oh！ Theodore； can't you feel that it was
Heaven！〃 〃Heaven！ My Lottachen； and was it so？ Gebnitz was in good
voice； but all the flow Of her last aria was spoiled by Klops； A wretched
flutist； she was mad as hops。〃
He was so simple； so matter…of…fact； Charlotta Altgelt knew not what
to say To bring him to her dream。 His lack of tact Kept him explaining
all the homeward way How this thing had gone well； that badly。 〃Stay；
Theodore！〃 she cried at last。 〃You know to me Nothing was real； it was
an ecstasy。〃
And he was heartily glad she had enjoyed Herself so much； and said so。
〃But it's good To be got home again。〃 He was employed In looking at his
violin； the wood Was old； and evening air did it no good。 But when he
drew up to the table for tea Something about his wife's vivacity
Struck him as hectic； worried him in short。 He talked of this and that
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Men； Women and Ghosts
but watched her close。 Tea over； he endeavoured to extort The cause of her
excitement。 She arose And stood beside him； trying to compose Herself；
all whipt to quivering； curdled life； And he； poor fool； misunderstood his
wife。
Suddenly； broken through her anxious grasp； Her music…kindled love
crashed on him there。 Amazed； he felt her fling against him； clasp Her
arms about him； weighing down his chair； Sobbing out all her hours of
despair。 〃Theodore； a woman needs to hear things proved。 Unless you tell
me； I feel I'm not loved。〃
Theodore went under in this tearing wave； He yielded to it； and its
headlong flow Filled him with all the energy she gave。 He was a youth
again； and this bright glow； This living； vivid joy he had to show Her what
she was to him。 Laughing and crying； She asked assurances there's no
denying。
Over and over again her questions； till He quite convinced her； every
now and then She kissed him； shivering as though doubting still。 But later
when they were composed and when She dared relax her probings；
〃Lottachen；〃 He asked； 〃how is it your love has withstood My
inadvertence？ I was made of wood。〃
She told him； and no doubt she meant it truly； That he was sun； and
grass； and wind； and sky To her。 And even if conscience were unruly She
salved it by neat sophistries； but why Suppose her insincere； it was no lie
She said； for Heinrich was as much forgot As though he'd never been
within earshot。
But Theodore's hands in straying and caressing Fumbled against the
locket where it lay Upon her neck。 〃What is this thing I'm pressing？〃 He
asked。 〃Let's bring it to the light of day。〃 He lifted up the locket。 〃It
should stay Outside； my Dear。 Your mother has good taste。 To keep it
hidden surely is a waste。〃
Pity again Charlotta； straight aroused Out of her happiness。 The
locket brought A chilly jet of truth upon her； soused Under its icy spurting
she was caught； And choked； and frozen。 Suddenly she sought The clasp；
but with such art was this contrived Her fumbling fingers never once
arrived
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Men； Women and Ghosts
Upon it。 Feeling； twisting； round and round； She pulled the chain
quite through the locket's ring And still it held。 Her neck； encompassed；
bound； Chafed at the sliding meshes。 Such a thing To hurl her out of joy！
A gilded string Binding her folly to her； and those curls Which lay
entwined beneath the clustered pearls！
Again she tried to break the cord。 It stood。 〃Unclasp it； Theodore；〃
she begged。 But he Refused； and being in a happy mood； Twitted her
with her inefficiency； Then looking at her very seriously： 〃I think；
Charlotta； it is well to have Always about one what a mother gave。
As she has taken the great pains to send This jewel to you from
Dresden； it will be Ingratitude if you do not intend To carry it about you
constantly。 With her fine taste you cannot disagree； The locket is most
beautifully designed。〃 He opened it and there the curls were； twined。
Charlotta's heart dropped beats like knitting…stitches。 She burned a
moment； flaming； then she froze。 Her face was jerked by little； nervous
twitches； She heard her husband asking： 〃What are those？〃 Put out her
hand quickly to interpose； But stopped； the gesture half…complete；
astounded At the calm way the question was propounded。
〃A pretty fancy； Dear； I do declare。 Indeed I will not let you put it off。
A lovely thought： yours and your mother's hair！〃 Charlotta hid a gasp
under a cough。 〃Never with my connivance shall you d