Moneses that she spoke. All the bliss and anguish of unhappy love sounded
in her voice, dwelt in her eye and most exquisite smile, hung upon her
every gesture. The curtains closed; from the throng that had watched her
came a sound like a sigh, after which, slowly, tongues were loosened. An
interval of impatient waiting, then the music again and the parting
curtains, and Darden's Audrey,--the girl who could so paint very love,
very sorrow, very death; the girl who had come strangely and by a devious
path from the height and loneliness of the mountains to the level of this
stage and the watching throng.

At the close of the fourth act of the play, Haward left his station in the
pit, and quietly made his way to the regions behind the curtain, where in
the very circumscribed space that served as greenroom to the Williamsburgh
theatre he found Tamerlane, Bajazet, and their satellites, together with a
number of gentlemen invaders from the front of the house. Mistress Stagg
was there, and Selima, perched upon a table, was laughing with the
aforesaid gentlemen, but no Arpasia. Haward drew the elder woman aside. "I
wish to see her," he said, in a low voice, kindly but imperious. "A moment
only, good woman."

With her finger at her lips Mistress Stagg glanced about her. "She hides
from them always, she's that strange a child: though indeed, sir, as sweet
a young lady as a prince might wed! This way, sir,--it's dark; make no
noise."

She led him through a dim passageway, and softly opened a door. "There,
sir, for just five minutes! I'll call her in time."

The door gave upon the garden, and Audrey sat upon the step in the
moonshine and the stillness. Her hand propped her chin, and her eyes were
raised to the few silver stars. That mock crown which she wore sparkled
palely, and the light lay in the folds of her silken dress. At the opening
of the door she did not turn, thinking that Mistress Stagg stood behind
her. "How bright the moon shines!" she said. "A mockingbird should be
singing, singing! Is it time for Arpasia?"

As she rose from the step Haward caught her in his arms. "It is I, my
love! Ah, heart's desire! I worship you who gleam in the moonlight, with
your crown like an aureole"--

Audrey rested against him, clasping her hands upon his shoulder. "There
were nights like this," she said dreamily. "If I were a little child
again, you could lift me in your arms and carry me home, I am tired ... I
would that I needed no