finished dinner, and Claude got up, rather slowly and wearily, from the
small table which stood in the middle of their handsome red sitting-room
on the eighth floor of the St. Regis Hotel in New York.

"How terribly hot this room is!" he said.

"Americans like their rooms hot. But open a little bit of the window,
Claudie."

"If I do the noise of Fifth Avenue will come in."

He spoke almost irritably, like a man whose nerves were tired. But
Charmian did not seem to notice it. She looked bright, resolute,
dominant, as she replied in her clear voice:

"Let it come in. I like to hear it. It is the voice of the world we are
here to conquer. Don't look at me like that, dear old boy, but open the
window. The air will do you good. You're tired. I shouldn't have allowed
you to work during the voyage."

"I had to work."

"Well, very soon you'll be able to rest, and on laurels."

Claude went to open the big window, pulling aside the blind, while
Charmian lighted a cigarette, and curled herself up on the padded sofa.
And as, in a moment, the roar of the gigantic city swelled in a fierce
crescendo, she leaned forward with the cigarette in her hand, listening
intently, half smiling, with an eager light in her eyes.

"What a city it is!" she said, as Claude turned and came toward her. "It
makes London seem almost like a village. I'm glad it is here the opera
is to be given for the first time."

"So am I," he said, sitting down.

But he spoke almost gloomily, looking at the floor. His face was white
and too expressive, and his left hand, as it hung down between his
knees, fluttered. He lifted it, turning the fingers inward.

"Why?" Charmian said.

He looked up at her.

"Oh, I--they are all strangers here."

She said nothing, and just then the telephone bell sounded. Mr. Alston
Lake was below asking if Mr. Heath was in.

In a moment he entered, looking enthusiastic, full of cheerfulness and
vitality, bringing with him an atmosphere which Charmian savored almost
greedily, of expectation and virile optimism.

"My!" he said, as he shook them both by the hand. "You look settled in
for the night."

"So we are," said Charmian.

Alston laughed.

"I've come to take you to the theater."

"But they're not rehearsing to-night," said Claude.

"No; but Crayford's trying effects."

"Mr. Crayford! Is he back from Philadelphia?" exclaimed Charmian.

"Been back an hour and hard at work already. He sent me to fetch you.
T