. In the
docks they had been interviewed by more than a dozen people. A little
later, in the afternoon of the same day, they had held a reception of
pressmen in their sitting-room at the St. Regis Hotel. Charmian thought
of these men now as she waited for Alston's return.

They had been introduced by Mr. Cane, Crayford's publicity agent, and
had arrived about three o'clock. All of them were, or looked as if they
were, young men, smart and alert, men who meant something. And they had
all been polite and charming. They had "sat around" attentively, and had
put their questions without brutality. They had seemed interested,
sympathetic, as if they really cared about Claude's talent and the
opera. His song, _Wild Heart of Youth_, had been touched upon, and a
tall young man, with a pale face and anxious eyes, had told Charmian
that he loved it. Then they had discussed music. Claude at first had
seemed uncomfortable, almost too modest, Charmian had thought. But the
pressmen had been so agreeable, so unself-conscious, that his discomfort
had worn off. His natural inclination to please, to give people what
they seemed to expect of him, had come to his rescue. He had been
vivacious and even charming. But when the pressmen had gone he had said
to Charmian:

"Pleasant fellows, weren't they? But their eyes ask one for success.
Till the opera is out I shall see those eyes, asking, always asking!"

And he had gone out of the room with a gesture suggestive of anxiety,
almost of fear.

Charmian saw those eyes now as she sat in the box. What Claude had said
was true. Beneath the sympathy, the charm, the frankness, the readiness
in welcome of these Americans, there was a silent and strong demand--the
demand of a powerful, vital country.

"We are here to make you known over immense distances to thousands of
people!" the eyes of the pressmen had seemed to say. "But--produce the
goods!" In other words, "Be a success!"

"Be a success! Be a success!" It seemed to Charmian as if all America
were saying that in her ears unceasingly. "We will be kind to you. We
will shower good-will upon you. We have hospitable hands, keen brains,
warm hearts at your service. We only ask to give of our best to you.
But--be a success! Be a success!"

And the voice grew so strong that at last it seemed almost stern, almost
fierce in her ears. At last it seemed as if peril would attend upon
non-compliance with its demand.

She thought of Claude crossing th