d not England. So of course there
is a difference. New York has its way of setting the seal on a triumph
and London has its way."

Moved presently to speak out of her mind she said to a Boston man,
called Hostatter, who had looked in upon them:

"It is so interesting, I think, to notice the difference between one
nation and another in such a matter for instance as this receiving of a
new work."

"Very interesting, very interesting," said Hostatter.

"You Americans show what you feel by the intensity of your si--by the
intensity, the concentration with which you listen."

"Exactly. And what is a London audience like? I have never been to a
London premiere."

"Oh, more--more boisterous and less intense. Isn't it so, Claude?"

"No doubt there's a difference," said Claude.

"Do you mean they are boisterous at Covent Garden?" said Hostatter,
evidently surprised. "I always thought the Covent Garden audience was
such a cold one."

"Oh, no, I don't think so," said Charmian.

She remembered the first night of _Le Paradis Terrestre_. Suddenly a
chill ran all through her, as if a stream of ice-cold water had trickled
upon her.

"Really!" said Hostatter. "And yet we Americans are said to have a bad
reputation for noise."

He had been smiling, but looked suddenly doubtful.

"But as you say," he added, rather hastily, "in a theater we
concentrate, especially when we are presented with something definitely
artistic, as we are to-night."

He shook hands.

"Definitely artistic. My most sincere congratulations."

He went out, and another man called Stephen Clinch, an ally of
Crayford's immediately came in. After a few minutes of conversation he
said:

"Everybody is admiring the libretto. First-rate stuff, isn't it? I
expected to find the author with you. Isn't he in the house?"

"Yes, but he told us he would sit in the stalls," said Charmian.

"Haven't you seen him?"

"No," said Claude.

"Well, of course you'll appear after the next act with him. There's sure
to be a call. And I know Gillier will be called for as well as you."

His rather cold gray eyes seemed to examine the two faces before him
almost surreptitiously. Then he, too, went out of the box.

"A call after this act!" said Charmian.

"I believe they generally summon authors and composers after the
penultimate act over here."

"You'll take the call, of course, Claudie?"

There was a silence. Then he said:

"Yes, I shall take it."

His voic