m
she had visited--the magic violin of M. Szmera played its first notes,
accompanied by Madame Odinska on the piano, and by a delicious little
flute. They played an overture, the dreamy sweetness of which extorted
cries of admiration from all the women.

Suddenly, the screens parted, and upon the little platform that
represented a stage bounded a sort of anomalous being, supple and
charming, in the traditional dress of Pierrot, whom the English
vulgarize and call Harlequin. He had white camellias instead of buttons
on his loose white jacket, and the bright eyes of Wanda shone out
from his red-and-white face. He held a mandolin, and imitated the most
charming of serenades, before a make-believe window, which, being opened
by a white, round arm, revealed Colette, dressed as Colombine.

The little pantomime piece was called 'Pierrot in Love'. It consisted
of a series of dainty coquetries, sudden quarrels, fits of jealousy,
and tender reconciliations, played by the two sisters. Colette with
her beauty, Wanda with her talent, her impishness, her graceful and
voluptuous attitudes, electrified the spectators, especially in a long
monologue, in which Pierrot contemplated suicide, made more effective by
the passionate and heart-piercing strains of the Hungarian's violin, so
that old Rochette cried out: "What a pity such a wonder should not be
upon the stage!" La Rochette, now retired into private life, wearing
an old dress, with her gray hair and her black eyes, like those of a
watchful crocodile, took the pleasure in the pantomime that all actors
do to the very last in everything connected with the theatre. She cried
'brava' in tones that might reach Italy; she blew kisses to the actors
in default of flowers.

Madame d'Avrigny was also transported to the sixth heaven, but
Jacqueline's presence somewhat marred her pleasure. When she first
perceived her she had shown great surprise. "You here, my dear?" she
cried, "I thought you safe with our own excellent Giselle."

"Safe, Madame? It seems to me one can be safe anywhere," Jacqueline
answered, though she was tempted to say "safe nowhere;" but instead she
inquired for Dolly.

Dolly's mother bit her lips and then replied: "You see I have not
brought her. Oh, yes, this house is very amusing--but rather too much
so. The play was very pretty, and I am sorry it would not do at my
house. It is too--too 'risque', you know;" and she rehearsed her usual
speech about the great difficu