dst an
enthusiasm so intense that only the controlled good breeding of the
invited audience prevented demonstrations of a noisy character.
Christine had been previously seen by very few of them, and as the
audience dispersed, her name, coupled with expressions of enthusiastic
surprise and admiration, was on every lip.

Fifteen minutes after the curtain went down the theatre was empty and
deserted, every light was out, and profound silence reigned where so
lately all had been excitement and animation, and the young creature
who had occasioned so much the greatest part of it was being driven
homeward, leaning back in the close carriage and clasping close the
work-hardened hand of the little teacher who was her companion. Her
husband sat opposite, silent as usual, and after a few impetuous,
ardent words of love and appreciation Hannah had fallen silent too,
merely holding out her hand to meet the hard and straining clasp that
had seized upon it as soon as they were settled in the carriage.

After the performance people who had leaped from the audience to the
stage, privileged by an acquaintance with some of the company, had
pressed forward eagerly for an introduction to Christine. Invitations to
supper were showered upon her. She might have gone off in a carriage
drawn by men instead of horses if she had desired it. But she had turned
away from it all. She was in haste to go, and summoning her husband and
friend as quickly as possible, she had declared she was tired out, and
had made her excuses with an air so earnest, and to those who had the
vision for it, so distressed, that amidst the reproaches of some and the
regrets of others she had made her escape.

She shivered as the cold night air struck her face outside the theatre,
and drew her wrap closer about her as she stepped into the carriage
which was waiting. The drive homeward was silent. The two women sat
together, each feeling in that fervent handclasp the emotions which
filled the heart of the other. Mrs. Dallas had been roused by something
to an unusual pitch of excited feeling, and her little friend, by the
intuition of sympathy, defined it. The way was long and Mr. Dallas,
making himself as comfortable as possible on the seat opposite, took off
his hat, leaned his head back and in a few moments was breathing audibly
and regularly.

"He is asleep," whispered his wife, and then, on the breath of a
deep-drawn sigh, she added in the same low whisper, "Oh, God,