part 6-第13章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
poured the tea standing and got through with it as quickly
as possible； as if it were a refreshment snatched between
trains。 The tea…table and the little room in which it stood
seemed to be out of scale with her long step； her long reach；
and the energy of her movements。 Dr。 Archie； standing
near her； was pleasantly aware of the animation of her
figure。 Under the clinging velvet； her body seemed in…
dependent and unsubdued。
They drifted； with their plates and cups； back to the
music…room。 When Thea followed them； Ottenburg put
down his tea suddenly。 〃Aren't you taking anything？
Please let me。〃 He started back to the table。
〃No； thank you； nothing。 I'm going to run over that
aria for you presently； to convince you that I can do it。
How did the duet go； with Schlag？〃
She was standing in the doorway and Fred came up to
her： 〃That you'll never do any better。 You've worked
your voice into it perfectly。 Every NUANCEwonder…
ful！〃
〃Think so？〃 She gave him a sidelong glance and spoke
with a certain gruff shyness which did not deceive anybody；
and was not meant to deceive。 The tone was equivalent to
〃Keep it up。 I like it； but I'm awkward with it。〃
Fred held her by the door and did keep it up； furiously；
for full five minutes。 She took it with some confusion； seem…
ing all the while to be hesitating； to be arrested in her
course and trying to pass him。 But she did not really try
to pass； and her color deepened。 Fred spoke in German；
and Archie caught from her an occasional JA？ SO？ mut…
tered rather than spoken。
When they rejoined Landry and Dr。 Archie； Fred took
up his tea again。 〃I see you're singing VENUS Saturday
night。 Will they never let you have a chance at ELIZABETH？〃
She shrugged her shoulders。 〃Not here。 There are so
many singers here； and they try us out in such a stingy way。
Think of it； last year I came over in October； and it was the
first of December before I went on at all！ I'm often sorry
I left Dresden。〃
〃Still；〃 Fred argued； 〃Dresden is limited。〃
〃Just so； and I've begun to sigh for those very limita…
tions。 In New York everything is impersonal。 Your audi…
ence never knows its own mind； and its mind is never twice
the same。 I'd rather sing where the people are pig…headed
and throw carrots at you if you don't do it the way they
like it。 The house here is splendid； and the night audi…
ences are exciting。 I hate the matinees； like singing at a
KAFFEKLATSCH。〃 She rose and turned on the lights。
〃Ah！〃 Fred exclaimed； 〃why do you do that？ That is
a signal that tea is over。〃 He got up and drew out his
gloves。
〃Not at all。 Shall you be here Saturday night？〃 She
sat down on the piano bench and leaned her elbow back on
the keyboard。 〃Necker sings ELIZABETH。 Make Dr。 Archie
go。 Everything she sings is worth hearing。〃
〃But she's failing so。 The last time I heard her she had
no voice at all。 She IS a poor vocalist！〃
Thea cut him off。 〃She's a great artist； whether she's in
voice or not； and she's the only one here。 If you want a big
voice； you can take my ORTRUDE of last night； that's big
enough； and vulgar enough。〃
Fred laughed and turned away； this time with decision。
〃I don't want her！〃 he protested energetically。 〃I only
wanted to get a rise out of you。 I like Necker's ELIZABETH
well enough。 I like your VENUS well enough； too。〃
〃It's a beautiful part； and it's often dreadfully sung。
It's very hard to sing； of course。〃
Ottenburg bent over the hand she held out to him。 〃For
an uninvited guest； I've fared very well。 You were nice
to let me come up。 I'd have been terribly cut up if you'd
sent me away。 May I？〃 He kissed her hand lightly and
backed toward the door； still smiling； and promising to
keep an eye on Archie。 〃He can't be trusted at all； Thea。
One of the waiters at Martin's worked a Tourainian hare
off on him at luncheon yesterday； for seven twenty…five。〃
Thea broke into a laugh； the deep one he recognized。
〃Did he have a ribbon on； this hare？ Did they bring him
in a gilt cage？〃
〃No；〃Archie spoke up for himself；〃they brought
him in a brown sauce； which was very good。 He didn't
taste very different from any rabbit。〃
〃Probably came from a push…cart on the East Side。〃
Thea looked at her old friend commiseratingly。 〃Yes； DO
keep an eye on him； Fred。 I had no idea；〃 shaking her
head。 〃Yes； I'll be obliged to you。〃
〃Count on me！〃 Their eyes met in a gay smile； and
Fred bowed himself out。
VII
ON Saturday night Dr。 Archie went with Fred Otten…
burg to hear 〃Tannhauser。〃 Thea had a rehearsal
on Sunday afternoon； but as she was not on the bill again
until Wednesday； she promised to dine with Archie and
Ottenburg on Monday； if they could make the dinner
early。
At a little after eight on Monday evening； the three
friends returned to Thea's apartment and seated them…
selves for an hour of quiet talk。
〃I'm sorry we couldn't have had Landry with us to…
night；〃 Thea said； 〃but he's on at Weber and Fields' every
night now。 You ought to hear him； Dr。 Archie。 He often
sings the old Scotch airs you used to love。〃
〃Why not go down this evening？〃 Fred suggested hope…
fully； glancing at his watch。 〃That is； if you'd like to go。
I can telephone and find what time he comes on。〃
Thea hesitated。 〃No； I think not。 I took a long walk
this afternoon and I'm rather tired。 I think I can get to
sleep early and be so much ahead。 I don't mean at once；
however；〃 seeing Dr。 Archie's disappointed look。 〃I al…
ways like to hear Landry；〃 she added。 〃He never had
much voice； and it's worn； but there's a sweetness about
it； and he sings with such taste。〃
〃Yes； doesn't he？ May I？〃 Fred took out his cigarette
case。 〃It really doesn't bother your throat？〃
〃A little doesn't。 But cigar smoke does。 Poor Dr。
Archie！ Can you do with one of those？〃
〃I'm learning to like them；〃 the doctor declared； taking
one from the case Fred proffered him。
〃Landry's the only fellow I know in this country who
can do that sort of thing；〃 Fred went on。 〃Like the best
English ballad singers。 He can sing even popular stuff by
higher lights； as it were。〃
Thea nodded。 〃Yes； sometimes I make him sing his
most foolish things for me。 It's restful； as he does it。
That's when I'm homesick； Dr。 Archie。〃
〃You knew him in Germany； Thea？〃 Dr。 Archie had
quietly abandoned his cigarette as a comfortless article。
〃When you first went over？〃
〃Yes。 He was a good friend to a green girl。 He helped me
with my German and my music and my general discourage…
ment。 Seemed to care more about my getting on than about
himself。 He had no money； either。 An old aunt had loaned
him a little to study on。 Will you answer that； Fred？〃
Fred caught up the telephone and stopped the buzz
while Thea went on talking to Dr。 Archie about Landry。
