Part 10 (1/2)
The curtain rose again, and the Lascar proved even more fascinating. He was a daredevil type, as Lascars have the reputation of being, but he was gentle and affectionate toward the La.s.s, who, for some inexplicable reason, scorned his advances.
”What a FOOL she is! WHAT a fool!” Alicia whispered, as the coquettish heroine laughed at the impa.s.sioned love songs of her suitor. ”I should fall into his arms at once!”
”Then there wouldn't be any more opera,” laughed Bernice. ”That fall into his arms is always the last episode on the stage.”
”That's so,” agreed Alicia, ”but how can she flout him so? Oh, girls, isn't he the grandest man? I never saw such a handsome chap! What a lovely name he has, too: Bayne Coriell! A beautiful name.”
”Good gracious, Alicia! don't rave over him like that! Somebody will hear you!”
”I don't care. I never saw any one so wonderful! I'm going to get his picture when we go out. I suppose it's for sale in the lobby. They usually are.”
”Are they?” asked Dolly. ”Then I want to get one of the La.s.s. Marie Desmond, her name is. Can I, do you think?”
”Yes, of course, Dollykins. You get that and I'll get my hero, my idol, Bayne Coriell!”
As it chanced the photographs were not on sale at the theatre, but an usher told Alicia where they could be bought, and she directed Kirke to stop there on the way home.
She bought several different portraits of the man who had so infatuated her and Dolly bought two photographs of Miss Desmond. The other girls said they didn't care for any pictures, and laughed at the enthusiasm of Alicia and Dolly.
”I want this,” Dolly defended herself, ”because sometime I'm going to be an opera singer. I did mean to sing in Grand Opera, and maybe I will, but if I can't do that, I'll sing in light opera, and I like to have this picture to remind me how sweet Miss Desmond looks in this play.”
”Pooh,” said Alicia, ”that's all very well. But I want these pictures of Bayne Coriell because he's such a glorious man! Why, he's as handsome as Apollo. And, girls, I don't believe he's hardly any older than we are.”
”Oh, he must be,” returned Dotty. ”Why, he's twenty-two or more, I'm sure.”
”Maybe he is twenty, but not more than that. Oh, how I wish I could meet him! Think of the joy of talking to a man like that!”
”Well, it's not likely you'll ever meet Bayne Coriell,” said Bernice, laughing at the idea; ”so you needn't hope for that!”
CHAPTER VI
A MATINEE IDOL
”Oh, Uncle Jeff,” Alicia cried, as they gathered round the dinner-table that same night, ”we went to the splendidest play! It was a light opera, 'The La.s.s and the Lascar.' Have you seen it?”
”No, my dear, I rarely go to the theatre; never to foolish pieces like that! But it's all right for you young people. So you enjoyed it, did you? How did you like--”
But Alicia's babble interrupted him. ”Oh, Uncle, it was simply out of sight! And the hero! Ah-h-h!”
Alicia leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes as if the memory of the hero was overwhelming.
”Took your fancy, did he?” asked her uncle, with a twinkle in his eye.
”Good-looking chap?”
”Good-looking faintly expresses it!” and Alicia returned to consciousness. ”He was like a Greek G.o.d! And his CHARM! Oh, Uncle Jeff, he is just indescribable! I wish you could SEE him.”
”Must be a paragon! What did the rest of you girls think! Were you hit so hard?”