Part 13 (1/2)
A DEPARTURE.
There was but little sleep for Nina that night. She was sick at heart to think that in return for the unceasing kindness Lionel had shown her since her arrival in England, she should be the means of drawing him into this foolish embroilment. She saw the situation of affairs clearly enough. Miss Burgoyne was an exacting, irritable, jealous woman, who had resented Nina's presence in the theatre almost from the beginning, and who had been driven into a sudden fury by the sight of Lionel (he taking no notice of her either) driving past with this interloping foreigner.
Moreover, Miss Burgoyne was inordinately vain: to have the popular young baritone fight a duel on her account--to have their names coupled together in common talk--what greater triumph could she desire than that? But while Miss Burgoyne might be the ostensible cause of the quarrel, Nina knew who was the real cause of it; and again and again she asked herself why she had ever come to England, thus to bring trouble upon her old ally and companion Leo.
And then in that world of visions that lies just outside the realm of sleep--in which great things become small, and small things acquire a fantastic and monstrous importance--she worried and fretted because Lionel had laughingly complained on the previous evening that henceforth there would be no more home-made lemonade for him. Well, now, if she--that is to say, if Nina--were in her humble way to try what she could do in that direction? It might not be so good as the lemonade that Miss Burgoyne prepared; but perhaps Lionel would be a little generous and make allowance? She would not challenge any comparison. She and Mrs.
Grey between them would do their best, and the result would be sent anonymously to his rooms in Piccadilly; if he chose to accept it--well, it was a timid little something by way of compensation. Nina forgot for the moment that within the next few days an unlucky sword-thrust might suddenly determine Lionel's interest in lemonade, as in all other earthly things; these trivial matters grew large in this distorted land of waking dreams; nay, she began to think that if she were to leave England altogether, and go away back to Naples, and perhaps accept an engagement in opera at Malta, then matters would be as before at the New Theatre; and when Lionel and Miss Burgoyne met in the corridor, it would be, ”Good-evening, Miss Burgoyne!” and ”Good-evening, Mr. Moore!” just as it used to be. There would be no Italian girl interfering, and bringing dissension and trouble.
But the next morning, when the actual facts of the case were before her clearer vision, she had better reason for becoming anxious and restless and miserable. As the day wore on, Mrs. Grey could hardly persuade her to run down to the Crystal Palace for the opening of the Handel Festival, though, as the little widow pointed out, Mr. Moore had procured the tickets for them, and they were bound to go. Of course, when once they were in the great transept of the Palace, in the presence of this vast a.s.semblage, and listening to the splendid orchestra and a chorus of between three and four thousand voices dealing with the ma.s.sive and majestic strains of the ”Messiah,” the spell of the music fell upon Nina and held absolute sway over her. She got into a curious state of exaltation; she seemed breathless; sometimes, Mrs. Grey thought, she s.h.i.+vered a little with the strain of emotion. And all the time that Mr. Santley was singing ”Why do the nations,” she held her hand tightly over her heart; and when he had finished--when the thrilled mult.i.tude broke forth into an extraordinary thunder of enthusiasm--Nina murmured to herself,
”It is--it is like to take my life-blood away.”
But when they were in the train again, and on their way up to town, it was evident to her companion that the girl had returned to her anxious fears.
”Mrs. Grey,” she said, suddenly, ”I speak to Miss Burgoyne to-night.”
”Oh, no, don't do that, Miss Nina!” said Mrs. Grey, with much concern, for she knew something of the circ.u.mstances of the case. ”I hope you won't do that! You might simply make matters worse. Mr. Moore would not have spoken to you if he thought you would interfere, depend upon that.
And if Miss Burgoyne is vexed or angry, what good would you do? I hear she has a sharp tongue; don't _you_ try her temper, my dear,” the little woman pleaded.
But Nina did not answer these representations; and she was mostly silent and thoughtful all the way to town. When they reached London, they had some tea at the railway-station, and she went on at once to the theatre.
She was there early; Miss Burgoyne had not arrived; so Nina lingered about the corridor, listening to Mlle. Girond's pretty chatter, but not hearing very much.
At length the prima-donna appeared; and she would have pa.s.sed Nina without recognition, had not the latter went forward a step, and said, somewhat timidly,
”Miss Burgoyne!”
”What?” said Miss Burgoyne, stopping short, and regarding the Italian girl with a by-no-means-friendly stare.
”May I have a word with you?” Nina said, with a little hesitation.
”Yes; what is it?” the other demanded, abruptly.
”But--but in private?” Nina said again. ”In your room?”
”Oh, very well, come in!” Miss Burgoyne said, with but scant courtesy; and she led the way into her sitting-room, and also intimated to her maid that she might retire into the inner apartment. Then she turned to Nina.
”What is it you want?”
But the crisis found Nina quite unprepared. She had constructed no set speech; she had formulated no demand. For a second or so she stood tongue-tied--tongue-tied and helpless--unable to put her pa.s.sionate appeal into words; then, all of a sudden, she said,
”Miss Burgoyne, you will not allow it--this folly! It is madness that they fight about--about nothing! You will not allow it!--what is it to you?--you have enough fame, enough reputation as a prima-donna, as a favorite with the public--what more? Why should you wish more--and at such a dreadful risk?--”
”Oh, I don't know what you're talking about!” said Miss Burgoyne. ”What are you talking about?”
”The duel--” said Nina, breathlessly.
”What duel?”
Nina stared at her.