Part 10 (1/2)
”We are on the way to it,” said Mr. Morgan, who sat behind them; ”we have theatricals in the church parlors, which may grow into a nineteenth century subst.i.tute for the miracle-plays. You mustn't, Margaret, let Mr.
Henderson prejudice you against the country.”
”No,” said the latter, quickly; ”I was only trying to defend the city.
We country people always do that. We must base our theatrical life on something in nature.”
”What is the difference, Mr. Henderson,” asked Margaret, ”between the gossip in the boxes and the country gossip you spoke of?”
”In toleration mainly, and lack of exact knowledge. It is here rather cynical persiflage, not concentrated public opinion.”
”I don't follow you,” said Morgan. ”It seems to me that in the city you've got gossip plus the stage.”
”That is to say, we have the world.”
”I don't like to believe that,” said Margaret, seriously--”your definition of the world.”
”You make me see that it was a poor jest,” he said, rising to go.
”By-the-way, we have a friend of yours in our box tonight--a young Englishman.”
”Oh, Mr. Lyon. We were all delighted with him. Such a transparent, genuine nature!”
”Tell him,” said my wife, ”that we should be happy to see him at our hotel.”
When Henderson came back to his box Carmen did not look up, but she said, indifferently: ”What, so soon? But your absence has made one person thoroughly miserable. Mr. Lyon has not taken his eyes off you. I never saw such an international attachment.”
”What more could I do for Miss Esch.e.l.le than to leave her in such company?”
”I beg your pardon,” said Lyon. ”Miss Esch.e.l.le must believe that I thoroughly appreciate Mr. Henderson's self-sacrifice. If I occasionally looked over where he was, I a.s.sure you it was in pity.”
”You are both altogether too self-sacrificing,” the beauty replied, turning to Henderson a look that was sweetly forgiving. ”They who sin much shall be forgiven much, you know.”
”That leaves me,” Mr. Lyon answered, with a laugh, ”as you say over here, out in the cold, for I have pa.s.sed a too happy evening to feel like a transgressor.”
”The sins of omission are the worst sort,” she retorted.
”You see what you must do to be forgiven,” Henderson said to Lyon, with that good-natured smile that was so potent to smooth away sharpness.
”I fear I can never do enough to qualify myself.” And he also laughed.
”You never will,” Carmen answered, but she accompanied the doubt with a witching smile that denied it.
”What is all this about forgiveness?” asked Mrs. Esch.e.l.le, turning to them from regarding the stage.
”Oh, we were having an experience meeting behind your back, mamma, only Mr. Henderson won't tell his experience.”
”Miss Esch.e.l.le is in such a forgiving humor tonight that she absolves before any one has a chance to confess,” he replied.
”Don't you think I am always so, Mr. Lyon?”
Mr. Lyon bowed. ”I think that an opera-box with Miss Esch.e.l.le is the easiest confessional in the world.”