Part 5 (1/2)
”Yes, indeed,” responded Ruth warmly. ”There is nothing quite like an opera night, and I have been particularly interested in grand opera since we discovered Zerlina.”
”Oh, to be sure,” exclaimed Bab. ”Where is Zerlina now?”
”She is in Paris, studying under the best teachers that can be procured for her,” replied Ruth. ”She writes me regularly. Her teachers give her great encouragement, and she expects to be ready to sing important roles within the next two years. She adores Jose, and he is delighted with having so talented a sister.”
”She is one of the most beautiful girls I have ever seen,” said Barbara.
”What a wonderful 'Carmen' she will make.”
”Yes; won't she, though,” responded Ruth eagerly, ”and that is the part that she particularly looks forward to singing.”
The subject of Ruth's and Barbara's conversation was a beautiful gypsy girl that they had met during their trip along the Hudson. She had become a protege of Ruth, who had cherished high hopes of sending Zerlina to a conservatory, but had been forestalled by the appearance on the scene of Zerlina's handsome half-brother, Jose Martinez. On account of family differences, Jose and Zerlina had been separated for many years, but in the end Zerlina was persuaded by him to place herself under his protection. All of this has been fully narrated in ”THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS ALONG THE HUDSON.”
”What do you think of it, Molliekins?” whispered Ruth over Mollie's shoulder.
”Think of it?” breathed the golden-haired Mollie. ”I'm so happy that I could scream right out so everybody in the theatre would hear me,”
answered Mollie. ”I don't know what I shall do when the music begins.”
A wave of laughter rippled over the box at Mollie's quaint way of expressing her delight.
CHAPTER IV
BATTLE OF THE BULLS AND BEARS
THAT evening at the opera was like a dream to the little Kingsbridge girls. Mrs. Cartwright visited them between the acts, then they were introduced to Olive Presby, who came to their box, accompanied by a young man named Jack Howard, an artist who had just returned from Paris.
These two had been chums since childhood.
Bab thought Olive the most beautiful girl she had ever seen. She could not keep her eyes off of her, and Olive appeared to be equally attracted to Barbara, though there was little opportunity for conversation between them. Olive was fully five years older than Barbara with fair skin, black hair, and eyes of deep gray, veiled with long, black lashes, making an unusual and most attractive combination. Olive Presby was a striking looking girl. All through the second act Bab kept gazing across at Olive, and it was with a deep sigh of regret that Barbara finally turned her eyes away under the teasing of Ruth and Grace. The glorious evening came to a close all too soon for them.
Reaching home, the girls lost little time in getting to their rooms, for the three travelers had had little sleep in the past two nights.
They fell asleep almost the instant their heads touched their pillows, but in spite of their late hours the four girls descended to the dining room the following morning bright-eyed and ready for whatever the day might bring forth.
Miss Sallie rustled in, dressed in her silk morning gown a few moments after the others had reached the dining room. The girls greeted her enthusiastically, each girl giving her a hearty hug and kiss, after which they seated themselves at the breakfast table, and a lively chattering ensued.
”What do you think of Cousin Olive?” asked Ruth.
”Oh, I just love her,” cried Bab enthusiastically.
A cloud pa.s.sed swiftly over the face of Ruth Stewart.
”I could love her almost to death. Is she engaged to Mr. Howard?”
”No indeed,” said Miss Sallie with emphasis. ”Olive is devoted to her parents, especially now that they are in such deep trouble. She is their comfort in their distress and she knows it.”
”Young ladies,” interrupted Mr. Stuart, ”do you feel equal to beginning your sight-seeing to-day?”
”We do,” chorused the girls.