Atlantic City.

Holding tight to Carlo's hand, they slipped down the hill from behind
the hospital until reaching this path.

But once on fairly level ground, Bianca deliberately removed her hand
from her companion's and began walking sedately beside him several feet
away.

"Why not walk as we have many times with my hand in your's to keep you
from slipping, Bianca?" Carlo inquired with a teasing inflection in his
voice and manner. "I thought you and I were kind of brother and sister.
I don't want you sliding off into the water."

As Bianca made no answer, Carlo turned from her to look out over the
river. Today the water was dark and muddy with a strong current
flowing.

"Bianca," Carlo asked, "have you ever read the story of the Rheingold in
the Ring of the Nibelung? One has had a horror of Germany for so long
that one has preferred to forget German music. Yet since we arrived in
Germany I have been reading the legends of the Rheingold and they seem
to me to predict Germany's overthrow because of her materialism.

"Since to me Gold is the only God, and Gold alone
The idol that I worship, from all worlds
Will I drive out all love and loving-kindness
That to all other men there be no other God
But Gold, and Gold alone shall all men serve."

Carlo sang these few lines softly, forgetting his companion for the
moment. Then he added half talking to her and half thinking aloud.

"I wonder if some day, I, the son of Italian parents, shall ever sing
German music, if my hatred of Germany and antagonism to everything else
that is German will allow me even to be willing to sing it. And yet I
suppose there is no great tenor who has not at some time in his life
longed to take the part of Siegfried, 'The curse can touch him not for
he is pure, Love shineth on him and he knows not fear.'"

Carlo ceased speaking at last and in response Bianca gave a little sigh
and then murmured.

"I wonder, Carlo, if you will ever learn to think or talk of any one
except yourself?"

Bianca's reply was so unexpected that Carlo started and then stared at
her, aggrieved and slightly irritated.

"But, Bianca, I thought that we were such intimate friends that I could
talk to you about myself, and certainly of my musical ambitions. I am
sorry my vanity has bored you."

The young girl shook her head.

"All persons possessed of any genius are supposed to be vain, aren't
they, Carlo? I have known no other than you.