fluttering wings.

"I have tried to atone," she whispered to the birds, "Come back! God
knows--I have tried to atone!"

Then she went on trilling high up in the scale, her eyes gazing
dreamily and her hands amongst the doves, stroking them, playing with
them.

Suddenly the door opened.

"Is it you, Marta?"

"No, it is I."

The voice was that of a man, deep and harsh, and the steps were firm.
They crossed the room and stopped behind the kneeling figure.

"Hush!" said Kaya, "Not too near, dear Master! You will frighten the
doves! See, how they press against me with their breasts and their
wings--and how they flutter! They were hungry this morning, but they
have eaten now and are happy. Once they came to me and I had nothing
for them. If they knew better, poor doves, it is you they would fly
to, and your hands they would eat from; since it is you who have fed
them, not I."

"You were practising," said the Kapellmeister, "That is well, Kaya. I
heard you from the promenade and I saw you. Your curls were like a
halo of gold in the sun, and the doves circled, cooing. One was on
your shoulder. Ah, it has gone now--I have startled it! It was close
to your cheek, and you were feeding it from your lips."

"Yes," said Kaya, "Yes. It is sweet to be able to feed them. You have
fed us both, dear Master."

She turned her head slightly, smiling up at him.

"Turn your head further, Kaya; let me see your face."

"The dove has come back. How can I? There--move a little, my
dove--chrr-rp! Go away! No, he clings! See--I cannot! The down on
his breast is so soft and his feathers so warm. He presses so close."

"Tell me, little one, how is your voice today? The same--full and
strong as it was that night? Are you Kaya to-day, or Bruennhild'?"

The girl smiled again.

"Look at me, child. I have come to talk to you. There is a rehearsal
this morning for 'Siegfried.'"

"Ah--yes!"

"The performance is advertized for tomorrow."

"--Yes?"

"Are you listening, Kaya? Your voice has a dreamy sound. What are you
thinking about?"

She started. "Nothing!"

"What are you thinking about? Tell me."

"Russia!"

The Kapellmeister gave a sharp exclamation: "That is why you would not
turn your head! It was not the dove, I knew. Are you still--"

"Yes," said Kaya, "Yes, it never leaves me. The curse, the curse of
the--Cross!"

She pressed her cheek against the dove, hiding her eyes.

"It must leav