solicitous, how tender, how
motherly, the girl felt at that moment under her mask of shining,
radiant hardness! But Mrs. Mansfield was glancing about the house with
grave and even troubled eyes.

Heath was talking to Madame Sennier. He was even sitting down beside
her. She spoke, evidently with volubility, making rapid gestures with
her hands. Then she paused. She was listening attentively to Heath. Mrs.
Shiffney and Elliot listened, too, as if absorbed. Heath's French must
really be excellent. Why had he--? If only she could hear what he was
saying! She tingled with curiosity. How he held them, those three
people! From here he looked distinguished, interesting. He stood out
even in this crowd as an interesting man. Madame Sennier made an upward
movement of her head, full of will. She put out her hand, and laid it on
Heath's arm. Now they all seemed to be talking together. Madame Sennier
looked radiant, triumphant, even autocratic. She pointed toward the
stage emphatically, made elaborate descriptive movements with her hands.
A bell sounded somewhere. Heath got up. In a moment he and Max Elliot
had left the box together. The two women were alone. They leaned toward
each other apparently in earnest conversation.

"I know they are talking about him! I know they are!"

Charmian actually formed the words with her lips. The curtain rose as
Heath quietly entered the box. Charmian did not turn to him or look at
him then. Only when the act was over did she move and say:

"Well, Mr. Heath, your French evidently comes at call."

"What--oh, we were talking in English!"

"Madame Sennier speaks English?" said Mrs. Mansfield.

"Excellently!"

Charmian felt disappointed.

"Is she happy?" she asked, moving her hand on the edge of the box.

"She seems so."

"Did you tell her what you thought?"

"Yes," said Heath.

His voice had become suddenly deeper, more expressive.

"I told her that I thought it wonderful. And so it is. She said--in
French this: 'Ah, my friend, wait till the last act. Then it is no
longer the earthly Paradise!'"

There was a moment of silence. Then Charmian said, in a voice that
sounded rather dry:

"You liked her?"

"I don't know. Yes, I think I did. We were all rather carried away, I
suppose."

"Carried away! By what?"

"Well, it is evidently a great moment in Madame Sennier's life. One must
sympathize."

Charmian looked and saw two spots of color burning high up on his
cheeks. His voice