scene was utterly overlooked; but this proud indifference was
something new, and charmed the audience, which took her wounded pride
for superb disdain of a pampered beauty, and accepted it as a graceful
innovation; while she stood trembling from head to foot, conscious only
of a burning desire to break away from it all and hide herself forever.
She did once move swiftly toward the wing, but there stood Olympia, and
the first glimpse of that frowning face drove her back, panting for
breath.

The audience, seeing her panic, encouraged her with applause less stormy
and more sustaining.

She felt this kindness. The multitude were less her enemy than the
woman who stood in the shadows, hounding her on. Among all that sea of
faces she saw one--that of a young girl, leaning over the crimson
cushions of a box near the stage, so eager, so earnest, so bright with
generous sympathy, that youth answered back to youth; a smile broke over
her own face, and with it came her voice, fresh, pure, soaring like a
bird suddenly let loose on the air.

The audience listened in breathless sympathy, which encouraged her.
There was no doubt now; fear could not long hold such genius in thrall;
her movements became free, her features brightened. She flung the lace
back from her head, and gave herself up to the joyous riot of that
drinking song.

In the midst of this scene, when every one present, on and off the
stage, was lavishing homage upon her, she lifted her eyes to the young
girl who leaned forward, poising herself in the box, like a bird
preparing for flight, and clapped her little hand with the glee of a
delighted child.

Once more their smiles met. Then a deathly faintness came over the
debutante, and without a word or motion she sank upon the stage, like a
statue of snow which the sun had touched.

In the next box, leaning forward like that young girl--but oh! with what
a different expression--she had seen the Italian teacher, her lover.

The drinking-song was hushed in its most exultant swell--the revellers
drew around the fainting girl and carried her from the stage, helpless
as an infant, white as the lace that clouded her.

The audience watched them bear her away in silence; then it broke into
murmurs of regret and sympathy.

"The effort had been too much for her. Of course, such genius was
accompanied with corresponding sensitiveness, but she would speedily
recover. It was only a little interruption."

They were mistake