Lady Holme went over to a sofa near the
screen and listened attentively to the duet, but from time to time she
glanced towards the middle of the room where Miss Schley was still calmly
standing up with Leo holding the bouquet. The mother from Susanville had
subsided on a small chair with gilt legs, spread out her meagre gown, and
assumed the aspect of a roosting bird at twilight. Fritz stood up with
his back against the wall, staring at Miss Schley. His face still looked
bloated. Presently Miss Schley glanced at him, as if by accident, looked
surprised at seeing him there, and nodded demurely. He made a movement
forward from the wall, but she immediately began to whisper to Leo
Ulford, and after remaining for a moment in an attitude of angry
hesitation he moved backward again. His face flushed scarlet.
Lady Holme realised that he was making a fool of himself. She saw several
pairs of eyes turned towards him, slight smiles appearing on several
faces. The French actor had begun to watch him with an expression of
close criticism, as a stage manager watches an actor at rehearsal. But
she did not feel as if she cared what Fritz was doing. The sound of the
violin had emphasised her odd sensation of having nothing to do with what
was going on in the room. Just for one hour Fritz's conduct could not
affect her.
Very soon people began to whisper round her. Artists find it very
difficult to listen to other artists on these occasions.
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