Lady Holme sang the Italian song
which had made Lady Cardington cry.
Afterwards, she often thought of her singing of that particular song on
that particular occasion as people think of the frail bridges that span
the gulfs between one fate and another. And it seemed to her that while
she was crossing this bridge, that was a song, she had a faint
premonition of the land that lay before her on the far side of the gulf.
She did not see clearly any features of the landscape, but surely she saw
that it was different from all that she had known. Perhaps she deceived
herself. Perhaps she fancied that she had divined something that was in
reality hidden from her. One thing, however, is certain--that she made a
very exceptional effect upon her audience. Many of them, when later they
heard of an incident that occurred within a very short time, felt almost
awestricken for a moment. It seemed to them that they had been visited by
one of the messengers--the forerunners of destiny--that they had heard a
whispering voice say, "Listen well! This is the voice of the Future
singing."
Many people in London on the following day said, "We felt in her singing
that something extraordinary must be going to happen to her." And some of
them at any rate, probably spoke the exact truth.
Lady Holme herself, while she sang her second song, really felt this
sensation--that it was her swan song. If once we touch perfection we feel
the black everlasting curtain being drawn round us.
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