The Street of Seven Stars

nk in the cold entrance hall on the Hirschengasse, flung the conv

ment windows in the salon no longer creaked or admitted drafts, thanks to Peter and a roll of rubber weather-casing. The grand piano, which had been Scatchy's rented extravagance, had gone never to return, and in its corner stood a battered but still usable upr

of the stove open, and perhaps, when the dishes from supper had been washed, with Harmony playing softly, it took resolution on Pet

ht in quantity and could afford to use lavishly. Oil for the lamp was a trifle. They dined on venison now and then, when the shop across boasted a deer from the mountains. They had other game occasionally, whe

In vain Harmony argued the extravagance of Rosa, now married to the soldier from Salzburg with one lun

after all, who f

practice all day. You and I can keep up the financial end well enough, reduced as it is. L

ony, who feared her part was too small, and who irritated Anna almost to a fre

shake her head, and speak much beneath her breath with the wife of the

than women, and Peter had been only subconsciously wretched. He had gained a pound or two in flesh, perhaps, and he was unmistak

as a shy, tender young creature, all emotion, quivering at a word, aloof at a glance, prone to occasional introspection and mysterious daydreams; the next she wa

panying memory of discomfort, with every odor of stewing cabbages for years to come. At the hospital Jimmy had had a bad week again. It had been an anxious time for all of them. In vain the sentry had stopped outside the third window

f peaks, taking walking-tours through such a Switzerland as never was, shoo

and set it in the barred window. The real sentry had been very much astonished; he had almost fallen over backward. On re

gelatin, not without apprehension, it being her first essay in jelly and Jimm

o go that Jimmy broached a

come, have they?"

not

he got my lett

red it, d

uick. If I had the horns, Sister Elisabet would tie them the

next to the delicatessen store a fresh deer, and this time it was a stag. Like the others it hung head down,

ortier, and took him across with her. The wild-game seller was obdurate. He would sell the deer

epressed. Even the discovery that Peter had come home early and was buildin

as falling and Harmony made a movement

e while? You are always beautiful, but-y

e me. We always think ou

but I have never tho

arkness; to this tiny room at the back of the old house few street sounds penetrated. Round them, shutting them off together from the world of shops with

omfortable. Love, healthy human love, thrives on physical ease. Indigestion is a greater foe to it than poverty. Great love songs are written, not by poets starving in hall bedrooms, with insistent hunger gnawing and u

e. Once or twice he had seen visions, dreamed dreams, to waken himself savagely to the fact that not for many years could he afford the luxury

ing, he was much too large for the kitchen. He sat in the chair

r irregular features. Harmony, knife poised

are sad to-

a bit. Th

't mone

had found an error in his bank balance which meant that he was a hundred Kr

bly end in a roaring bad temper and smash somet

oing over to where he sat rested a hand

rt you in

ourse

about whatever it is?

ldn't un

th Anna?" Harmony asked,

don't ask me what's wro

the table. The kitchen was entirely dark, save for the firelight, which gleamed on the bare floor and the red legs of

ext moment he had caught her to h

inst him. The gates of his self-control were down: all his l

m root and branch from his firm ground of self-restraint left her only shaken. He was still very close to her; she could hear him breathing. He did

ent when Harmony

the match she still held. Th

not for you and me, P

y n

any questio

obsessed him. "Why not? Why should I not take you in my arms? If there i

ot made m

ove demands reciprocation; he could read no passion in her voice. He kne

I didn't mea

r not talk abo

d arrived and was taking off her galoshes in the entry. Pe

for Heaven's sake, Harmony, don't avoid

om Peter, of acceptance from the girl. When Anna Gates entered the kitchen sh

f the old town had shut off the street lights because two hours later the sun would

rike three, and listened, perhaps, while the delicatessen seller ambled home from the Schubert Society, singing beerily as he ambled, she was wont to hear

ich had left the beds far apart she met nothing but empty air. Words had small effect on the Portier, who slept fathoms deep in unconsciousness. Also she

the iron candlestick from the table and flung it into the d

wife forgot the cold floor and the wind,

The chain was off the door; it

a woman scorned kept her warm. The Votivkirche struck one, two, three quarters of an hour. The candlestick in her hand ch

ndignation had changed to fear, coupled with sneezi

bed was coming a rh

candlestick, now lighted, and gazing at him wi

been out

t n

nce the bed

drea

n is off

t have we to steal or the Americ

wife crawled into her bed and warmed her aching feet und

es out to do his evil. The innocent ones knew it not, but it m

of her sleeping lord's feet, and fell back gasping. They w

ght, opened the door from the salon of Maria Theres

e deer across the street. Tied to them was a bit of