Aaron's Rod
im-also two more men. The women sat in the front of the box, conspicuously. They were both poor, they were rather excited. But they belonged to a set which looked on social triumphs as a downfall th
forward, conspicuous and enhanced, right in the eye of the vast crowd that lines the hollow shell of the auditorium. Thus even Josephine and Julia leaned their elbo
nce. Sometimes she designed dresses for him, and sometimes she accepted from him a commission to decorate a room. Usually
r strange equanimity, her long, slow, slanting looks; she looked foreign and frightening, clear as a cameo, but dark, far off. Julia was the English beauty, in a lovely blue dress. Her hair was becomingly untidy on her low brow,
ssible to be in an important box at the opera without experiencing the strange intoxication of social pre-em
ursed her mouth. The artist in her forgot everything, she was filled with disgust. The sham Egypt of Aida hid from her nothing of its shame. The singers were all colour-washed, delibera
sephine could not solve. She scanned their really expensive, brilliant clothing. It was nearly right-nearly splendid. It only lacked that last sub
ven the extremely popular. The tenor sang bravely, his mouth made a large, coffin-shaped, yawning gap in his orange face, his little beard fluttered oddly, like a tail. He tur
tongue rapidly over her dried lips, and looked round into the box. Her brown eyes expressed shame, fear, and disgust. A curious grimace went over her face-a grimace only to be expressed by the
nasty?"
took it calmly, easily, whilst she felt floods
ed Julia. "It's s
are too near
indicating with his eyebrows a blond large woman in white satin
ant! Yes, I admire her immensely!
different layers. She bowed to various acquaintances-mostly Americans in uniform, whom she had known in Paris. She
applause, white gloves clapping, heads shaking. The noise was strange and rattling. What a curious multiple object a theatre-audience was! It seemed to have
cried Julia. "I am wild with e
ld," said Lill
t to-night?" a
ave him a long, queer loo
ntry," she said,
n Dorset," said Robert, verbally rushing
oing?" sa
decided," re
e objection?"
can be seen, except that she can't
no mind," sai
erly verdict!" laug
wn to Dorset alone
ied Robert, ans
tay ho
it lasts," sa
" said Lilly, "and worki
er?-looks bad in the
Afraid of compr
ooked a
ou mean us in this box, or the crew outside th
that we're the world?"
n our own little island matters to us alone. As for the infinite crowds of howling savag
they?" said
your head in their
know-"
d risen, they hush
vous kind of amour with him, based on soul sympathy and emotional excitement. But whether to go and live with him? She didn't know if she wanted
tain dropped
ve to think of Robert." She cut the word in two,
ve that I'm tired of being thou
eyes in a slow smil
I to think o
lf," sa
"But then it's no FUN to think about oneself," she cried flatly. "I think abo
you the greatest treat,"
ert nervously, "it will b
you, old boy,"
flushed, full-blooded Robert, who w
ou been married
!" sang Ju
od
anything for herself. She waits for someone
inly-" bega
t's no USE putting it
ith Scott, out and out,
. "That's the question f
he restless hive of the theatre. She spoke so wildly that she attracted at
ne another in some
nuts on Scott. She's all over him. She'd have eloped with him weeks ago if it had
the company, then went out. He d
he loves Scott-"
ned with wild desp
usly-tre-men-dous-ly
don't," sa
in their faces: one might almos
hink, Josephin
tarted. Her tongue went rapidly over
es
Josephine. "She'll bother with the idea t
she does,"
which irritated the neighbouring Lady Cochrane sincere
all rather bored. Struthers kept on making small, half audible remarks-w
, the men got up. Lilly's wife, Tanny, suddenly a
tea or anythin
hite, curving corridor. Julia, Josephine and Tanny remained in
ne can't decide such a thing
can't, dear Ta
every day, to go and live with another man
's difficult! I feel they all want
ore.-But of course, Robert can't love you REALLY, or he'd want to keep you. I can see L
think he's beautiful. Robert's beautiful. And he NEEDS me.
Scott better
has his art. His art matters. And ROB-ert-Robert is a dilettante, don't yo
t think that matt
ers tremendously, dea
"I can see Scott has great attra
ied Julia. "H
t. You might even work together.
a spoke with a lo
LLY nice," said T
nly she gave herself a shake. Then she laughed hu
over for Josephine! Oh, wouldn't that be
ng down into the orchestra,
t a lover, Julia
so BADLY," cried Julia, with her shaking laugh. "Robert's awfully good to me. But w
fference,"
used Julia. "Dear old Rob-ert-I wouldn't hurt him for
her eyes, loo
od to be hurt a little," said
Tanny!-Poor old ROB-ert! Oh, p
," said Tanny. "One
ive years older than he. He's onl
d Josephine, suddenly turning with anger.
ear? IS he?" sang Julia. Josephin
e young young men, who seem so fresh, they're deep enough, really
ld Man of the Seas, sometimes, aren't they? Incredibly old, like little boys who kno
in. Josephine was watching clo
dy we know, Josep
ine st
ing at her friends q
she knows all sorts o
ment the m
swering. Jim spread himself as far as he could, in the narrow space. He stared u
mebody loved me I should be all right. I'm going to pie
Josephine, laughing uneasily
d. I'm not satisf
swaddling bands and laid at the b
rin, and gazed long and mal
led his long six foot of limb
hange," said Tanny. "You've been loved t
d her n
YOU," he said,
e heure!"
n on his chest, and
to be
ved?" Robert asked him. "It woul
rt long and slow,
keep count?" T
up at her,
I did," h
a man should begin to
to his feet, and b
of you over the bl
sephine glanced round. She had become a dusky white colour. S
anyone in the orch
emained silent and motionless during the next scene, each thinking his own thoughts. Jim was uncomfortable. He wanted to m
exclaimed excitedly, loo
said
osephine quietly,
" he b
ling a programme in his hand, as if trying
exclaimed triumphant
ho?" th
r Josephine would
chestra. The musicians were laying aside their instruments and rising.
n Aaron Sisson
" cried Julia.
was closed and silent
d drinks. Josephine's party stared around, talking desultorily. And at length they perceived Jim stalking along, leading Aaron Sisson by the arm. Jim was grin
phine to him. "How
," he answered, a
stood in the ga
of you to be he
lau
ink so?" h
hottle House and Christmas Eve.-Oh
at her, but d
about you," sai
s," he
itated. "We crowd up the gangway."
oked down at the d
ll the vie
n't we!" c
good for us
ing. You've got a perman
at pr
teresting for you
down at her dusky young face. Her
nge," he sa
e said. "Why, you must feel a whole
ere laughing at her s
it?" she
can be,"
were quite real to him. He was not really amused. Julia found him dull, stupid. Tanny
ays hoped would turn
ied Aaron, smil
rhaps he's not glad that we turned
turned and
EMBER us, can
id. "I can r
hed. "You are
did not know what
and children?" sh
ght, I
ck to them?" cried
low, half smiling loo
men," said Jim uncouthly, seizing A