And then a strange thing occurred. As she sighed, that well-known sigh, she raised her eyes and all unconsciously looked toward the house.
It was almost darkened; but a single light had been left in the chandelier, and it fell upon the handsome face of a young man sitting in the centre box. He was leaning forward, his eyes fixed upon her face, a strange intent expression in them. His face was pale, his hands clasped tightly on the velvet lining of the box-edge, his whole expression that of one surprised, amazed, bewildered and fascinated.
She saw the face for a moment only, but she recognized it.
It was the one over which she had bent on the preceding day; it was Cecil Neville’s!
The color rose to her face, and her hands, clasped tightly on the balcony edge, trembled. Then she went pale again, and her eyes were raised to the moon.
Then she spoke, and again, marvel of marvels! the very tones of her voice seemed altered. There was no longer any trace of the cold abstraction which had marred the preceding scenes.
Melting, ravishing, they fell upon the audience like drops of dew upon sun-baked travelers.
A thrill seemed to run through the house. Romeo, experienced actor as he was, felt the change, the difference, and actually almost faltered.
Then they took up the scene. No need to dwell upon it; every one knows it; there is no other like it in the whole range of English literature.
Like notes of music, sounding the full depths of a girl’s pure passion, her words dropped from her perfect lips. Her face was like a poem of Dante Gabriel Rosetti’s; pale, passion-pale, yet eloquent. Every gesture—as she swept the dark, silky hair from her forehead with an impatient movement; as she bent forward in the keen hope of touching Romeo’s hand; as she kissed her fingers to him; as she pressed her throbbing heart, full to o’erbrimming with love—every gesture was noted and dwelt upon by the enraptured audience, and when the scene closed, a wild and unanimous burst of applause rolled like thunder from pit to boxes, from boxes to pit!