Thus they played through the whole of the first act, and when the last chord had been struck there was a long silence. It was as though both were listening to the echo of all that had gone before, and it was with an effort that Nora roused herself to speak.
"How well you play!" she said under her breath. "And how grand—how wonderful it is!"
He turned and looked at her.
"Did you understand it?"
"Not all. I feel that there are many more wonders to fathom which are yet too deep for me. But I understand enough to know that they are there—and to be glad."
"It is the noblest—most perfect expression of love and of the human heart that was ever written or composed," he said.
She looked up at him, and their eyes met gravely and steadily for a moment, in which the world was forgotten.
"Thank you very much," a quiet voice said from the background.
Arnim turned quickly, so quickly that it was almost a start.
"Now for your criticism, Hildegarde!" he cried gaily. "I assure you, we are both trembling."