“Oh! my dearest! do not make it so hard for me! How could I desert Madame so? After all she has done for me? When I know all her hopes are set on me; that if I fail her she has no one ready to take my place! Because she was so sure of me, she did not try to bring on any other pupil for next autumn. And last season was a bad one for her and Monsieur. Their debutante failed; they lost money. Behold this child!” she exclaimed, with a rapid return to her old gay manner, “to whom I have explained all this at least a hundred times already, and he asks me why we cannot be married today!”
Then with another quick change, she laid her cheek tenderly against his and murmured:
“I might have died but for her. You would not have me desert her so cruelly, Rex?”
“My love! No!” A new respect mingled with his passion. Yes, she was faithful!
“And now I will go in! Rex, Rex, you are quite as bad as ever! Look at my hair!” She leaned lightly on his shoulder, her old laughing self.
He smiled back sadly.
“Again! After all! You silly, silly boy! And it is such a little while to wait!”
“Belle Hélène is very popular in Paris. The piece may run a long time.”
“Rex, I must. Don’t make it so hard for me!” Tears filled her eyes.
He kissed her for answer, without speaking.