As for Lucile, her mind was indeed engaged with dreams that were far from the realm of food and drink. She was thinking of that meeting she had so long dreamed of and which she still had the courage to hope might come to pass, her own meeting with the Mystery Lady of the Christmas Spirit.
“I shan’t fail to recognize her,” she assured herself, “though she be dressed like an Eskimo or a South Sea Island maiden.”
At last the time came for strolling down the Boulevard toward the music hall. Lucile stared at the passing throngs until Laurie teasingly asked her whether she hoped to see in one of them the face of a long lost brother.
At last she found herself in the opera chair of the great hall. Now, at least, she was in the same room as the Mystery Lady, or soon must be, for if the Mystery Lady had not entered she soon would. In ten minutes the first note would be struck. There was a thrill in that.
It was to be a truly wonderful program, such a one as the girl had perhaps never listened to before. And she loved music, fairly adored it. As she thought how her interest this night must be divided between the fine music and the Mystery Lady, she found herself almost wishing that the Mystery Lady had not brought into her life so much that was unusual, perplexing and mysterious.
“Perhaps I shall be able to locate her before the music begins,” she thought to herself. “Then, during a recess, I’ll glide up to her and whisper, ‘You are the Spirit of Christmas.’”
Though she scanned the sea of faces near and far, not one of them all, save those of her own little group, was familiar to her.
It was with a little sigh of resignation that she at last settled back in her seat and allowed her program to flutter to her lap.
The time for the first number had arrived. The musicians had taken their places. The rows of violinists and cornetists, the standing bass viol player, the conductor with his baton, all were there. Like soldiers at attention, they waited for the soloist.
Mademoiselle Patricia Diurno, the country’s most talented young pianist, was to lead that night in the rendition of three master concertos.