SCENES AFTER THE BALLET.

27

rods looped up, which made them, when let fall, very nice little snuggeries, or, as they were here called, "retiracies," each

lit with a gas-burner.

When they entered, the members of the Carlton Club were walking up and down with opera-ladies, and some ladies in the highest circles of fashion in the city with their "devoted admirers." Lady Di. was very gracious in her expressions of delight and admiration of the chief Bull-paddock. Oliver, for his share, complimented the prima-donna and other singing-women and singing-men who had sustained the principal characters in the opera. Lady Di. now made her curtsey, and retired with Oliver into one of these "private boxes" under the stage, and let fall the curtains.

Frank and Mrs. Proudfit remained with the group in which the prima-donna shone as chief attraction. She admired her gift greatly; and her arm was conceded to Tom Greatrake, as a reward of his diamond bracelet.

"Here," said she, "is the gift of gifts!" holding up a solid golden bracelet, with one large diamond. "This was presented me on my signing a contract to go to the Phalanstery for a month. See here!" and she opened it; it bore the name of " Anzoleto." "It is to sing with Anzoleto and Consuelo, I left the shores of Italy and the gayeties of Paris."

My dear Trueman," said Tom Greatrake, "this is an unexpected pleasure, to meet you here; but I see the magnet," bowing to Mrs. Proudfit.

666

"A Daniel come to judgment!"" cried Frank, willing to brave out the affair as best he could.

Now, Mrs. Proudfit was not at all pleased at this; she could

have boxed Tom Greatrake's ears for his impertinence. It was seen by every one that Tom's continued raillery and compliments were not well received by Mrs. Proudfit; while Frank held his place at her side, wearing a calm air of indifference, as he replied to all this badinage with a serenity which greatly annoyed that lady.

Frank

A flood of ballet-girls in their brief dresses, wearing a scarf or a shawl loosely over their shoulders, now entered the saloon, and were received with great delight by the Carlton Club gentlemen. Soon, the entire party was paired off, if not matched. Mrs. P. led Frank to a far-off sofa, and seated herself. looked around for Oliver and Lady Di.; but in which of the curtained alcoves they were ensconced could not be told. Mrs. Proudfit had been vexed by Tom's compliments. They were just the sort of spiteful sayings she herself excelled in; and she would have put an end to them; but Frank would not aid her, and she was compelled to meet it as best she could, and under every disadvantage. Before she had fully recovered her self-possession, the folding-doors at the end of the hall opened, and a table spread, in a saloon lighted brilliantly by gas-burners, was revealed. The head-waiter came forward and cried out, "Ladies and gentlemen, supper!"

SCENES BEHIND THE SCREEN.

29

CHAPTER V.

LADY DI. AND OLIVER BEHIND THE CURTAINS.

AT this magical word the alcoves were opened, and their inmates joined the throng. The company were seated according to a programme, which fact told Frank he and Mrs. Proudfit had been counted upon for guests. The seats assigned them were near the seat of honor held by Major Lovelace, the president of the club, on whose right sat the prima-donna and Tom Greatrake. It was a festive and a brilliant party. The Sirens of the opera and the Circes of the ballet, when seated, threw off their opera cloaks and shawls; for the night was warm, and, the ceiling of this room not being high, the temperature was already far above summer heat.

"What has become of Lady Di.?" whispered Frank to Mrs. Proudfit.

"I suppose Oliver has been successful in persuading her to go home!" replied Mrs. P., with a sneer.

"I hope he has," replied Frank, glad to think Oliver was fairly out of the net whose meshes he felt were all about him.

And the supper proceeded as all suppers do. At first there was here and there a pop of champagne-corks, until there was a scattering fire of musketry, resembling a regiment of militia after breaking up of the line on "a general training-day." The feast of reason, as is usual, was superseded by the flow of wine; and the flow of soul on this occasion is better imagined than described.

Let us return to Oliver and Lady Di. When Oliver saw Lady Di. unloose the curtains, he felt queerly; but he was, unconsciously to himself, under the influence of singular and superior fascinations.

Lady Di. had won for herself, by her perfect self-possession, sometimes worn with hauteur, the submission of those who came around her. Unlike Mrs. Proudfit, she never wore the air of pique or petulance. She never made a demand which seemed to admit of a declinature. Whether this arose from her rank in society, or her beauty, and her artful modesty of manner, it was hers to lead, and the duty of all she consented to lead to follow unhesitatingly even Lord D. was no exception to this universal homage. And what could a poor simpleton like Oliver do? He was caged, and he felt it; and felt he might as well try to get out of a dungeon as out of that recess, until he was led out by Lady Dieofarose Dielincœur.

My Lady Di. did not long leave him in doubt for what end she had sought this retreat. Laying aside her scarf and hood and fan, she asked Oliver to aid her in drawing off the only glove she had worn during the evening; and, this done, her gloves and fan were laid upon her scarf. She then seated herself on the sofa beside Oliver, who sat in expectation of what would come next. Lady Di. was a lady of action when the time for action came; so, placing her beautiful arm round his neck, and taking his hand in hers, leaning forward, and looking him in the face with a gaze of passionate tenderness, she spoke: "Oliver Outright! I have for the last year lived but for this moment! Everything I have done, everything I have said, all, all has but advanced me and my hopes for this one interview! Why don't you speak?"

LADY DI. AND OLIVER.

31

Now, of all things, this was the strangest request for this lady to make. Oliver looked into the face of Lady Di., no longer lovely in its pensive expression, but full of passion; her bosom was heaving, and her eyes flamed upon him; and, at his wit's end, as many an honest gentleman has been before him in a similar situation, Oliver gasped, and said, "What can I say?"

"Say! Say that you have not been unconscious of my love; that you have seen my struggles to keep down the passion which consumes me; that you have seen the young flame only to fan it, and rejoice in its increasing brightness, hoping this hour would come, when love would reign supreme; and, now it has come, that you do give me love for love, life for life!"

My dear lady! how can I? how dare I? Have you not a husband? Have I not a wife?"

But we will not go on with this dialogue. Lady D. became more and more humble. She asked for nothing but love. She fell at his feet, and was willing to make any submission; but she must be loved! Love! Yes, love must be hers. His duty might lead him as it would, but she could not give up the belief that he loved her. And then she stormed and raged a while; and, reseating herself by his side, looking him in the face, she asked why he had so long accepted all her expressions of affection, if his heart was all his wife's. And it must be confessed that Oliver, as his memory, awakened by the fierce fury of this proud lady, went on its search with lightning rapidity, felt himself a culprit, far more of a culprit than he was, in fact. But in this, as in all things else, when in a false position, everything is exaggerated, and the mind is not so much a broken bow as a bow which drives home the shaft into itself.