Chapter 13

           ItwasacrowdednightatWallack’stheatre.Theplaywas"TheShaughraun,"withDionBoucicaultinthetitleroleandHarryMontagueandAdaDyasasthelovers.ThepopularityoftheadmirableEnglishcompanywasatitsheight,andtheShaughraunalwayspackedthehouse.Inthegalleriestheenthusiasmwasunreserved;inthestallsandboxes,peoplesmiledalittleatthehackneyedsentimentsandclap-trapsituations,andenjoyedtheplayasmuchasthegalleriesdid.Therewasoneepisode,inparticular,thatheldthehousefromfloortoceiling.ItwasthatinwhichHarryMontague,afterasad,almostmonosyllabicsceneofpartingwithMissDyas,badehergood-bye,andturnedtogo.Theactress,whowasstandingnearthemantelpieceandlookingdownintothefire,woreagraycashmeredresswithoutfashionableloopingsortrimmings,mouldedtohertallfigureandflowinginlonglinesaboutherfeet.Aroundherneckwasanarrowblackvelvetribbonwiththeendsfallingdownherback.Whenherwooerturnedfromhersherestedherarmsagainstthemantel-shelfandbowedherfaceinherhands.Onthethresholdhepausedtolookather;thenhestoleback,liftedoneoftheendsofvelvetribbon,kissedit,andlefttheroomwithoutherhearinghimorchangingherattitude.Andonthissilentpartingthecurtainfell.ItwasalwaysforthesakeofthatparticularscenethatNewlandArcherwenttosee"TheShaughraun.