Привид Опери
XI Above The Trap-doors
Butshetookhimtothestageandmadehimsitonthewoodencurbofawell,inthedoubtfulpeaceandcoolnessofafirstscenesetfortheevening’sperformance.
Onanotherday,shewanderedwithhim,handin,hand,alongthedesertedpathsofagardenwhosecreepershadbeencutoutbyadecorator’sskilfulhands.Itwasasthoughtherealsky,therealflowers,therealearthwereforbiddenherforalltimeandshecondemnedtobreathenootherairthanthatofthetheater.Anoccasionalfiremanpassed,watchingovertheirmelancholyidyllfromafar.Andshewoulddraghimupabovetheclouds,inthemagnificentdisorderofthegrid,whereshelovedtomakehimgiddybyrunninginfrontofhimalongthefrailbridges,amongthethousandsofropesfastenedtothepulleys,thewindlasses,therollers,inthemidstofaregularforestofyardsandmasts.Ifhehesitated,shesaid,withanadorablepoutofherlips:
"You,asailor!"
Andthentheyreturnedtoterrafirma,thatistosay,tosomepassagethatledthemtothelittlegirls’dancing-school,wherebratsbetweensixandtenwerepractisingtheirsteps,inthehopeofbecominggreatdancersoneday,"coveredwithdiamonds..."Meanwhile,Christinegavethemsweetsinstead.
Shetookhimtothewardrobeandproperty-rooms,tookhimalloverherempire,whichwasartificial,butimmense,coveringseventeenstoriesfromtheground-floortotheroofandinhabitedbyanarmyofsubjects.
