Part 51 (2/2)
”They were kind to me, at all events,” said Glory.
”To-night, yes. The last new man--the last new monkey----”
She was laughing again and swinging along on his arm as if her feet hardly touched the ground.
”What is the matter with you?”
”Nothing; I am only thinking how polite you are,” and then they looked at each other again and laughed together.
The mild radiance of the stars was dying into the brighter light of the moon. A bird somewhere in the dark trees below had mistaken the moonlight for the dawn, and was making its early call. The clock at Westminster was striking eleven, and there was the deep rumble of traffic from the unseen streets round about.
”How beautiful!” said Glory. ”It's hard to believe that this can be the same London that is so full of casinos and clubs and-monasteries.”
”Why, what does a girl like you know about such places?”
She had dropped his arm and was looking over the balcony. The sound of voices came from the red windows behind them. Then the soloist began to sing again. His second ballad was the Erl King:
Du liebes Kind, komm' geh' mit mir!
Gar schone Spiele spiel' ich mit dir.
”Any news of John Storm?” said Drake.
”Not that I know of.”
”I wonder if you would like him to come out again--now?”
”I wonder!”
At that moment there was a step behind them, and a soft voice said, ”I want you to introduce me, Mr. Drake.”
It was a lady of eight or nine and twenty, wearing short hair brushed upward and backward in the manner of a man.
”Ah, Rosa--Miss Rosa Macquarrie,” said Drake. ”Rosa is a journalist, and a great friend of mine, Glory. If you want fame, she keeps some of the keys of it, and if you want friends.h.i.+p---- But I'll leave you together.”
”My dear,” said the lady, ”I want you to let me know you.”
”But I've seen you before--and spoken to you,” said Glory.
”Why, where?”
Glory was laughing awkwardly. ”Never mind now! Some other time perhaps.”
”The people inside are raving about your voice. 'Where does it come from?' they are saying--'from a palace or Ratcliffe Highway?' But I think _I_ know. It comes from your heart, my dear. You have lived and and loved and suffered--and so have I. Here we are in our smart frocks, dear, but we belong to another world altogether and are the only working women in the company. Perhaps I can help you a little, and you have helped me already. I may know you, may I not?”
There was a deep light in Glory's eyes and a momentary quiver of her eyelids. Then without a word she put her arms about Rosa's neck and kissed her,
”I was sure of you,” said Rosa. Her voice was low and husky. ”Your name is Glory, isn't it? It wasn't for nothing you were given that name. G.o.d gave it you!”
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