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Shame dyed my face After such a heedless act I couldn't look at the General I knew that, in his surprise at my appearance, Mr Marmaduke Van Dam had fumbled noisily with his chair, and that Mrs Mar dress; how can elderly woid politeness they found it hard to keep their eyes from me I hoped the General had been too busy to appreciatebreath of relief that it had had no more serious consequences

Yet I was queerly dissatisfied The Metropolitan Opera House is a big building, and the part of the audience to which I could have been conspicuous was small Yet some people must have seen; had they taken no notice?

For some space--minutes or seconds--it see, restless ood many people down there, as well as in the boxes at each side, had noticed hbours Heads were turned our way; people were asking, answering, ale of me spread from seat to seat, from row to row, as ripples spread frolasses were levelled Coreelled to a stir of surprise The curtain had dropped for the interval between scenes; our box becahts were high Even the orchestra was resting

Then it was given reat audience Panic rew, spread Fascinated, I gazed down at the disturbance I knew that a frightened slow, luripped by triumph and horror Afterwards I realised that I had not availed myself of the screen Milly offered; I hadn't lifted the fan to shield my face; I had not stirred to hide myself

"Bob!" whispered the General "Quick! Don't you see?"

Robert Van Dae places with ive e

While again I stood under the glare of the lights, and while for the second time the movement in the box drew attention thither, somebody below half rose to look at me Two or three--a dozen--followed As I dropped into ain aboutout of their chairs