The Compleat Bachelor

opera when she knew that my acceptance was possible, which was contrary to her usual practice. My presence on such occasions had of late been not indispensable; and these young peo

h Arthur this evening,

diffidently, "Arthur particularly wa

ven't heard Moore and Burgess for a l

ain point, and counter

rgess," she replied. "

. "A simple sentiment would suit me exactly this ev

o, Rol, dear, you kn

w I had one, but they had made a

call this evening. I'm awfully sorry, dear; bu

them myself. There was a trifling foolish committee meet

's opportunity, and in the invitati

ed with the immaculate precision of one who has made up his mind to sulk in his stall, and had taken up a book on jurisprudence wh

detrimentally through the buttonhole. "You k

n to Tristan," I replie

r eyes said that an Irrevocable Destin

aroline?" I ask

ot rum directly you come in,

n the condition of being spa

ll dine out

y the sight of a man at the next table, apparently chastely-minded, but who took chutney to a grilled steak.

th. I said, Heaven forgive me, that it was the happiest period of life; that when the heart smiled in love the skies had a blueness; and much more of the sam

ree liqueurs recklessly. Three liqueurs is a great compliment to

as to their effect on his constitution

handsome," I ventured to observe, but got no response-and magnanimously bowed Carrie and myself into the cab,

moved me along. She then settled herself listlessly on my right, whi

monstrating remark from an ardent Vaaagnerite on his left. At the end of the first act he went out for a cigarette, apologising with formality as Carrie gathered up her gown to allow him to pass. Carrie's pr

iting, my literary li

ed with a

on the Vaaagnerite next Arthur's empty seat,

nd Love. She spoke of the Devotion to Work and the Sacredness of a

s opinion," she said

I realised the for

pinion on

Caroline?" I asked, compos

ht they only ought to be pretty, and I was only inking my fingers. Then I told him w

n you qu

h-y

the third syllable, and I fancy Arthur had trodden on his toes. I had great sympathy with Arthur. I particu

opera-glasses, and raised them to my eyes. The lenses were wet with tears-I suspected it. I quietly passed them on to

ke, but remained in his stall. He had h

rful music, Bas

think it's awful fine, by Jove. I can understa

ds pompously with my voice)-"to the Artist-Soul, creation is not a

listening,

rain-box on him to do that-that sort of thing. It made me fe

the music, but it was the opera-gla

d. You know, I always thought too confounded much of curves and trajectory, and all that stuff. I a

a touch of the pathetic, but I

ghtful pause

ver do anything of that sort?-I-I-mean, something that

was looking very miserable-abstract

without trying. You've got to stick

It must be darned hard. Do you know, Butterfield," he said, dropping his voice su

rise me,"

ly; and I think I w

tuated with "Dear, dear." Carrie laid he

send Arthur for some coffe

attended Carrie's pleasure while she twisted h

said, "I'm

left it an Arid Waste," I replied sententiousl

is ripened through suffering

s is not Eternal. Those we love are sever

esumed his seat, this time without apology. He was anxious to make it up, but I didn't offer him m

Bassishaw was revolving ways and means, but the cup hint was not obvious to him. Isolde began the Liebestod song, while the head of the Vaaagnerite beyond

f Caroline that was hanging in limp appeal nearest him. She turned her face away, but allowed the hand to remain. It was all

whispered to me, "do you mind changing p

of doing these things, Bassishaw. But we can't change now. You'll have to wait yo

hem no harm t