Aaron's Rod

m - also two more men. The women sat in the front of the box, conspicuously. They were both poor, they were rather excited. But they belonged to a set which looked on social triumphs as a downfall th

forward, conspicuous and enhanced, right in the eye of the vast crowd that lines the hollow shell of the auditorium. Thus even Josephine and Julia leaned their elb

nce. Sometimes she designed dresses for him, and sometimes she accepted from him a commission to decorate a room. Usually

r strange equanimity, her long, slow, slanting looks; she looked foreign and frightening, clear as a cameo, but dark, far off. Julia was the English beauty, in a lovely blue dress. Her hair was becomingly untidy on her low brow,

possible to be in an important box at the opera without experiencing the strange intoxication of social pre-e

ursed her mouth. The artist in her forgot everything, she was filled with disgust. The sham Egypt of Aida hid from her nothing of its shame. The singers were all colour-washed, delibera

sephine could not solve. She scanned their really expensive, brilliant clothing. It was nearly right - nearly splendid. It only lacked that last s

even the extremely popular. The tenor sang bravely, his mouth made a large, coffin-shaped, yawning gap in his orange face, his little beard fluttered oddly, like a tail. He tur

tongue rapidly over her dried lips, and looked round into the box. Her brown eyes expressed shame, fear, and disgust. A curious grimace went over her face - a grimace only to be expressed by th

nasty?"

took it calmly, easily, whilst she felt floods

d Julia. "It's so

are too near

indicating with his eyebrows a blond large woman in white satin

ndant! Yes, I admire her immensely!

n different layers. She bowed to various acquaintances - mostly Americans in uniform, whom she had known in Paris. She

pplause, white gloves clapping, heads shaking. The noise was strange and rattling. What a curious multiple object a theatre-audience was! It seemed to have a

cried Julia. "I am wild with e

ld," said Lill

t to-night?" a

ave him a long, queer loo

ntry," she said,

n Dorset," said Robert, verbally rushing

oing?" sa

decided," re

e objection?"

can be seen, except that she can't

no mind," sai

erly verdict!" laug

wn to Dorset alone

ied Robert, ans

tay ho

s it lasts," sa

" said Lilly, "and worki

er?- looks bad in th

. Afraid of compr

ooked a

ou mean us in this box, or the crew outside th

that we're the world?"

n our own little island matters to us alone. As for the infinite crowds of howling savag

they?" said

your head in their

know -"

d risen, they hush

vous kind of amour with him, based on soul sympathy and emotional excitement. But whether to go and live with him? She didn't know if she wanted

tain dropped

ve to think of Robert." She cut the word in two,

ve that I'm tired of being thou

eyes in a slow smil

I to think o

lf," sa

"But then it's no FUN to think about oneself," she cried flatly. "I think abo

you the greatest treat,"

ert nervously, "it will b

you, old boy,"

e flushed, full-blooded Robert, who

ou been married

!" sang Ju

od

anything for herself. She waits for someone

inly -" beg

t's no USE putting it

ith Scott, out and out,

. "That's the question f

he restless hive of the theatre. She spoke so wildly that she attracted at

ne another in some

nuts on Scott. She's all over him. She'd have eloped with him weeks ago if it had

the company, then went out. He d

he loves Scott -

ned with wild desp

sly - tre-men-dous-ly

don't," sa

in their faces: one might almos

hink, Josephin

tarted. Her tongue went rapidly over

es

Josephine. "She'll bother with the idea t

she does,"

which irritated the neighbouring Lady Cochrane sincere

all rather bored. Struthers kept on making small, half audible remarks -

, the men got up. Lilly's wife, Tanny, suddenly a

tea or anythin

hite, curving corridor. Julia, Josephine and Tanny remained in

ne can't decide such a thing

can't, dear Ta

every day, to go and live with another man.

's difficult! I feel they all want

ore.- But of course, Robert can't love you REALLY, or he'd want to keep you. I can see

think he's beautiful. Robert's beautiful. And he NEEDS me.

Scott better

has his art. His art matters. And ROB-ert - Robert is a dilettante, don't yo

t think that matt

ers tremendously, dea

I can see Scott has great attract

ied Julia. "H

t. You might even work together.

a spoke with a lon

LLY nice," said T

denly she gave herself a shake. Then she laughed h

over for Josephine! Oh, wouldn't that be

ng down into the orchestra,

t a lover, Julia

so BADLY," cried Julia, with her shaking laugh. "Robert's awfully good to me. But

fference,"

sed Julia. "Dear old Rob-ert - I wouldn't hurt him for

her eyes, loo

od to be hurt a little," said

, Tanny!- Poor old ROB-ert! Oh,

," said Tanny. "One

ive years older than he. "He's on

d Josephine, suddenly turning with anger.

ear? IS he?" sang Julia. Josephin

e young young men, who seem so fresh, they're deep enough, really

Old Man of the Seas, sometimes, aren't they? Incredibly old, like little boys who kno

in. Josephine was watching clo

dy we know, Josep

ine st

ing at her friends q

she knows all sorts o

ment the m

swering. Jim spread himself as far as he could, in the narrow space. He stared u

mebody loved me I should be all right. I'm going to pie

Josephine, laughing uneasily

d. I'm not satisf

swaddling bands and laid at the b

rin, and gazed long and mal

led his long six foot of limb

hange," said Tanny. "You've been loved t

d her n

YOU," he said,

e heure !"

n on his chest, and

to be

ved?" Robert asked him. "It woul

rt long and slow,

keep count?" T

up at her,

I did," h

a man should begin to

to his feet, and b

of you over the bl

sephine glanced round. She had become a dusky white colour. S

anyone in the orch

emained silent and motionless during the next scene, each thinking his own thoughts. Jim was uncomfortable. He wanted to m

e exclaimed excitedly, loo

said

osephine quietly,

" he b

ling a programme in his hand, as if trying

exclaimed triumphant

ho?" th

r Josephine would

chestra. The musicians were laying aside their instruments and rising.

n Aaron Sisson

" cried Julia.

was closed and silent

d drinks. Josephine's party stared around, talking desultorily. And at length they perceived Jim stalking along, leading Aaron Sisson by the arm. Jim was grin

phine to him. "How

," he answered, a

stood in the ga

of you to be he

lau

ink so?" h

hottle House and Christmas Eve.- Oh

at her, but d

about you," sai

s," he

itated. "We crowd up the gangway."

oked down at the d

ll the vie

n't we!" c

good for us

ing. You've got a perman

at pr

teresting for you

down at her dusky young face. Her

nge," he sa

e said. "Why, you must feel a whole

ere laughing at her s

it?" she

can be,"

were quite real to him. He was not really amused. Julia found him dull, stupid. Tanny

ays hoped would turn

ied Aaron, smil

rhaps he's not glad that we turned

turned and

EMBER us, can

id. "I can r

hed. "You are

did not know what

and children?" sh

ght, I

ck to them?" cried

low, half smiling loo

men," said Jim uncouthly, seizing A