Excitement had given her color. The pupils of her eyes were
dilated and they shone brilliantly. She looked at her
brother. He stared at her. They swayed together. They
kissed, and clung together for a long moment. Then Fanny
turned and walked swiftly away, and stumbled a little as she
groped for the stairway.
The bell in the foyer rang. The audience strolled to the
auditorium. They lagged, Fanny thought. They crawled. She
told herself that she must not allow her nerves to tease her
like that. She looked about her, with outward calm. Her
eyes met Fenger's. He was seated, alone. It was he who had
got a subscription seat for her from a friend. She had said
she preferred to be alone. She looked at him now and he at
her, and they did not nod nor smile. The house settled
itself flutteringly.
A man behind Fanny spoke. "Who's this Brandeis?"
"I don't know. A new one. German, I guess. They say he's
good. Kreisler's the boy who can play for me, though."
The orchestra was seated now. Stock, the conductor, came
out from the little side door.
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