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Onlythattwofellowsarediningwithme,and
Ithoughtperhapsyouwouldcome.AuntBarbarasent
metheticketforaboxattheGaiety,too,andwemight
lookinthere.Thenthere’sadancesomewhere.”
Thanksverymuch,butIthinkIwon’t,”saidMichael.
I’mratherlookingforwardtoaneveningalone.”
Andthat’sanoddthingtolookforwardto,”
remarkedFrancis.
Notwhenyouwanttoplaythepiano.Ishallhave
achophereateight,andprobablythumpawaytill
midnight.”
Francislookedroundforhishatandstick.
Imustgo,”hesaid.Ioughttohavegonelongago,
butIdidn’twantto.Themaladycameinagain.Most
oftheworldhavegotit,youknow,Michael.”
Michaelroseandstoodbyhistallcousin.
IthinkweEnglishhavegotit,”hesaid.Atleast,the
EnglishyouandIknowhavegotit.ButIdon’tbelieve
theGermans,forinstance,have.They’reindeadly
earnestaboutallsortsofthings–musicamongthem,
whichisthepointthatconcernsme.Themusicofthe
worldisGerman,youknow!”
Francisdemurredtothis.
Oh,Idon’tthinkso,”hesaid.ThisthingattheGaiety
isripping,Ibelieve.Docomeandsee.”
Michaelresistedthischanceofrevisinghisopinion
abouttheGermanoriginofmusic,andFrancisdrifted
outintoPiccadilly.Itwasalreadygettingonforseven
o’clock,andtheroadwayandpavementswerefull
ofpeoplewhoseemedrathertocontradictMichael’s
theorythatthenationgenerallysufferedfromthe
maladyofnotwanting,soeagerlyandnumerously
weretheyonthequestforamusement.Alreadythe
streetwasamassoftaxicabsandprivatemotors
containing,eachoneofthem,menandwomen
ineveningdress,hurryingouttodinebeforethe
theatreortheopera.Bright,eagerfacespeeredout,
withsheenofsilkandglitterofgems;theyallseemed
alertandprosperousandkeenforthedailyhours