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Sam was not altogether at ease at the outcome of his
adventure。 It was not in his nature to be rudecertainly not
to a woman； especially not to the most beautiful woman he had
ever seen。 For； whether her name was Anita or Anne； about her
beauty there could be no argument； but he assured himself
that he had acted within his rights。 A girl who could see in
a well…meant offer to be kind only a subject for ridicule was
of no interest to him。 Nor did her telegrams insisting upon
continuing their acquaintance flatter him。 As he read them；
they showed only that she looked upon him as one entirely out
of her worldas one with whom she could do an unconventional
thing and make a good story about it later； knowing that it
would be accepted as one of her amusing caprices。
He was determined he would not lend himself to any such
performance。 And； besides； he no longer was a foot…loose；
happy…go…lucky reporter。 He no longer need seek for
experiences and material to turn into copy。 He was now a man
with a responsible positionone who soon would be conferring
with cabinet ministers and putting ambassadors At their ease。
He wondered if a beautiful heiress； whose hand was sought in
marriage by the nobility of England； would understand the
importance of a London correspondent。 He hoped someone would
tell her。 He liked to think of her as being considerably
impressed and a little unhappy。
Saturday night he went to the theatre for which he had
purchased tickets。 And he went alone； for the place that
Sister Anne was to have occupied could not be filled by any
other person。 It would have been sacrilege。 At least； so it
pleased him to pretend。 And all through dinner； which he ate
alone at the same restaurant to which he had intended taking
her； he continued； to pretend she was with him。 And at the
theatre； where there was going forward the most popular of
all musical comedies； the seat next to him； which to the
audience； appeared wastefully empty； was to him filled with
her gracious presence。 That Sister Anne was not therethat
the pretty romance he had woven about her had ended in
disasterfilled； him with real regret。 He was glad he was；；
leaving New York。 He was glad he was going； where nothing
would remind him of her。 And then he glanced upand looked
straight into her eyes！
He was seated in the front row； directly on the aisle。 The
seat Sister Anne was supposed to be occupying was on his
right； and a few seats farther to his right rose the stage
box and in the stage box； and in the stage box； almost upon
the stage； and with the glow of the foot…lights full in her
face； was Anita Flagg； smiling delightedly down on him。 There
were others with her。 He had a confused impression of bulging
shirt…fronts； and shining silks； and diamonds； and drooping
plumes upon enormous hats。 He thought he recognized Lord
Deptford and Holworthy； but the only person he distinguished
clearly was Anita Flagg。 The girl was all in black velvet；
which was drawn to her figure like a wet bathing suit； round
her throat was a single string of pearls； and on her hair of
golden…rod was a great hat of black velvet； shaped like a
bell； with the curving lips of a lily。 And from beneath its
brim Anita Flagg； sitting rigidly erect with her white…gloved
hands resting lightly on her knee； was gazing down at him；
smiling with pleasure； with surprise； with excitement。
When she saw that； in spite of her altered appearance； he
recognized her； she bowed so violently and bent her head so
eagerly that above her the ostrich plumes dipped and
courtesied like wheat in a storm。 But Sam neither bowed nor
courtesied。 Instead； he turned his head slowly over his left
shoulder； as though he thought she was speaking not to him
but some one beyond him； across the aisle。 And then his eyes
returned to the stage and did not again look toward her。 It
was not the cut direct； but it was a cut that hurt； and in
their turn the eyes of Miss Flagg quickly sought the stage。
At the moment； the people in the audience happened to be
laughing； and she forced a smile and then laughed with them。
Out of the corner of his eye Sam could not help seeing her
profile exposed pitilessly in the glow of the foot…lights；
saw her lips tremble like those of a child about to cry； and
then saw the forced； hard smileand heard her laugh lightly
and mechanically。
〃That's all she cares。〃 he told himself。
It seemed to him that in all he heard of her； in everything
she did； she kept robbing him still further of all that was
dear to him in Sister Anne。
For five minutes； conscious of the foot…lights； Miss Flagg
maintained upon her lovely face a fixed and intent
expression； and then slowly and unobtrusively drew back to a
seat in the rear of the box。 In the' darkest recesses she
found Holworthy； shut off from a view of the stage by a
barrier of women's hats。
〃Your friend Mr。 Ward；〃 she began abruptly； in a whisper； 〃is
the rudest； most ill…bred person I ever met。 When I talked to
him the〃 other day I thought he was nice。 He was nice； But he
has behaved abominablylike a boorlike a sulky child。 Has
he no sense of humor？ Because I played a joke on him； is
that any reason why he should hurt me？〃
〃Hurt you？〃 exclaimed little Holworthy in amazement。 〃Don't
be ridiculous！ How could he hurt you？ Why should you care how
rude he is？ Ward's a clever fellow； but he fancies himself。
He's conceited。 He's too good…looking； and a lot of silly
women have made such a fuss over him。 So when one of them
laughs at him he can't understand it。 That's the trouble。 I
could see that when I was telling him。〃
〃Telling him！〃 repeated Miss Flagg〃Telling him what？〃
〃About what a funny story you made of it；〃 explained
Holworthy。 〃About his having the nerve to ask you to feed the
monkeys and to lunch with him。〃
Miss Flagg interrupted with a gasping intake of her breath。
〃Oh！〃 she said softly。 〃So…so you told him that； did you？
Andwhat else did you tell him？〃 ；
〃Only what you told usthat he said 'the day could not begin
too soon'； that he said he wouldn't let you be a manicure and
wash the hands of men who weren't fit to wash the streets you
walked on。〃
There was a pause。
〃Did I tell you he said that？〃 breathed Anita Flagg。
〃You know you did；〃 said Holworthy。
There was another pause。
〃I must have been mad！〃 said the girl。
There was a longer pause and Holworthy shifted uneasily。
〃I'm afraid you are angry；〃 he ventured。
〃Angry！〃 exclaimed Miss Flagg。 〃I should say I was
angry； but not with you。 I'm very much pleased with you。 At
the end of the act I'm going to let you take me out into the
lobby。〃
With his arms tightly folded； Sam sat staring unhappily at
the stage and seeing nothing。 He was sorry for himself
because Anita Flagg had destroyed his ideal of a sweet and
noble womanand he was sorry for Miss Flagg because a man
had been rude to her。 That he happened to be that man did not
make his sorrow and indignation the less intense； and；
indeed； so miserable was he and so miserable were his looks；
that his friends on the stage considered sending him a note；
offering； if he would take himself out of the front row； to
give him back his money at the box office。 Sam certainly
wished to take himself away； but he did not want to admit
that he was miserable； that he had behaved ill； that the
presence of Anita Flagg could spoil his eveningcould； in
the slightest degree affect him。 So he sat； completely
wretched； feeling that he was in a false position； that if he
were it was his own fault； that he had acted like an ass and
a brute。 It was not a cheerful feeling。
When the curtain fell he still remained seated。 He knew
before the second act there was an interminable wait； but he
did not want to chance running into Holworthy in the lobby
and he told himself it would be rude to abandon Sister Anne。
But he now was not so conscious of the imaginary Sister Anne
as of the actual box party on his near right； who were
laughing and chattering volubly。 He wondered whether they
laughed at himwhether Miss Flagg were again entertaining
them at his expense； again making his advances appear
ridiculous。 He was so sure of it t