Page:The Bridge of San Luis Rey (Grossett & Dunlap).pdf/170

 Too fast or too slow is nothing to them. They wept. I was divine. That’s all I care for. Now be silent. Be silent.”

He was absolutely silent.

“You may comb my hair, but if you say another word I shall never play again. You can find some other girl, that’s all.”

Thereupon he would comb her hair soothingly for ten minutes, pretending not to notice the sobs that were shaking her exhausted body. At last she would turn quickly and catching one of his hands would kiss it frantically: “Uncle Pio, was I so bad? Was I a disgrace to you? Was it so awful that you left the theatre?”

After a long pause Uncle Pio would admit judiciously: “You were good in the scene on the ship.”

“But I’ve been better, Uncle Pio. You remember the night you came back from Cuzco?”

“You were pretty good at the close.”

“Was I?”