Page:The Tsar's Window.djvu/148

 cry, a "Ha-ha!" which grated on every nerve, and which she repeated at intervals through the remainder of the performance.

The circling movement stopped suddenly, and her arms fell stiffly by her sides. With her great, dark eyes fixed on some thought far, far away, she glided towards the front of the stage, quivering from head to foot. What strange spirit had taken possession of her, and moved her as the wind does a leaf? There was not a muscle in her body which did not move. Through the amber-colored silk dress which she wore could be traced every line and curve of her exquisite figure, as it trembled in this weird spasm. Gradually the chorus grew louder, the cries shriller, till the very height of pain or ecstasy was reached; and then the music ceased abruptly, the dancing-girl became a statue, and the Tsiganies sat looking straight before them, indifferent to everything in heaven and earth, with an unutterably sad stare in their dusky eyes.

"It gives me too much pain to see that!" I exclaimed. "It is unearthly. I cannot smile again this evening."

"You must try," said George; "for now we are going to dance, and we shall have no more of the gypsy music to-night."

The discouraged man resumed his seat at the piano, and struck up a waltz.

I thought that nothing more could astonish me in Mr. Thurber; but I must say I had a slight touch of surprise when he asked me to waltz with him, and I was