Page:Willa Cather - The Song of the Lark.djvu/407

 above knowing your libretto. That 's all very well for musicians, but common mortals like you and me have got to know what she 's singing about. Get out your dictionary and go at it as you would at any other proposition. Her diction is beautiful, and if you know the text you 'll get a great deal. So long as you 're going to hear her, get all that 's coming to you. You bet in Germany people know their librettos by heart! You Americans are so afraid of stooping to learn anything."

"I am a little ashamed," Archie admitted. "I guess that 's the way we mask our general ignorance. However, I 'll stoop this time; I 'm more ashamed not to be able to follow her. The papers always say she 's such a fine actress." He took up the tongs and began to rearrange the logs that had burned through and fallen apart. "I suppose she has changed a great deal?" he asked absently.

"We 've all changed, my dear Archie,—she more than most of us. Yes, and no. She 's all there, only there 's a great deal more of her. I 've had only a few words with her in several years. It 's better not, when I 'm tied up this way. The laws are barbarous, Archie."

"Your wife is—still the same?" the doctor asked sympathetically.

"Absolutely. Has n't been out of a sanitarium for seven years now. No prospect of her ever being out, and as long as she 's there I 'm tied hand and foot. What does society get out of such a state of things, I 'd like to know, except a tangle of irregularities? If you want to reform, there 's an opening for you!"

"It 's bad, oh, very bad; I agree with you!" Dr. Archie shook his head. "But there would be complications under another system, too. The whole question of a young man 's marrying has looked pretty grave to me for a long while. How have they the courage to keep on doing it? It depresses me now to buy wedding presents." For some time the doctor watched his guest, who was sunk in bitter