CHAPTER X
A NIGHT ADVENTURE
NAN was going to the Grand Opera for the first time in her life and shewas in a state of wild excitement over it. As yet the Corners had notlearned the mysterious workings attending ticket buying in Munich, andit seemed to them the most difficult of undertakings.
"From all I can learn," said Miss Helen, "there are three places inwhich you can buy tickets. The programme is generally announced at theend of each week for the following week, and the tickets are for saleon Sunday morning. You can rise before six o'clock and go stand in linetill nine, when the office of the Hof-theatre is open. If you are luckyyou may not have to stand more than an hour after that, and if it isnot a subscription performance, or as they call it, an _abonnement_,you may get a good place for a small sum. Missing your chance at theHof-theatre, you can rush off to the old Academia to take the samechances. If the Academia fails you there is still the Kiosk in theMaximilianplatz. The trouble is, however, that you seldom know untilthe day of the performance who is going to sing."
"It seems to me a most unsatisfactory arrangement," returned Mrs.Corner. "I could never stand in line for hours, Helen, and surely youshould not and we cannot let either of the girls do it."
"Perhaps we shall find an easier way after a while," Miss Helenreplied. "When we get to the _pension_ no doubt we shall learn theropes from Fraeulein Bauer. We will wait till then. I have heard thatsometimes when the Ring is to be given, the students take theirblankets and camp out by eight of the evening before the tickets areto be sold. A friend told me that one student hired a _Dienstmann_ tostand in line for him, paying him six marks, and by the time his turncame in the morning all the tickets had been sold, though I believethat was for a subscription night."
To hear all this was a disappointment to Nan who had hoped that operawould be one of the first pleasures she should have, and she resolvedthat as soon as they were settled in their _pension_ she wouldinterview Fraeulein Bauer on her own account and see if there werereally as many difficulties as reported, or if it was merely a matterof knowing how.
It was, however, upon the very day that they arrived bag and baggage atFraeulein Bauer's that Nan came home from her music lesson in a turmoilof excitement. "Frau Burg-Schmidt wants me to go to the opera with herto hear Lohengrin," she cried. "She says I should hear Lohengrin thefirst of the Wagner operas. Lohengrin and Knote of all things! Oh,mother, say I can go. Quick, please, please."
"My dear, don't get so excited. I don't see why you shouldn't go. Isuppose Frau Burg-Schmidt will bring you home."
"Of course. At least she said we could take the car from theHof-theatre right to our nearest corner. I am to telephone if I can goand she will meet me in front of the theatre, or if I miss her there Ihave the number of the seat and she will wait in the corridor by the_garderobe_ place nearest. It is _dritte Rang, Loge II Vorderplatz_ 1and 2."
"It is all Dutch to me," said Mrs. Corner smiling. "But, Nan, you mustnot go out alone after night even to meet her."
"But it won't be after night. It begins at six o'clock when it is broaddaylight or nearly so."
"Six o'clock?"
"Yes, all the operas begin at six or seven and sometimes the very longones begin as early as four or five. I shall be home early, you willsee."
"What a queer idea, and when shall you get your supper?"
"I'll take a bite before I go and nibble something after I get back.You can save me a _brodchin_ from supper, mother, and a bit of ham orsausage; that will be enough."
"It certainly is a peculiar arrangement, to have next to nothing beforeone starts out and probably be so hungry that there must be a heartymeal just before going to bed."
"But I may go? It is such a chance, for Frau Burg-Schmidt will explainthe motifs to me, and tell me when to look for them. She just happenedto have the ticket because her husband was called away on business."
"You may go, since it seems an unusual opportunity which I couldn'tdeprive you of."
"Then I will go telephone."
"You'd better get Fraeulein Bauer to do it for you."
"All right."
Nan was not long in concluding her arrangements and next turned herattention to her dress. "I suppose I ought to wear something rathernice," she said to her mother.
"Yes, I think you should. One of your prettiest white frocks will do."
"And my white coat and gloves."
"Yes, the coat will be warm enough, I am sure."
"I don't suppose I ought to wear a hat." Nan was doubtful.
"Probably not. You can put your pink Liberty scarf over your head andyou may take my opera glasses."
Nan felt very grand indeed when she was ready to start out, opera bagon arm and spotless gloves on her hands. At the last moment her motherdemurred in the matter of going without a hat on the street. "I thinkyou would better wear one," she decided, "and you can leave it at thewardrobe with your coat if necessary, for it does look queer to see yougoing forth without a hat while it is yet light." So Nan laid aside thescarf and put on a light hat.
"I think myself that I feel more comfortable this way," she said. "Iwill keep my eyes open and see what other persons do, so as to know thenext time."
"You have money with you? In case it rains you must come home in a caband send Frau Burg-Schmidt in it after you have been dropped at yourown door. Be sure to pay the _cocher_ for both courses and give him atip, so Frau Burg-Schmidt will be at no expense on your account."
"Yes, mother."
"And you know the way perfectly? Perhaps you would better go in a cabanyhow to make sure. I don't feel quite comfortable to see you startout alone."
"Oh, no, mother, I'd much rather walk; it is really no distance atall and Frau Burg-Schmidt says lots of girls go alone and that it isperfectly safe. Munich isn't like Paris."
"Then have a good time, dearie. Good-bye."
Nan put up her mouth for a kiss and started off, her mother watchingher from the window and feeling a little uneasy still. Miss Helen wasout and so were the other girls. "Perhaps I should have gone with her,"said Mrs. Corner to herself, "for even though I am tired we could havetaken a cab, but it was all so unexpected and Nan was in such a hurryto get off I didn't think of it. I hope she is all right."
When Miss Helen returned she assured her sister that she need have nofears for Nan. "She will find her way without difficulty, I am sure,"she said, "and even if the Frau isn't there she knows enough German toinquire her way to the seats. I have seen numbers of girls going aboutalone and Nan knows perfectly well how to take care of herself."
Indeed Nan had no difficulty at all in reaching the Hof-theatre, norin distinguishing the plainly dressed figure standing at the foot ofthe steps waiting for her. She trembled with excitement at the sound ofthe first note of the orchestra, and for the remainder of the time wasutterly lost in the fortunes of Lohengrin and Elsa, in the wonderfulmusic, and between acts in the strange surroundings. It pleased FrauBurg-Schmidt to see the intent look on the girl's face, and the tenselyclasped hands. "She has temperament," she told herself, as Nan's oldteacher at home had said before.
"Oh, it is over," sighed the girl when the curtain went down after thelast act. "It was so short."
Frau Burg-Schmidt laughed. "Not so short; it has been several hours."
"So long as that? I can scarcely believe it."
"And it is not quite over, for see, they call out the singers over andover again."
Nan watched with pleased smiles while from the galleries came continuedapplause, tempestuous clappings of hands with cries for "Knote! Knote!Knote! Bravo! Bravo!"
"It is an enthusiastic audience. These Muencheners do always so," saidNan's companion. "We do not fear to applaud when we like a thing."
At last the outer curtain was dropped, but even then the calls andclappings went on, but that was the last of it for the tenor would notappear again.
Nan went home in a dream. She followed Frau Burg-Schmidt mechanicallyinto the car, and sat down, h
er vision still filled with the picture ofLohengrin disappearing from view in his swan boat. She scarcely heardwhen Frau Burg-Schmidt said good-night to her.
"Here is your corner, my dear," she told her. "You are but a few stepsfrom your door and you have your key, so I will not wait for I mustchange here and my car comes."
Nan had but a few steps to go before she stood in front of the greatdoor of the building in which was her _pension_. She felt in her bagfor her key. Fraeulein Bauer had said there would be a light burning anda candle set for her. She fumbled around for some minutes but could notfind her keys. She tried the handle of the door; it would not turn. InMunich evidently everything was closed up early. She stood wonderingwhether she should ring the Hausmann's bell or the one of the _pension_when some one passing saw the white figure standing there and halted,then passed on, but presently returned. Nan shrank into the shadow ofthe big door. Suppose the young man should speak to her, for a youngman she could see it was from the single swift glance she gave. Whatcould he think of a girl alone in the street after ten o'clock?
Suddenly the Lohengrin vision faded and she was only Nan Corner in astrange city in a foreign land trying to get into her boarding-house.She pressed the electric button under the name of the _pension_, andagain began to search in her bag for the keys, turning toward the lightas she did so, the better to see.
The young man who was standing a few paces off suddenly came forward."Nan, Nan Corner," he exclaimed. "What are you doing wandering aboutMunich alone?"
A friendly voice and a solicitous one. Nan looked up. "Dr. Paul," shecried, "of all people. Oh, I am so glad to see you." She explained thesituation, ending with: "I know the keys must be somewhere, but theyare not in my bag." Again she searched nervously.
"Let me hold your bag," said Dr. Paul. "And you look in your pocket, ifyou have any."
Nan gave a little laugh, and put her hand in her coat pocket but thekeys were not there. Suddenly her hand went up to the chain aroundher neck and then down to her belt. "I remember," she said, a littleabashed, "I took the keys from the bag and put them on the chain soas to be sure not to lose them, and I was so perfectly carried away bythe music I forgot I had done it. Here they are, Dr. Paul. I am glad Ididn't ring again for evidently the maids weren't roused by the firstring."
Dr. Paul turned the key in the lock and they stepped inside, the greatdoor closing with a clang after them. All was dark and silent.
"Goodness!" cried Nan, "and they said they would have a light for me.Imagine coming home at ten o'clock at night anywhere in America andfinding it like this."
"They certainly drive their thrift beyond the point of necessity, itseems to me. I have some matches in my pocket; I will strike a lightand we will look for the stairs."
"We only came to the _pension_ to-day and that is why I don't rememberexactly in the dark," said Nan. "How long have you been here, Dr. Paul?"
"I came to town yesterday. My _pension_ is a block further on. I amwith a German family whom some friends recommended to me, and I thinkI shall be very comfortable. They speak North German, which is anadvantage. I was going to look you all up to-morrow. Your Aunt Sarahtold me I should probably find you here."
"And shall you stay long?"
"Several months. I am here for some special courses, and for hospitalwork."
"Then we shall see you often."
"You can count on that. Here are the stairs and I see a glimmer oflight on the next floor. We'll follow it up and probably will find yourcandle."
They stumbled up the winding stairs which grew lighter as they mounted.At the top they found a night lamp on a table and a row of candles setin line. Each candlestick bore a slip of paper. The pair examined thesegravely. "_Zimmer_ ten, _Pension Bauer_," read Nan. "I suppose thatmust be mine. Ours is the next flight up. We are on the second floor,or what they call second over here; we would say third."
"I'll go up with you to keep off the bugaboos," said the doctor takingthe lighted candle from her hand and following her up.
At the head of the stairs Nan turned. "How will you get out?" sheasked. "I am sure the front door shut with a spring lock. I will goback with you."
"Then I'll have to see you to your door again."
"And we might keep that up indefinitely." They both laughed softly.
"Give me your key," said the doctor, "and I'll let myself out. I willbring it to you in the morning. You will not want it till then?"
"No, indeed, but I hate to think of your going down in the dark."
"Do you think I'm afraid of the dark, Nan Corner?"
"Of course not, but----"
"You are, I verily believe."
"Not exactly, only it would have been sort of boogy and spooky if I hadto come through that court and up that first flight by myself."
"And it would not have been the proper thing for you to do."
"Nobody ever imagined that in this age such a necessity would arise. Wewill all petition for a light at the very entrance. I know mother andAunt Helen will be horrified at this outer darkness. I was so thankfulto see you, though at first----"
"Own up you were scared."
"Yes, I was, and with good reason. I saw you stop and I tried to climbin through the keyhole or the crack of the door, but couldn't. Oh,but I was thankful it was you, and I remember it isn't the first timeyou've proved a friend in need. I don't forget last year. Be sure tocome early to-morrow. I am wild to hear all about Aunt Sarah and theboys, not to mention all the other dear people at home. Good-night.Won't you take my candle, even if you don't the candlestick?"
"No, I would dribble the grease all over myself. Good-night and thanksfor the key."
Nan stood holding the candle over the baluster until the last footfallhad ceased and then she unlocked the door which led into FraeuleinBauer's apartment. She found her mother and her Aunt Helen waiting forher. A tray on the table held rolls and butter, some slices of coldham, a glass of milk and a compote of apples. "I am so glad you waitedup for me," said the girl as she came in.
"It isn't very late," said her aunt, "so it is nothing of a favor."
"I know it isn't, but it seems as if I had been away days."
"Has it been as great as all that?" asked her mother. "I am glad to seeyou back safe and sound. Fraeulein Bauer said she would have a candlebelow for you, so I knew you would find your way in."
"Yes, but it is as dark as pitch on the ground floor, and it isn't likeit is in Paris where the _concierge_ is right at hand to let you in ifnecessary. I suppose there is a Hausmann, but there are no signs of hishaving rooms anywhere about."
"And you say there is no light at the entrance?"
"Not a glimmer; it is as black as a wolf's mouth."
"That will never do," said Mrs. Corner decidedly. "We can never in theworld stay here under such conditions. Suppose we have callers in theevening, what is to be done?"
"Give it up," returned Nan.
"And for ourselves, a party of ladies coming in after dark to beobliged to enter a dark court and come up as dark a stairway is notto be thought of. That must be remedied at once. I shall see to itto-morrow."
"So the opera was great, was it, Nan?" said her aunt.
"I should think it was. I will tell you all about it presently. Atfirst I didn't believe I could ever think of anything else for days,but I had an adventure and----"
"What do you mean, Nan?" asked her mother in alarm.
Then Nan told about the missing key, the meeting with Dr. Paul Woodsand the journey up-stairs. "I was scared to death at first," sheadmitted.
"I was right in my misgivings about letting you go off alone," said hermother. "I cannot understand how Frau Burg-Schmidt should have leftyou to come in by yourself."
"She didn't think anything of it, for there were ever so many girlscoming home by themselves. Frau Burg-Schmidt did get out with me, ofcourse, and would have come all the way, but she had to change cars andher car happened to come along right away, so as she knew I had a keyand that I was but a
few steps from the door she left me. If I hadn'tbeen so stupid as to forget about changing the keys from the bag to thechain it would have been all right. No, it wouldn't have been quiteall right, for I should have had to grope my way up that dark stairwayalone. Oh, but I was glad to see Dr. Paul. He always was a dear. Wasn'tit strange that it should happen to be he who came along at just theright moment?"
"It certainly was most fortunate," acknowledged her mother. "Is he tobe here for any length of time?"
"Oh, my yes. He is going to do some studying and we shall see himoften. Now I will tell you about the opera. It was heavenly, and thestage setting was perfectly fine. I shall never forget that beautifulblue and silver Lohengrin and I was so mad with Elsa for doubting him,yet I was sorry for her, too, because it was all that wicked Ortrud'sfault. The music was divine. Such an orchestra! and Knote sang likean angel; you never heard a more beautiful voice, and oh, mother, itwas so perfectly fine to have Frau Burg-Schmidt explain the differentmotives to me and tell me when they came in. You have no idea how muchmore interesting it made it. She is going over the score with me andwants me to learn to distinguish for myself. I think I can pick outseveral already. She is so enthusiastic and rouses your ambition so youwant to do your very best."
"But I cannot excuse her leaving you in the street like that, and I amafraid I cannot allow you to go out with her, if there is a chance ofsuch a thing occurring again."
"Oh, mother, please don't say that, and please don't say anything toher about it, for I think she is very sensitive and high-strung, and itreally was my fault for being so stupid as to forget where I put thekeys."
"That may have been a part of the trouble, but a woman of FrauBurg-Schmidt's experience should know better than to desert a younggirl like you at this time of night in a foreign city." Then seeingNan's look of distress, she added, "However, we will not talk any moreabout it now, but provide against such a contingency next time. Didyou have good places?"
"Very good; that is, it was a fine place for hearing the music, andall the musical people prefer it to the parquet or the balcony wherethe seats are much higher priced. And, mother, I might have gone inmy school dress for all it mattered. People wear anything; flannelblouses, queer reform frocks which look perfectly dreadful on the fatwomen--all sorts of funny rigs are worn. They sit around and munchchocolate or take rolls from their bags and nibble those betweenthe acts or eat pretzels. It is the most free and easy place I eversaw. For all that, there was perfect order, not a whisper while themusic was going on. Of course the lights are turned down during theperformance and are only turned up when the curtain drops. Every onewas so absorbed and didn't dream of talking or looking bored as I haveseen them do at home at plays."
"I must confess there is that advantage on the part of a Germanaudience," remarked Miss Helen. "They go for the pure purpose ofhearing the music, not to show their clothes nor to chatter with theirfriends nor because it is fashionable, and I think we may well takepattern from them in our big cities."
"And the enthusiasm," Nan went on; "it made me wild to hear them calland call for Knote and for Morena. Oh, I did enjoy it. I shall neverforget this night."
"But you are forgetting to eat anything," said her mother.
"I'll drink the milk, but I really don't feel hungry, for I am tooexcited; besides Frau Burg-Schmidt had some chocolate with her and Iate a piece of that. I must go to bed, for Dr. Paul is coming early tosee us and to return the key. I have had such a glorious time, motherdear, so please forget the adventure part of it."
"Don't lie awake thinking about Lohengrin," said her mother kissing hergood-night.
"I'll try not."
"I hope it hasn't been too much for that excitable brain of hers," saidMrs. Corner as Nan went out.
"Nan will always be intense," replied Miss Helen. "We can't deprive herof such joy as she finds in music because of that."
"No, but she does enjoy things with such a vengeance."
"And suffers in proportion. That is the way she is built, Mary."
"Like her father, very like."
"Dear Jack. Yes, she is like him."
The two sat lost in thought for a while. Presently Miss Helen spoke."How old is this Dr. Paul Woods?" she asked. "I have almost forgotten.He was away at college while we were at Uplands."
"He is not more than twenty-three or four. A very bright young man anda fine one. I've known him since he was born. His father has alwaysbeen our family physician, you know, Helen, and Mrs. Woods is one of mydearest friends."
"Yes, I remember that. Mother always preferred Dr. Harley, so I neversaw much of the Woods," said Miss Helen folding up her newspaper andrising. "It is bedtime, Mary."
"I know. I am going." But Mrs. Corner sat for another half hour, herbook unnoticed before her.
CHAPTER XI
SETTLING DOWN]