The Voice in the Fog - Page 51/93

Thomas had never worn a dress-suit; but in the matter of collars and

cravats and shirts he knew the last word. But why should he wish to

wear that mournfully conventional suit in which we are supposed to

enjoy ourselves? She had told him not to bother about dress. Was it

that very nonsense he dreaded, insidiously attacking the redoubts of

his common sense?

That evening at dinner Kitty nor her mother appeared to notice the

change. This gratified him; he knew that outwardly there was nothing

left to desire or attain.

Kitty began to talk about the romance immediately. She had found the

beginning very exciting; it was out of the usual run of stories; and if

it was all as good as the first part, there would be some editors glad

to get hold of it. So much for the confidence of youth. The Black

Veil, as I have reason to know, lies at the bottom of Thomas' ancient

trunk.

Long as he lived he would never forget the enjoyment of that night.

The electric signs along Broadway interested him intensely; he babbled

about them boyishly. Theater outside and theater within; a great drama

of light and shadow, of comedy and tragedy; for he gazed upon the scene

with all his poet's eyes. He enjoyed the opera, the color and music,

the propinquity of Kitty. Sometimes their shoulders touched; the

indefinable perfume of her hair thrilled him.

Kitty had seen all these things so many times that she no longer

experienced enthusiasm; but his was so genuine, so un-English, that she

found it impossible to escape the contagion. She did not bubble over,

however; on the contrary, she sat through the performance strangely

subdued, dimly alarmed over what she had done.

As they were leaving the lobby of the theater, a man bumped against

Thomas, quite accidentally.

"I beg your pardon!" said the stranger, politely raising his hat and

passing on.

Thomas' hand went clumsily to his own hat, which he fumbled and dropped

and ran after frantically across the mosaic flooring.

A ghost; yes, sir, Thomas had seen a ghost.