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A Melba, he says, under socialism, would be able, if she wished for it, to get probably even higher remuneration than she does to-day. But, he continues, under socialism, such men and women, though they could get such rewards, will be so changed that they will not wish for them. A Melba will then sing for the mere pleasure of singing.
"Before I forget," he said, "let me discharge the object of my visit. Melba sings to-morrow at the Duke of Southville's party." Her ladyship's face lighted up with real gratitude. Music was her one sincere passion; and, as she had been unable to hear that divine songstress during the season owing to various engagements, this news was welcome. "Thank you," she said warmly.
"I never talked so fast before. One felt as though one must say everything one had to say about Melba and the de Reszkes, all in one breath before one's poor little subject was torn from one one would never have such a chance again." Lady Maxwell laughed, but coloured too. "Am I such a nuisance?" she said, dropping her hands on her knee with a little sigh. Then she turned to Tressady.
The confusion can easily be made, and there will probably always be people who will prefer Mrs. Kendal to Miss Marlowe, as there are those who will think Mme. Melba a greater operatic singer than Mme. Calvé.
Maude sang for us after dinner and then went off to see Yvette Guilbert at a "sacred concert" to study her methods. I went to N 's box to hear Melba and we chatted to the accompaniment of Melba, Nordica and Plancon in a trio the Ogre, wore fur, pearls, white satin and violets. It was a pink silk box. Then I went down to a reception at Mrs. De Koven's and found it was a play.
That was a grand occasion, I'm tellin' ye. It was in the Metropolitan Opera Hoose, that great theatre where Caruso and Melba and a' the stars of the opera ha' sung sae often. Aye, Harry Lauder had sung there tae sung there that nicht! The hoose was fu', and I made my talk. And then I held up my book, "A Minstrel in France." I asked that they should buy a copy. The bidding started low.
My thread always broke, and at last I had to "fake" my spinning to a certain extent; but at least I worked my wheel right, and gave an impression that I could spin my pound of thread a day with the best. Two operatic stars did me the honor to copy my Margaret dress Madame Albani and Madame Melba.
Sometimes, when Melba, or Caruso, or some world-renowned favorite was there, she would take Elizabeth for an hour, usually slipping out just after the favorite solo with noticeable loftiness, as if the orchestra were the common dust of the earth, and she only condescended to come for the soloist. So Elizabeth had scarcely known the delight of a whole concert of fine orchestral music.
The centre of the whole thing is a young woman named Marguerite. When the curtain goes up she has the best of intentions, the best character, the prettiest of faces, and two long, yellow braids down her back. She is dressed very prettily indeed, and in the opera house she has a high-sounding name, like Melba, Nordica, Calve or Patti.
'It seemed to me a kind of witchcraft, he said.... 'I should think you might go on the stage and make a fortune like Melba. She laughed. 'Why my voice is a very poor thing. And besides, I could never depend upon it. 'Everything just how you feel at the time, eh? he said. 'You wouldn't care what you did if you had a mind to do it. 'No, she answered.
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