After those few moments, outside life resumed its sway. Buzzing talk swept out the memory of the music. One song from an opera brought thought back to its usual level. Men and women looked at each other through their opera-glasses, and, bringing distant outside life close to them, fancied themselves in near communion with it. The intimacy of the opera-glass was warm enough to suit them,--so very near at one moment, comfortably distant at the next. It was an intimacy that could have no return, nor demanded it. One could study the smile on the lip of one of these neighbors, even the tear in her eye, with one's own face unmoved, an answer of sympathy impossible, not required. Nevertheless, the music had stirred, had excited; and the warmth it had awakened was often transferred to the man who had kindled it. The true lovers of music could not express their joy and were silent, while these others surrounded Arnold with their flatteries and adoration. He was soon wearied of this. "I am going to America, to a new world," he said to his friend; "there must be some variety there." "Perhaps so," said Carl,--"something new, something that is neither man nor woman, since they cannot satisfy you. Still I fancy you will find nothing higher than men and women." "A new land must develop men and women in a new way," answered Arnold. "If you would only look at things in my microscopic way," said Carl, "and examine into one man or one woman, you would not need all this travelling. But I will go as far as New York with you." * * * * * At New York the name of the musician had already awakened the same excitement as in other places; the concert-room was crowded; there was the same rush for places; the prices paid for the tickets seemed here even more fabulous. Arnold was more of a lion than ever. His life was filled with receptions, dinners, and evening parties, or with parlor and evening concerts. His dreamy, poetic face, his distant, abstracted manner, proved as fascinating as his music. Carl tired of the whirl, and the adoration, of which he had his share. "I shall go back to Germany," he said. "I shall go to my Rosa, and leave you your world." "I am tired of my world. I shall go to the Far West," said Arnold, when Carl left him.