But George caught isolated snatches, including part of a conversation between Anna and Heinrich which dealt with Therese Golowski. He noticed at the same time that Anna would occasionally throw a dark inquisitive look at Demeter Stanzides, who had appeared to-night in evening dress with a gardenia in his buttonhole; and though he had no actual consciousness of jealousy he felt strangely affected. He wondered if at this moment she was really thinking that she was perhaps bearing a child by him under her bosom. The idea of "the depths ..." came to him again. She suddenly looked over to him with a smile, as though she were coming home from a journey. He felt an inner sense of relief and appreciated with a slight shock how much he loved her. Then he raised his glass to his lips and drank to her. Else, who up to this time had been chatting with her other neighbour Demeter, now turned to George. With her deliberately casual manner and with a look towards Anna she remarked: "She does look pretty, so womanly. But that's always been her line. Do you still do music together?" "Frequently," replied George coolly. "Perhaps I'll ask you to start accompanying me again at the beginning of the new year. I don't know why we have not done so before." George was silent. "And how are you getting on"--she threw a look at Heinrich--"with your opera?" "Nothing is done so far. Who knows if anything will come of it?" "Of course nothing will come of it." George smiled. "Why are you so stern with me to-day?" "I am very angry with you." "With me! Why?" "That you always go on giving people occasion to regard you as a dilettante." This was a home thrust. George actually felt a slight sense of malice against Else, then quickly pulled himself together and answered: "That perhaps is just what I am. And if one isn't a genius it is much better to be an honest dilettante than ... than an artist with a swollen head." "Nobody wants you to do great things all at once, but all the same one really should not let oneself go in the way you do in both your inner and your outward life." "I really don't understand you, Else. How can one contend.... Do you know that I am going to Germany in the autumn as a conductor?" "Your career will be ruined by your not turning up to the rehearsals at ten o'clock sharp." The taunt was still gnawing at George. "And who called me a dilettante, if I may ask?" "Who did? Good gracious, why it has already been in the papers."