"It may come yet. There's plenty of time." Charmian looked at the clock. "Only four hours before the curtain goes up." "Or we may find one for us at the theater." "Somehow I don't think Madre would send it there." She went to sit down on the sofa, putting cushions behind her with nervous hands, leaned back, leaned forward, moved the cushions, again leaned back. "I almost wish we'd asked Alston to come in to-day," she said. "But he's resting." "I know. But he would have come. He could have rested here with us." "Better for him to keep his voice perfectly quiet. To-night is his debut. He has got to pay back over three years to Crayford with his performance to-night. And we shall have him with us at supper." Charmian moved again, pushed the cushions away from her. "Yes, I've ordered it, a wonderful supper, all the things you and Alston like best." "We'll enjoy it." "Won't we? You sent Miss Mardon the flowers?" "Yes." The telephone sounded. "It is Miss Mardon," Claude said, as he listened. "She's thanking me for the flowers." "Give her my love and best wishes for to-night." Claude obeyed, and added his own in a firm and cheerful voice. "She's resting, of course," said Charmian. "Yes." "Everyone resting. It seems almost ghastly." "Why?" he said, laughing. "Oh, I don't know--death-like. I'm stupid to-day." She longed to say, "I am full of forebodings!" But she was held back by the thought, "Shall I fail in resolution at the last moment, show the white feather when he is so cool, so master of himself? I who have been such a courageous wife, who have urged him on, who have made this day possible!" "It's only the physical reaction," she added hastily. "After all we've gone through." "Oh, we mustn't give way to reaction yet. We've got the big thing in front of us. All the rest is nothing in comparison with to-night." "I know! I hope Madre will cable. If she doesn't, it will seem like a bad omen. I shall feel as if she didn't care what happens." He said nothing. "Won't you?" she asked. "I think she will cable. But even if she doesn't, I know she always cares very much what happens to you and me. Nothing would ever make me doubt that." "No, of course not. But I do want her to show it, to prove it to us to-day. It is such a day in our lives! Never, so long as we live, can we have such another day. It is the day I dreamed of, the day I foresaw, that night at Covent Garden."