After the first act there was more applause, which sounded in their box rather strong in patches but scattered. The singers were called three times, but always in this unconcentrated way. "It's going splendidly. They like it!" said Charmian quickly. "Three calls. That's unusual after a first act, when the audience hasn't warmed up. Isn't it odd, Claudie, that Americans always applaud quite differently from the way the English do? They always applaud like that." She had turned right round and was almost facing him. "How do you mean?" he said. "Didn't you notice? Persistently, but in clumps as it were. It is by their persistence they show how pleased they are, rather than by their--their--I hardly know just how to put it." "By their unanimity perhaps." "Oh, no! Not exactly that! Here's Mr. Crayford." Crayford slipped in, but only stayed for a moment. "Hear that applause?" he said. "They're mad about it. Alston's got them. I knew he would. That boy's going to be famous. But wait till the second act. They're in a fine humor, only asking to be pleased. I know the signs. The libretto's hit them hard. They're all asking what's to happen next." "You're satisfied then?" said Charmian. "Satisfied! I'm so happy I don't know what to do." He was gone. "He knows!" Charmian said. Her eyes were fixed upon Claude. They looked almost defiant. "If anyone in America knows what he is talking about I suppose it is Mr. Crayford," she added. There was a tap at the door. Claude opened it and two of their American friends came in and stayed a few minutes, saying how well the opera was going, how much they liked it, how splendidly it was "put on"--all the proper and usual things which are said by proper and usual persons on such occasions. One of them was an acquaintance of Van Brinen's. Claude asked him if Van Brinen were in the house. He said yes. Claude then inquired whether Van Brinen knew the number of his box, and was told that he did know it. The conversation turned to other topics, but when the two men had gone out Charmian said: "Why did you ask those questions about Mr. Van Brinen, Claudie?" "Only because I thought if he knew where our box was he might pay us a visit. No one has been more friendly with us than he has." "I see. He's certain to come after the next act. Ah! the lights are going down." She had been standing for a few minutes. Now she moved to sit down. Before doing so she drew her chair a little way back in the box. "I don't want to be distracted from the stage--my attention, I mean--by seeing too many people," she whispered, in explanation of her action. "You are quite right to keep at the back. One can listen much better if one doesn't see too much of the audience." Claude said nothing. The curtains were parting. The second act was listened to by the vast audience in a silence that was almost complete. Now and then Charmian whispered a word or two to Claude. Once she said: