Wilhelm was enagaged in studying this face, with its fashionably
twirled mustache, when Pilar entered the room.
"You have changed your dress?" cried Wilhelm, surprised; for she had
donned an emerald-green velvet tea-gown, with a long train, and her
hair was hanging down.
"Yes," said she, as she kissed him fondly, "for we are not going
away again just yet. You will stay and dine with me--I have given
the necessary orders. You must be quite sick of the monotonous hotel
meals. For my part, I simply yearn to eat at my own table with you."
So saying, she took his hat out of his hand, coaxingly relieved him
of his greatcoat, then rang and ordered Auguste to take them away.
Taking advantage of this distraction of Wilhelm's attention, she
rapidly snatched up the photograph he had been examining when she
came in, and hid it under the piano-cover. She then opened the
piano, seated herself, and gazing passionately over her shoulder at
Wilhelm standing behind her, she began playing the Wedding March out
of "Midsummer Night's Dream." The melodious sounds rushed from under
her fingers like a flight of startled doves, and fluttered about
her, joyous and exultant. She went on with immense power and
brilliancy till she came to the first repetition of the triumphant
opening motif, with its jubilant blare of trumpets, then stopped
abruptly, and jumping up and throwing her arms round Wilhelm:
"Isn't it that, my one and only Wilhelm?" she said, with a beaming
look.
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