Show SOTTO VOCE 1 IT WAS on the first night of Pinafore and the curtain had just dropped on the first act There was a commotion along a certain crowded row in the dress circle and a lady with a package under her arm struggled to get out into the aisle apologizing as she did so I stating that her husband was Mr thats as near as we dare come one of the leading characters on the stage He had been quite ill when they left home she explained to a friend and she perceived per-ceived from his manner of singing his first act that he was rapidly growing worse shedid not think he would be able to get through the nevt act unless she went behind the scenes and gave him some medicine she had brought along for just such an emergency So she went hastily to the stage door and after considerable knocking the doorkeeper growlingly admitted her and she picked her way hastily to her husbands dressing room convinced that she would find him ly ing down there with his poor head be tween both hands There was no one in the room and she descended to the green room thinking he might be there Still she met no one and somewhat some-what wonderingly she wended her way to the stage The orchestra was play ing a mazy dreamy waltZ and uiazilv dreamily there waltzed unconsciously past her his eyes half closed in blissful oblivion his arm encircling the waist of an Arabianeyed altothe si + k hus band for whomehe held the bottle of medicine in her hand One more intoxicating whirl around the stage and their eyes met Pizzicato music When last seen by the roariug convocation of assembled choristers the sick man was taking his medicine in the green room but it was not fed him with a spoon |