the girl, as I can very well testify; for I sat eavesdropping with
all my might, resolved not to lose a syllable, and I am sure I lost
none.

The young girl did not look round at that deep-drawn sigh of the
man's; she did not lift her head even when he cleared his throat:
but I was intent upon him, for I thought that these sounds preluded
an overture (I am not sure of the figure) to my acquaintance, and in
fact he actually asked, "Do you know just when the concert begins?"

I was overjoyed at his question, for I was poignantly interested in
the little situation I had created, and I made haste to answer:
"Well, nominally at eight o'clock; but the first half-hour is
usually taken up in tuning the instruments. If you get into the
pavilion at a quarter to nine you won't lose much. It isn't so bad
when it really begins."

The man permitted himself a smile of the pleasure we Americans all
feel at having a thing understated in that way. His wife asked
timidly, "Do we have to engage our seats in the--pavilion?"

"Oh, no," I laughed; "there's no such rush as that. Haven't you
been at the concerts before?"

The man answered for her: "We haven't been here but a few days. I
should think," he added to her, "it would be about as comfortable
outside of the house." I perceived that he maintained his
independence of my superior knowledge by refusing to say "pavilion";
and in fact I do not know whether that is the right name for the
building myself.