"
There was an instant's pause, then suddenly Diana bent her head in
acquiescence.
"Thank heaven! thank heaven!" exclaimed Baroni, wringing Max's hand.
"You haf saved the situation, Mr. Errington."
A minute later Diana found herself mounting the platform steps, her
hand in Max's. His close, firm clasp steadied and reassured her.
Again she was aware of that curious sense of well-being, as of leaning
on some sure, unfailing strength, which the touch of his hand had
before inspired.
As he led her on to the platform she met his eyes, full of a kind
good-comradeship and confidence.
"All right?" he whispered cheerfully.
A little comforting warmth crept about her heart. She was not alone,
facing all those hundreds of curious, critical eyes in the hall below;
there was a friend "standing by."
She nodded to him reassuringly, suddenly conscious of complete
self-mastery. She no longer feared those ranks of upturned faces, row
upon row, receding into shadow at the further end of the hall, and she
bowed composedly in response to the applause that greeted her. Then
she heard Max strike the opening chord of the song, and a minute later
the big concert-hall was thrilling to the matchless beauty of her
voice, as it floated out on to the waiting stillness.
The five songs of the group followed each other in quick succession,
the clapping that broke out between each of them only checking so that
the next one might be heard, but when the final number had been given,
and the last note had drifted tenderly away into silence, the vast
audience rose to its feet almost as one man, shouting and clapping and
waving in a tumultuous outburst of enthusiasm.
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