Page 31 - Phantom of the Opera

child grows up to play the violin at the age of six better than men
an angel's voice was heard on earth — and it captured his heart.
of fifty. This is what happened to little Lotte.
.
And then .. and then there was that man's voice behind the
No one ever sees the Angel, but he is heard by those who are
.
door — "You must love me!" — but no one in the room ..
meant to hear him. He often comes when they least expect him,
Why did she laugh when he reminded her of the scarf? Why
Then they hear heavenly music, and a divine voice that they,
didn't she recognize him? And why had she written to him?
remember all their lives. People who are visited by the Angel
At last he reached Perros. Raoul walked into the smoky sitting
cannot touch an instrument, or open their mouths to sing,
room of the Setting Sun and at once saw Christine, smiling and
without producing sounds that put all other human sounds to
showing no surprise.
shame. Then people who do not know that the Angel has visited
"So you have come," she said. "I knew I would find you here
those people say that they have genius.
when I came back from church because someone told me you
Little Christine asked her father if he had heard the Angel of
had come."
Music. But Daddy Daae shook his head sadly. Then his eyes lit up
"Who?" asked Raoul, taking her little hand in his.
and he said, "You will hear him one day, my child! When I am in
"My poor father, who is dead."
Heaven, I will send him to you!"
Then Raoul asked, "Did your father tell you that I love you,
Three years later, Raoul and Christine met again at Perros-
Christine, and that I cannot live without you?"
Guirec. Monsieur Valerius was dead, but his widow remained in
Christine's face was red. In a trembling voice, she said, "Me?
France with Daae and his daughter. The young man, Raoul, had
You're dreaming, my friend!"
come to Perros, hoping to find them, and went straight to the
And she burst out laughing to hide her feelings.
house where they used to stay.
"Don't laugh, Christine; I am quite serious," Raoul answered.
Christine turned red when she saw Raoul. They talked shyly
And she replied seriously, "I did not make you come to tell me
until evening, telling each other things, but not their true
things like that."
feelings. When Raoul left, he kissed Christine's trembling hand
"You made me come, Christine. You knew that I would hurry
and said, "Mademoiselle, I will never forget you!" He went away
to Perros. How could you send that letter, if you did not think I
regretting his words because he knew that a poor girl like
loved you?"
Christine could never be the wife of a viscount.
"I don't know what I thought. Maybe I was wrong to write to
Her father died, and suddenly she seemed to have lost, with
you. Your sudden appearance in my dressing room the other
him, her voice, her soul, and her genius. She continued to live
p
evening reminded me of the time long ast..."
with Madame Valerius and went to a very fine music school.
Raoul noticed that Christine was upset. He asked her why she
The first time Raoul saw Christine at the Opera, he was struck had laughed when he reminded her of the scarf and why she had
by her beauty and the memories it brought back. He followed pretended that she did not know him. Raoul was surprised at the
her, but she did not see him. He suffered because she was very
roughness of his questions, when he had wanted to speak words
beautiful and he was shy and dared not admit his love, not even
of gentleness and love. But he could see no way out except to
to himself. Then came the lightning flash of that performance:
behave unpleasantly.
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