In a week, yes, or less than that. I am coming back to be
with you--to help you. I can't stay away now, Mrs. Braddock. It would
make me too unhappy. I must be near Christine. She's more to me now
than anything else in all this world."
Mrs. Braddock smiled wanly. "You are very young," she said, "and very
impulsive. Do you think it would be kind to Christine if you were to
follow the show for no other reason than to be near her? Would that be
the act of a sincere friend? She would be compromised, I think you
will admit. It was different before. You were one of us. Now you are
an outsider. Even the easiest-going of the performers would resent
your attitude if you were to follow us now. It is an unwritten law
among us that an outsider is always an outsider. We are like gypsies.
Even you, who have been one of us, can have no future standing in our
tribe--for that is what we are, David. You must take your place among
those who look on from afar. As individuals we will always greet you
and give you the best of our love; collectively we cannot take you
among us. That is over. You are--"
"But I may still be a performer," he cried insistently.
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