She falls on her knees, beseeching the witch Ritmagar for mercy, but no answer is vouchsafed, and gradually the Swan-Maiden finds herself growing weaker and weaker, until at last death claims her.
A dance, based upon this legend, had been devised for Magda in conjunction with Vladimir Ravinski, the brilliant Russian dancer, he taking the lover's part, and the whole tragic little drama was designed to terminate with a solo dance by Magda as the dying Swan-Maiden.
Davilof had written the music for it, and the dance was to be performed at the Imperial Theatre for the first time the following week.
Davilof played ever more and more softly as the dance drew to its close.

The note of lament sounded with increasing insistence through the slowing ripple of the accompaniment, and at last, as Magda sank to the ground in a piteous attitude that somehow suggested both the drooping grace of a dying swan and the innocence and helplessness of the hapless maiden, the music died away into silence.
There was a little pause.

Then Davilof sprang to this feet.
"By God, Magda! You're magnificent!" he exclaimed with the spontaneous appreciation of one genuine artist for another.
Magda raised her head and looked up at him with vague, startled eyes.
She still preserved the pose on which the dance had ceased, and had hardly yet returned to the world of reality from that magic world into which her art had transported her.
The burning enthusiasm in Davilof's excited tones recalled her abruptly.
"Was it good--was it really good ?" she asked a little shakily.
"Good ?" he said.

"It was superb!" He held out his hands and she laid hers in them without thinking, allowing him to draw her to her feet beside him.
She stood quite still, breathing rather quickly from her recent exertions and supported by the close clasp of his hands on hers.

Her lips were a little parted, her slight breast rose and fell unevenly, and a faint rose-colour glowed beneath the ivory pallor of her skin.
Suddenly Davilof's grip tightened.
"You beautiful thing!" he exclaimed huskily.