-circles, and, with a
glance at the ladies, pushed open the swing-doors.

"Come on," he said, excitedly; and seeing several people racing up the
broad stone stairs, he and Miss Tyrell raced with them.

"Round this side," he cried, hastily, as he gave up the tickets, and,
followed by Miss Tyrell, quickly secured a couple of seats at the end of
the front row.

"Best seats in the house almost," said Poppy, cheerfully.

"Where are the others?" said Fraser, looking round.

"Coming on behind, I suppose," said Poppy glancing over her shoulder.

"I'll change places when they arrive," said the other, apologetically;
"something's detained them, I should think. I hope they're not waiting
for us."

He stood looking about him uneasily as the seats behind rapidly filled,
and closely scanned their occupants, and then, leaving his hat on the
seat, walked back in perplexity to the door.

"Never mind," said Miss Tyrell, quietly, as he came back. "I daresay
they'll find us."

Fraser bought a programme and sat down, the brim of Miss Tyrell's hat
touching his face as she bent to peruse it. With her small gloved finger
she pointed out the leading characters, and taking no notice of his
restlessness, began to chat gaily about the plays she had seen, until
a tuning of violins from the orchestra caused her to lean forward, her
lips parted and her eyes beaming with anticipation.

"I do hope the others have got good seats," she said, softly, as the
overture finished; "that's everything, isn't it?"

"I hope so," said Fraser.

He leaned forward, excitedly. Not because the curtain was rising, but
because he had just caught sight of a figure standing up in the centre
of the pit-stalls. He had just time to call his companion's attention
to it when the figure, in deference to the threats and entreaties of the
people behind, sat down and was lost in the crowd.

"They _have_ got good seats," said Miss Tyrell. "I'm so glad. What a
beautiful scene."

The mate, stifling his misgivings, gave himself up to the enjoyment of
the situation, which in-eluded answering the breathless whispers of his
neighbour when she missed a sentence, and helping her to discover the
identity of the characters from the programme as they appeared.

"I should like it all over again," said Miss Tyrell, sitting back in her
seat, as the curtain fell on the first act.

Fraser agreed with her. He was closely watching the pit-stalls. In the
general movement on the part