he gentlemen had brought us back, but there
was our John Storm with his sad and anxious face waiting up to see us
safely home. He was angry with me, and I didn't mind that in the least;
but when I saw that he liked me well enough to be rude to the gentlemen I
fell a victim to the crafts and assaults of the devil, and couldn't help
laughing out loud; and then Ward Sister Allworthy came along and lifted
her lip and showed me her tusk.

"It was a wonderful night altogether, and I was never so happy in my
life, but all the same I had a good cry to myself alone before going to
bed. Too much water hadst thou, poor Ophelia! Talk about two natures in
one; I've got two hundred and fifty, and they all want to do different
things! Ah me! the 'ould Book' says that woman was taken out of the rib
of a man, and I feel sometimes as if I want to get back to my old
quarters. Glory.

"P.S.--I'll write you a full and particular account of the great event of
next week after it is over. Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck,
till thou applaud the deed. You see I don't want you to eat your meal in
fear--or your porridge either. But I am burning with impatience for the
night to come, and would like to run to it. Oh, if it were done, when
'tis done, then 'twere well it were done quickly! See? I am going in for
a course of Shakespeare!"

XIV.

A week later Glory made her first visit to the theatre. Her companions
were Drake, who was charmed with her _naivete_; Lord Robert, who was
amused by it; and Polly Love, who was annoyed and ashamed, and uttered
little peevish exclamations.

As they entered the box which they were to occupy, the attendant drew
back the curtain, and at sight of the auditorium she cried, "Oh!" and
then checked herself and coloured deeply. With her eyes down she sat
where directed in one of the three seats in front, Polly being on her
right and Drake on her left, and Lord Robert at the back of the lace
curtain. For some minutes she did not smile or stir, and when she spoke
it was always in whispers. A great awe seemed to have fallen upon her,
and she was behaving as she behaved in church.

Drake began to explain the features of the theatre. Down there were the
stalls, and behind the stalls was the pit. The body? Well, yes--the body,
so to speak. And the three galleries were the dress circle, the family
circle, and the gallery proper. The organ loft? No, there was no organ,
but that empty place below was the