could not make Margaret understand
that they were to be separated from each other for many long weeks.

It was snowing hard when the train steamed into Albany. Mr. Morgan, who
had gone up by an earlier train, met her at the depot.

"We will go right to the theater," he said; "the remainder of the
company are there; they are all waiting for us."

Jessie felt a little disappointed at not getting a cup of good hot tea;
but she was too timid to mention it.

A dozen or more faces were eagerly turned toward them when they entered
the theater. Four very much over-dressed young women, sitting in a group
and laughing rather hilariously, and half a dozen long-ulstered,
curly-mustached _blase_-appearing gentlemen, stared boldly at the timid,
shrinking young girl whom Manager Morgan led forward.

"Our new leading lady, Miss Jessie Bain," he announced, briefly; adding
quickly after this general introduction: "Clear the stage every one who
is not discovered in the first act."

The way these gentlemen and ladies fairly flew into the wings astonished
Jessie. They acted more like frightened children, afraid of a
school-master than like ladies and gentlemen who were great heroes and
heroines of the drama. Jessie stood quite still, not a little
bewildered.

"Excuse me; but were you ever on before?" asked one of the girls, eyeing
Jessie curiously.

"No," she answered; "but I do hope I will get along. I am very anxious
to learn."

At this there was a great deal of suppressed tittering, which rather
nettled Jessie.

"You must have wonderful confidence in yourself to attempt to play your
part to-night, with only this one rehearsal. Aren't you afraid you will
get stage-frightened?"

"I used to take part in all the entertainments that we used to give at
home in the little village I came from. Once I had a very long part, and
I always had an excellent memory."

"Let me give you a little word of advice," said the girl, who introduced
herself as Mally Marsh, linking her arm in Jessie's and drawing her
into one of the dark recesses of the wings, where they were quite alone
together. "Did you see the girl in the sealskin coat who sat at my right
as you came up? I want to tell you about her."

CHAPTER XXII.

"PRAY, PERMIT ME TO ESCORT YOU HOME," SAID THE HANDSOME STRANGER,
STEPPING TO JESSIE'S SIDE AND RAISING HIS HAT WITH A PROFOUND BOW.

Jessie looked out on to the stage at the very pretty girl at whom her
companion was