he looks up to the
window--he sings 'The starry night brings me no rest'--and he says
'Bother to that stupid Italian girl!--why am I to sing to her?'
Poor Leo, he will be disconsolate; but not for long. No; Miss
Burgoyne will be coming back; and then he will have some one for to
talk with from behind the fan.

"Now, Leo, if you can read any more, I must attend to what you call
_beesness_. When Miss Burgoyne returns, I do not go back to be
under-study to Miss Girond--no--Mr. Lehmann has said he is pleased
with me, and I am to take the part of Miss Considine, who goes into
the provincial company. You know it is almost the same consequence
as Grace Mainwaring towards the public, and I am, oh, very proud of
such an advancement; and I have written to Pandiani, and to Carmela
and Andrea, and Mrs. Grey is kinder than ever, and I take lessons
always and always, when she has a half-hour from the
house-governing. I am _letter perfect_--is it what they say?--in
this part as in the other; my bad English does not appear on the
stage; I practise and practise always. I am to share in Miss
Girond's room, and that will be good, for she is friendly to me,
though sometimes a little saucy in her amusement. Already I hear
that the theatre-attendant people are coming back--and you--when is
your return? You had benevolence to the poor chorus-singer, Signor
Leo; and now she is prima-donna do you think she will forget you?
No, no! To-day I was going up Regent Street, and in a window
behold! a portrait of Mr. Lionel Moore and a portrait of Miss
Antonia Ross side by side! I laughed--I said, Leo did not look to
this a short time ago. It is the same fotografer; I have had
several requests; but only to that one I went, for it is the best
one of you he has taken that is seen anywhere. Of course I have to
dress as like Miss Burgoyne as possible, which is a pity to me, for
it is not too graceful, as I think I could do; but I complain
nothing, since Mr. Lehmann gave me the great advancement; and if
you will look at the critiques you will see they say I have not a
bad appearance in the part. As for the _briccone_--pah!--when I
talk like this to you, Leo, I despise him--he is nothing to me--I
would not pay twopence that he should praise me.

"Will you write to me, Leo, and say