lation and charm of broken English, was quite
willing to entertain Mr. Moore, though at times she would forget all
about him and walk across to the full-length mirror and twist her small
moustache. She chatted to him now and again; she returned to the mirror
to touch her eyebrows and adjust her sash; she walked about or flicked
the dust from her shining Wellingtons with a silk handkerchief; again
she contemplated herself in the glass, and lightly sang,

"En debordant de Saint-Malo
Nos longs avirons battaient l'eau!"

Then she was called away for the beginning of the last act; and Nina,
having made the change necessary for her next appearance, came out from
the dressing-room and sat down.

"Oh, you are wicked, Leo," she said, as she contentedly crossed her
hands in her lap and looked at the young man with those friendly eyes,
"that you stayed away so long. I wished to sing the duet with you--but
no--you begin Monday--and Miss Burgoyne comes back Monday--"

"Does she? I thought she was ordered a long rest."

Nina laughed.

"She sees in the papers that you come back--it is to be a great
occasion--she says to herself, 'Will he sing with that Italian girl? No!
Let my throat be well or ill, I am going back;' and she is coming, Leo.
Never mind; I am to have the part of Clara; is it not an advancement?
And everything is so much more comfortable now; Miss Girond has taken a
room with Mrs. Grey; then we go home always together, and she has the
use of the piano--"

"Miss Ross, please!" called a voice at the door.

"All right!" she called in reply.

"The chorus is on, miss."

"All right!"

"Ah," she continued, "it is so good to see you back, Leo; yes, yes?
London was a stranger city when you were away--there was no one. And it
is all you I have to thank, Leo, for my introduction here and my
good-fortune--"

"Oh, nonsense, Nina!" he said. "What else could I have done? It isn't
you who ought to thank me--it's Lehmann; I consider him precious lucky
to have got a substitute for Miss Burgoyne so easily. So Miss Burgoyne
is coming back on Monday?"

"Yes," said Nina, as she went to the door. "Shall I see you again, Leo,
to-night?"

"Oh, I'm coming to hear you sing 'Now to the dance,'" he said, as he
followed her out into the corridor and ascended with her into the wings.

This was a busy act for Nina; and the next time he had an opportunity of
talking with her was after she had dressed herself in her bridal robe