re
Miss Burgoyne--if I were you, no, not for a hundred pounds!"

Therewith the kind-hearted little French officer sped away to her own
room, and brought back the smelling-salts and was most eagerly
solicitous that Nina should conquer this passing attack of hysteria, as
she deemed it. And, indeed, Nina managed to get through the rest of her
part without any serious breakdown, to Estelle's exceeding joy.

As they went home together in the four-wheeled cab, Nina did not utter a
word. Once or twice Estelle fancied she heard a slight sob; but she
merely said to herself,

"Ah, it has come back, that trembling of the nerves? But I will make her
take some wine at supper, and she will go to bed and sleep well;
to-morrow she will have forgotten all about it."

And Estelle was most kind and considerate when they got down to Sloane
Street. She helped Nina off with her things; she stirred up the fire;
she put a bottle of white wine on the table, where supper was already
laid; she drew in Nina's chair for her. Then Mrs. Grey came up, to see
that her children, as she called them, were all right; and she was
easily induced to stay for a little while, for a retired actress is
always eager to hear news of the theatre; so she and Miss Girond fell to
talking between themselves. Nina sat silent; her eyes seemed heavy and
tired; she only pretended to touch the food and wine before her.

"Very well, then, Nina," her friend said, when Mrs. Grey had gone, "if
you will have nothing to eat or to drink, you must go to bed and see
what a sound night's rest will do for you. I am going to sit up a little
while to read, but I shall not disturb you."

"Good-night, then, Estelle," said Nina, rather languidly; "you have been
so kind to me!"

They kissed each other; then Nina opened the folding-doors, and
disappeared into her own room, while Estelle took up her book. It was
"Les Vacances de Camille" she had got hold of; but she did not turn the
pages quickly; there was something else in her mind. She was thinking of
Nina. She was troubled about her, in a vague kind of way. She had never
seen Nina look like that before, and she was puzzled and a little
concerned.

Suddenly, in this hushed stillness, she heard, or fancied she heard, a
slight sound that startled her; it came from the adjoining room.
Stealthily she arose and approached the door; she put her ear close and
listened; yes, she had not been mistaken--Nina was sobbing bitterly.
Estelle di