the shorter one, with
the pleasant face, near the window, is Ralph, his younger brother."

"That is a very good-looking girl he is talking to," he remarked. "I did
not catch her name."

"Hush!" I said. "That is Miss Grant, whom he is engaged to. They have
just had a little tiff, and are making it up. He _does_ talk to her a
good deal. I have noticed it myself. Such a sweet creature!"

"Is she going to act?"

"Yes," I replied. "They are going to begin at once. You need not dress.
It is not a dress rehearsal."

"I think I will go and get my boots off, though," said Carr. "Can you
show me where I am?"

"I am afraid you are not in the house at all," I said. "The fact is--did
not Sir George tell you?" And then I explained.

For a moment his face fell, but it cleared instantly, though not before
I had noticed it.

"You don't mind?" I said, astonished. "You quite understand--"

"Of course, of course!" he interrupted. "It is all right, I have a cold,
that is all; and I have to sing next week. I shall do very well. Pray
don't tell your friends I have a cold. I am sure Sir George is kindness
itself, and it might make him uneasy to think I was not in his house."

The rehearsal now began, and in much trepidation I waited to see Carr
come on. The moment he appeared all anxiety vanished; the other actors
were reassured, and acted their best. A few passages had to be
repeated, a few positions altered, but it was obvious that Carr could
act, and act well; though, curiously enough, he looked less
gentlemanlike and well-bred when acting with Charles than he had done
when he was the best among a very mixed set on the steamer.

"You act beautifully, Mr. Carr!" said Aurelia, when it was over.
"Doesn't he, Ralph?"

"Doesn't he?" replied Ralph, hot but good-humored. "I am sure, Carr, we
are most grateful to you."

"So am I," said Charles. "Your death agonies, Carr, are a credit to
human nature. No great vulgar writhings with legs all over the stage,
like Denis; but a chaste, refined wriggle, and all was over. It is a
pleasure to kill a man who dies in such a gentlemanlike manner. If only
Evelyn will keep a little closer to me when I am on my wicked baronial
knees, I shall be quite happy. You hear, Evelyn?"

"How you can joke at this moment," said Evelyn, who looked pale and
nervous, "I cannot think. I don't believe I shall be able to remember a
word when it comes to the point."

"Stage-fever coming on already," said Charles