little flustered. "Am I not
to see Mr. Rich then?"

"Not yet. Didn't I say our plans are altered? The Duke's is in turmoil.
Rich let the theatre to Huddy and his company of strolling players--at
least Huddy says he did--and has now cried off the bargain and Huddy is
turned out. Rich hasn't any play ready so it's no use taking you to
him."

"Oh, how unlucky! I shan't have any chance after all."

Poor Lavinia almost broke down. The shattering of her castle in the air
was more than she could endure.

"Not with Rich just yet. But don't despair. Huddy has taken his company
to the New Theatre and it'll go hard if I don't talk him into putting
you into a part. It may be all for the best. You'd only get a promise
out of Rich whereas Huddy might be glad to get you. He's in a mighty
hurry to open the theatre. We'll go at once to the Haymarket."

Lavinia was a little disappointed, but not dismayed. After all an
immediate entrance into the magical stage world was the important point.
She had to begin somewhere, and to play at the New Theatre was not like
playing in an inn yard or mumming booth.

They reached the stage door of the New Theatre, afterwards called the
Little Theatre in the Haymarket, which it may be said in passing was not
quite on the site of the present Haymarket Theatre. The entrance was
small, the passage beyond was dark and they had to grope their way to
the stage, which lighted as it was by half a dozen candles or so was
gloomy enough. The daylight struggled into the audience part through a
few small windows above the gallery. A rehearsal was going on, and a red
faced man with a hoarse voice was stamping about and shouting at the
performers. When he saw Spiller he stopped and came towards the
comedian. Compared with Huddy, Spiller was a great man.

Spiller stated his business and introduced Lavinia. The manager stared
at her, shifted his wig, scratched his head and grunted something to the
effect that he couldn't afford to pay anybody making a first appearance.

"Look 'ee here, Mr. Spiller. It's my benefit and my company don't expect
a penny. D'ye see! I've been used in a rascally fashion by that
scoundrel Rich, and I'll have to raise a few guineas afore I can start
in the country."

Spiller saw the position and said that the young lady who he was careful
to point out was a "gentlewoman" was quite willing to appear on these
terms and so the matter was settled.

"She won't have much of a part. We're p