as we're together you're safe. Darco's a
darling when you know him, but he's enough to break a beginner's heart.
Now, dears '--she appealed here to her whole public--'put your hearts
into it, and help the young gentleman through.'

The rehearsal went on again, and the nightmare feeling wore away a
little.

'You've got to give me a little bit of a chance here,' said Miss
Belmont, with her pretty little gloved hand on Paul's shoulder. 'You
see, it's your forgiveness melts me, and if you forgive me like chucking
a pennyworth of coppers at a beggar, I shan't be melted. Now, then:
"Georgy"--say it like that, just a bit throaty and quivery--"I loved you
so that I'd have laid down my life for you!" Try it like that. That's
better. Now, give me your eyes, large and mournful, for just five ticks.
Now turn, three steps up stage, hand to forehead. That's it, but not
quite so woodeny. Turn. Eyes again. "Georgy!" Now one step down, both
hands out Pause. That's it "You have broken a truer heart than you will
easily find again. But I will say no more. Good-bye, Georgy. And for the
sake of those old dreams which were once so sweet, and now are flown for
ever, God bless you 'Oh, God bless you and forgive you!" No. Try and get
it just a little bit more. Poor dear Bannister always cried when he came
to that. I've seen the tears run down his face many a time. Just go back
to "Georgy, I loved you sa" Yes, yes, yes, that's it; that's capital.
Now, that lets me in. "Oh, Richard! Richard! Is it possible that you
forgive me?" That's your cue for the chair, face in both hands. Now my
long speech: "Richard," and so on, and so on. "Good-bye, then, dearest,
truest, tenderest." Just a little shake of the shoulders here and there,
as if you were sobbing to yourself, don't you see? "Good-bye, good-bye."
No, don't get up yet. Count six very slowly after "Good-bye" the second
time. Now rise, turn, arms out "Georgy! Can't you see?" Then down I
rush, and--curtain. Now, just once more from "Georgy, I loved you so."'

The company clapped hands. Berry, the first comedian, poked Earlsford,
the leading man, in the waistcoat.

'_You'll_ have to look to your laurels in a year or two.'

'Now,' said Miss Belmont, 'you can't expect to shine tonight. That
wouldn't be reasonable, would it? But if you won't prevent the rest from
shining you'll have done your duty nobly. Never you mind Darco: I'll
keep him out of the house to-night. I'm the only woman in the profes