It seemed as though she did not see the people, the preparations
that were going on about her, the lights, or even the stage itself,
but only had in her brain the reflection of a confused and moving
mass of eyes and faces. At each moment she would gaze with terror at
the audience and feel as though her heart were ceasing to beat.

When the bell rang for the second time, she hurried off the stage
and took her place in the chorus that was already assembled behind
the scenes; while waiting for the moment to enter, she unconsciously
crossed herself, and her whole body trembled so violently that one
of the chorus girls, noticing her confusion, took her by the arm.

"Enter!" shouted the stage-director. The throng carried her along
with it and pushed her to the front of the stage.

The sudden silence and magnified glare of light restored her senses
somewhat, and after leaving the stage she stood behind one of the
scenes and completely regained her composure.

On her second entrance she felt only a slight tremor. She sang,
heard the music, and gazed straight at the public. She was also
emboldened by seeing the editor sitting in the front row and
encouraging her with a friendly smile. She kept looking at him and
after that she was able to distinguish with increasing clearness
individual faces in the audience.

In some scene in which the chorus promenaded about the back of the
stage, while a comic dialogue was going on at the front, Janina's
companions indulged in whispered conversations.

"Brona, look! Your fellow is there in the third row toward the
left."

"Oh look! Dasha is in the theater . . . goodness, how she is dolled
up. . . ."

"Siwinska! fasten my hooks, for I feel my skirt is falling down."

"Lou! your wig is coming off."

"Look to your own shags!"

"I'm going to Marceline with someone to-morrow . . . perhaps you
will go with us, Zielinska?"

"Look at the eyes that student is making at me!"

"I don't care a snap for penniless plugs."

"But what merry chaps they are!"

"No, thank you! They have nothing but whiskey and sardines. That's a
treat, only for those of the street."

"Hush! Cabinska is sitting in that box."

"My gracious, what a maidenly make-up she has to-day!"

"Quiet, we sing!"

Behind the scenes stood a great variety of people: waitresses,
stage-hands, restaurant boys, and actors waiting for their cues to
enter all these were gazing on the stage.

Cabinska's nurse, with the two