ured his fancy and made him her slave for life, he was
inwardly reflecting that he should have come down earlier to the
theatre, and apologized to Miss Burgoyne for the unintentional slight of
the previous day. As soon as the scene was over and they were both in
the wings, he hastened to her (they had left the stage by opposite
sides) and said,

"Oh, Miss Burgoyne, something very awkward happened yesterday--I am so
sorry--I want to apologize--"

"I hope you will do nothing of the kind," said she, haughtily, "it is
quite unnecessary."

"Oh, but look here, I'm really very sorry," he was endeavoring to say,
when she again interrupted him:

"If you choose to go driving through London with chorus-girls," said
she, in measured and bitter tones, "I suppose your attention must be
fully occupied."

And therewith she marched proudly away from him; nor could he follow her
to protest or explain, for he was wanted on the stage in about a second.
He felt inclined to be angry and resentful; but he was helpless; he had
to attend to this immediate scene.

Meanwhile Miss Burgoyne did not long preserve that lofty demeanor of
hers; the moment she left him her rage got the better of her, for here
was the Italian girl most inopportunely coming along the corridor; and
just as poor Nina came up Miss Burgoyne turned to her maid, who was
holding open the dressing-room door for her, and said aloud, so that
every one could overhear,

"Oh, we don't want foreigners in English opera; why don't they take a
barrel-organ through the streets, or a couple of canaries in a cage?"

Nor was that all; for here was Mlle. Girond; and the smart little
boy-officer, as she came along the passage, was gayly singing to
herself,

"Le roti, la salade,
L'amour, la promenade
A deux dans les
Dans les
Deux dans les
A deux dans les bluets!"

"Oh, there's another of the foreign chimpanzees!" exclaimed Miss
Burgoyne, in her fury; and she dashed into her room, and slammed the
door behind her.

Mlle. Girond stood staring at the door; then she turned to look at Nina;
then she burst out laughing.

"Quel ouragan, grand Dieu!" she cried. "Ma pauvre enfant, qu'allez vous
faire maintenant?" She turned to the door and laughed again. "Elle a la
tete pres du bonnet, n'est-ce pas?--mon Dieu, elle s'enflamme comme de
la poudre!"

But Nina did not stay to make any explanation; somewhat paler than
usual, and quite silent and reserved, sh