Nina--that is, Grace Mainwaring--carefully opened the casement at which
she was supposed to be standing. A flood of moonlight--lime-light,
rather--fell on her; but Lionel could not see how she looked the part,
because her back was towards him. Very timidly Grace Mainwaring glanced
this way and that, to make sure that no one could observe her; she took
a rose from her hair, kissed it, and dropped it to her enraptured lover
below. It was the end of the act. She had to come down quickly from the
platform for the recall that resounded through the theatre; she did not
chance to notice Lionel; she was led on and across the stage by Harry
Thornhill, she bowing repeatedly and gracefully, he reserving his
acknowledgment until he had handed her off. The reception both of them
got was most gratifying; there could be no doubt of the sincerity of the
applause of this crowded house.

"It seems to me I am not wanted here any more," Lionel said to himself.
"Even Nina won't take any notice of the stranger."

The next moment Nina, who was coming across the stage, caught sight of
him, and with a little cry of delight she ran towards him--yes, ran; for
what cared she about carpenters and scene-shifters?--and caught both his
hands in hers.

"Ah, Leo!" she cried, with glad-shining eyes. "Oh, so brown you are!--a
hunter!--you are from the forests! And to-day you arrive--and already at
the theatre--did you hear the duet--no? Ah, it is good to see you again,
after so long!--I could laugh and cry together, it is such a joy to see
you--and see you looking so well--"

"I say, Nina," he said, "that fellow Doyle sings tremendously well--he's
ever so much improved--they'll be wanting him to take my place
altogether and sending me off into the country."

"You, Leo!" she said, with a merry laugh, and still she regarded him
with those delighted, welcoming eyes. "Ah, yes, it is likely! Ah, you
will see what reception they will give you on Monday. Yes, it is in all
the papers already--everywhere I see it; but come--Miss Girond and I,
we have Miss Burgoyne's room for the present--you can wait for a few
minutes, then I come out to talk to you."

Lionel (feeling very much like a stranger in this place) followed her
into Miss Burgoyne's room, where he found Mlle. Girond only too ready to
throw away the French novel she was reading. Nina had to disappear into
the dressing-room; but this small boy-officer in the gay uniform, with
his or her pretty gesticu