me.
And I want to see that Lehmann isn't put to any inconvenience; for, you
know, I introduced Nina to the New Theatre."

On their way into town Estelle was thoughtful and silent; while Lionel
kept looking far ahead, as if he expected to descry Nina coming round
some street-corner or in some passing cab. But at last his companion
said to him,

"You had no quarrel, then, with Nina, on the Saturday night?"

"None. On the contrary, the last time she spoke to me was in the most
kindly way," he said.

"Then why does she resolve to send you back those presents?" Estelle
asked. "Why is it she knows all at once that her life is broken? You
have no conjecture at all?"

"Well," said he, with a little hesitation, "it is a difficult thing to
speak of. If Nina were looking forward as you think--if she mistook the
intention of those trinkets I gave her--well, you know, there was a
young lady and her mother, two friends of mine, who came to the theatre
on Saturday night, and I dare say Nina passed while I was talking to the
young lady in the wings--and--and Nina may have imagined something. I
can only guess--it is possible--"

"Now I know," said Estelle, rather sadly. "Poor Nina! And still you
think she would come back if you could find her? Her pride makes her fly
from you; and you think you would persuade her? Never, never! She will
not come back--she would drown herself first."

"Oh, don't talk like that!" he said, with frowning brows; and both
relapsed into silence and their own thoughts.

Mr. Lehmann did not seem much put about by this defection on the part of
one of his principal singers.

"It is a pity," he said to Lionel. "She had a fresh voice; she was
improving in her stage-business; and the public liked her. What on earth
made her go off like this?"

"She left no explanation with me," Lionel said, honestly enough. "But in
her letter to Miss Girond she hopes you won't be put to any
inconvenience. By the way, if Miss Ross owes you any forfeit, I'll
settle that up with you."

"No, there's no forfeit in her agreement; it wasn't considered
necessary," the manager made answer. "Of course I am assuming that it's
all fair and square; that she hasn't gone off to take a better
engagement--"

"You needn't be afraid of that," Lionel said, briefly; and, as Miss
Constance here made her appearance, he withdrew from the empty stage,
and presently had left the building.

He thought he would walk up to the Restaurant Gianuz