ubt,
Sweethearts enough I may pick out.
In verity, verity, verity aye," etc

And then Gertrude, in a mocking voice, coquettishly sang,--

"Be not too bold, for hearts fresh caught,
Are ne'er, I am told, to market brought
The best, they say, are _given_ away,
And are not _sold_, on market-day.
In verity, verity, verity aye," etc

A round of applause and an encore followed. It was long since Harry had
heard Bluebell's voice, but he alone did not applaud. The play proceeded,
and then Sir Robert came in as Amesfort. It hung a little here. He
floundered, gagged, forgot the cue, and the voice of the prompter became
distinctly audible. Happily, conceit bore him along. Harry winced as he
drawled to Gertrude, "Why, you are very pretty!" But when he proceeded to
catch her round the waist and offered to kiss her, he mattered an oath,
and half-started forward. Warned by a look of curiosity in a bystander,
Dutton fiercely controlled himself, but a burning desire to quarrel with
Sir Robert took possession of him.

In the last scene, when she comes on as a bride, Harry remembered, with
a curious laugh, she had never been so attired for him. Bluebell was
warming to her part. She and Peter Spyk were pulling the whole coach, and
when the play was ended they were both loudly called for before the
curtains.

Happy and delighted at her success, it was hard to fall from triumph
to insignificance; but, in the first flush of the former, Bluebell was
left in solitude. Her fellow actors had flown away to exchange their
theatrical costume for ball dress, and she had received no _carte
blanche_ to mingle with the dancers.

Lingering listlessly alone in the greenroom, wishing to join the rest,
and hoping some one might think of sending for her, she had thrown
herself into an easy-chair, back to the door, which was half-open. There
was a slight sound of a rapid, stealthy footstep, and, before she had
time to look round, a twisted note was tossed into her lap.

Bluebell started to her feet. Her heart gave one great jump, and her
cheeks were blanched.

She rushed to the door. Too late,--the passage was empty. After reading
the note, she walked backwards and forwards, in an incoherent state of
excitement, pondering its contents, and was returning to the deserted
school-room, when she was met and stopped by Lord Bromley.

"Not dressed yet!" he exclaimed. "Or is Gertrude going to dance in this
pretty bridal array?