On the night after Hester had taken Bet home, she found herself in the
entrance of The Cleopatra Theatre, about seven o'clock. A new piece
was to be put on the stage that night, and the entrance to the small
pit was already crowded with rough men and frowsy, untidy, disreputable
girls. They all nodded to Hester, and seemed pleased to see her, and
one or two made way to get her to the front.

"My Jack is coming presently, Hetty," whispered a girl of the name of
Susan Jakes. "Set near me, like a dear, so as to keep a seat for him
when he looks in."

Hester often performed this kind office, slipping quietly into the
background afterwards, without permitting any word of thanks. Susan
Jakes was a pale-faced girl, with light flaxen hair and pale blue eyes;
she was rather pretty and very neglected-looking. When she saw "my
Jack" her somewhat hard little face assumed a womanly and beautiful
expression. Hester took her hand and gave it a squeeze.

"We'll keep side by side until Jack Masters comes," she whispered.

The girl and Hester, by reason of Hester's great popularity, got into
quite a foremost position in the pit. Jack Masters arrived about
half-an-hour afterwards, and just before the curtain was raised. He
scarcely thanked Hetty--it was the usual thing for her to keep seats
for the girl's sweethearts. She moved aside into quite the back of the
crowded pit, and stood leaning against the wall. A dreadfully
tired-looking woman touched her arm.

"I've got out, Hetty Wright--he's at the public, and I'm here. Ain't