feet again. Sally could not help wondering whether things were going
particularly wrong to-day, or whether this was one of Mr. Bunbury's
ordinary mornings.

"Miss Hobson!"

The action of the drama had just brought that emotional lady on left
centre and had taken her across to the desk which stood on the other
side of the stage. The desk was an important feature of the play, for
it symbolized the absorption in business which, exhibited by her
husband, was rapidly breaking Miss Hobson's heart. He loved his desk
better than his young wife, that was what it amounted to, and no wife
can stand that sort of thing.

"Oh, gee!" said Miss Hobson, ceasing to be the distressed wife and
becoming the offended star. "What's it this time?"

"I suggested at the last rehearsal and at the rehearsal before and the
rehearsal before that, that, on that line, you, should pick up the
paper-knife and toy negligently with it. You did it yesterday, and
to-day you've forgotten it again."

"My God!" cried Miss Hobson, wounded to the quick. "If this don't beat
everything! How the heck can I toy negligently with a paper-knife when
there's no paper-knife for me to toy negligently with?"

"The paper-knife is on the desk."

"It's not on the desk."