Leslie walking off with Bret into the green-room. Now, Miss Leslie, can't
you wait until this rehearsal is over?'

'They'll be late for church to-day; they may as well wait.'

Another roar of laughter followed this remark, and Kate said:

'You'd better give it up, Dick, dear; it will be all right at night. I
assure you I shall be perfect in my music and words.'

'I must go through the act. The principals are responsible for themselves,
but I must look to the chorus. Where's that damned property-master?'

On the subject of rehearsals Dick was always firm, and seeing that it could
not be shirked, the chorus pulled themselves together, and the act was run
through somehow. Then a few more invitations were whispered in the corners
on the sly, and the party in couples and groups repaired to the Lennoxes'
lodgings. Mortimer, Beaumont, Dick, and Kate walked together, talking of
the night's show. Dubois crushed his bishop's hat over his eyes, straddled
his ostler-like legs, and discussed Wagner's position in music with
Montgomery and Dolly Goddard. A baronet's grandson, a chorus singer, told
how his ancestor had won the Goodwood Cup half a century ago, to three
ladies in the same position in the theatre as himself. Bret and Leslie
followed very slowly, apparently more than ever enchanted with each other.

For the wedding breakfast, the obliging landlady had given up her own rooms
on the ground-floor. The table extended from the fireplace to the cabinet,
the panels of which Mortimer was respectfully requested not to break when
he was invited to take the foot of the table and help the cold salmon. The
bride and bridegroom took the head, and the soup was placed before them;