Chapter Iii.

and bitter at- this hotel , you shall take the humble and unassuming Vomer , whom I have mentioned , and introduce him to his talented and aristocratic employer , Lady Crauford , and the other gifted amateurs to whom he has to play schoolmaster for the ncxt three weeks , "

They walked down to the pier after the sherry and bitters , where the Calverley people were assembled , waiting with some curiosity for their new instructor , and though AVilson Hardaway was naturally pleased to be able to introduce to them so presentable a monitor , he couldn ' t divest his mind of the feeling

that he wished it had been anybody else instead . He quite agreed with Dick that there was no necessity for informing * them iu detail of tlu > former circumstances in which they had met . Vomer was introduced in due form , and the ladies were naturally agreeably surprised by his polished manners and

excellent appearance ; he was at his ease at once , without being too familiar , and made such steps in the good graces of all , that the men were rather reluctantly compelled to confess that he was' an excellent companion , though Lady Crauford heard , with a sigh of relief , that such an attractive and dangerous

detrimental had preferred not to intrude on the ready hospitality of Calverley . It was agreed that Shakespeare , as since his dramatic effort had transpired , Hardawa y was universally nicknamed , should read his doubtless immortalproduction to Yernor , who was then to bring the weighty depths of his experience to bear on the

elaboration of the stage business of Out of their Element . Hardaway came round iu the evening , and read the deathless drama at his best , while Yerner slumbered placidly , and when the author had departed , brought his vast dramatic experience to bear on

the task of getting over to Kamsgate , and having a little pool at the Albion , when the local young bloods and the cute visitors from London dropped their shillings and half-crowns to the gentlemanly visitor with considerable speed ; then he hied him back to his hotel to sleep thc sleep of the inst and guileless .

The next morning he rose early , got a boat , and went out for a swim ; removed his baggage to quiet , but commodious , apartments , and duly repaired to Calverley for his first rehearsal with his pupils , having first glanced over the manuscript , and finding that , although crude iu construction , it was fair in idea , and smart enough in dialogue . The hall which formed the theatre

was in the hands of the carpenters , to whom Dick gave n few instructions of a terse , and vigorous description on the subject of constructing a temporary stage and proscenium , the tenor of which differed considerably from his opening advice to the company , whom he mentally dubbed a confounded lot of sticks .

Still , he laboured long and manfully , was patient with the obstinate , and encouraging to the enthusiastic , and contrived , even on the first day of his toil , to take some of the woodenness outof the limbs of the men , and to make the women look less like animated marionettes . For Ladv Crauford herself he had

nothing but praise ; and she , in her turn , was evidently gratified by his efforts to improve the others , and by the gentleness of manner that none better than ho knew how to assume . Even Hardawav found himself rather proud , than otherwise , of his

former friendship with the popular stage-manager ; and the soldiers from Canterbury voted him a brick , and asked him over to theni at the barracks at once . Two hours before dinner were devoted fo lawn tennis , and then he went down to dress for that solemn festivity , to which he was now permanently invited .

It was an ordinary enough meal , the historic battles of the day being fought over with the nsual amount of vigour , while arrangements for the future wcre discussed with an enthusiasm which seldom lasts among amateurs for more than three days at a stretch . A verv few glasses of wine served to loosen the tongue

Chapter Iii.

of the hitherto reticent Yerner , who spake unstintedly , but without exaggeration , of droll experiences of theatrical life at home and abroad , and finally won all hearts by suggesting that the rehearsals should be limited to four days a week for the rest of the company , lest their energies should be blunted by monotonous

study , he promising * tor his part to use the intermediate time in painting the scenes , at which , being a handy sort of a scoundrel , he was a proficient , while he invited any volunteer co-operation with considerable success . In the drawing-room , after one or two of the guests had either piped shrill ballads or bellowed

brigand songs , apparently out of the toes of their boots , he volunteered a song , which he sung with the ease of a professional , and Hardaway informed them that in his Oxford clays poor Vomer had never been able to work o' nights , for that his friends would bear him forcibly off to warble at their parties , ancl every one pitied him .

Some how or other the conversation turned on jewels , and Lady Crauford was wearing a necklace of diamonds and sapphires , she being , despite her well wearing charm , of an age when such brilliant adornment was desirable . Yerner had eyed this necklace during dinner more than once , and he now took occasion to express admiration of the gems .

" You should see the tiara and bracelets to match , " said Lady Crauford , " Kate mv love , tell Virginia to bring the case down . "

lhis was done , and the maid soon entered the room with a large brown morocco case , which was opened by a gold key attached to Lady Crauford's watch chain . The beautiful jewels within wcre duly admired in their bed of crimson velvet , and was at length handed to Yerner , who glancing only for a moment

at them shut the case up , and looking very attentively at them for a little while , handed it back to its owner with an expression of admiration . The rest of the evening passed away without any incident , and the party afterwards separated all save himself , more impressed than ever with the charms of the stage manager .

So the days and weeks passed on , and the rehearsals proceeded with more or less success ; sometimes the men rebelled or the girls got jealous , to be soothed again by the bland courtesies of Yerner . There were garden parties and impromptu dances , the Pearl was called into requisition for occasional water

parties ; and more than once V erner went over to Canterbury , whence he certainly did not emerge the poorer for a game or two at poker at the barracks . On one day he went quietly up to London , where he went to a certain maker of nick-nacks , fancv

bags , and boxes , m Bond-street , to whom he gave some very precise orders . He did not , however , call on his friend Mr , Moss , from whom he received the following letter : — "Dear Yerner ,

"How are you getting on , and what are your prospects '' . I hopo you aint wasting your time . Let me know . If you want money for your plans , I will do anything iu reason . " Yours , " M . Moss . "

" Ah ! my dear friend , " thought Yerner , " if you think I am going to play the cat to your monkey with her ladyship for the chestnuts , you shall suiter even to the end . " And so he wrote back " Dear Moss ,

" 1 here is a man here who knew ine at Oxford , who is very much in the way . Will do my best . Send £ 2 o ; it will be useful . "R , V . " " I really don ' t know * , " he thought , " it would be a devil of a shame to treat them badly after the jolly good time I ' m

Ad01202

MARCOVITCHANDCO., MANUl'ACTUREUS OP THK *tffe*FINESTTURKISHANDEGYPTIAN'|A|'" , III,,.\%R ¦ iffiWff!pTADPTTpCy§^ H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WAL-5 V ^ JL V A _ X V JL V . . I J JL JL . I J k . «/ ¦ H . ' . M . THE CZAR OF RUSSIA , 11,AIRSTREET,REGENTSTREET,LONDON,W.