Rose Mortimer; Or, The Ballet-Girl's Revenge — page 42: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

re gf ee ‘To take an engagement.”’ “ T should be only too delighted, sir, of course.” ‘OF course, and so you shall. Iexpect one of the managers here to-day.’’ “¢o-day ?”’ “Yes; in an hour or so, to hin.” “Oh, how can I thank you, sir?” “ Dow’t do it at all, my dear, There’s no occasion.” ‘‘ How can I ever repay you 2” ‘T shall take care you never do, Rose, my dear. Good bye for the present. I will call you when I want you.” Rose would have liked very much to make some inquiries, but Mr. Heine did not give her the opportunity. “‘T have got some letters to write. Good bye— good bye. Come down when I send for yon.” She of course felt extremely curious respecting tlie promised engagement. How could it be otherwise? She wanted very much to know what theatre it could be at, and which of the managers it was who was coming to call upon her generous host. All these particulars, however, she was compelled to wait patiently for. In about an hour after she had spoken to Aaron Heine the bell rang, and Mrs. Woodrufte told her to go downstairs again. She found a stranger in the room with the Jew. Yes, he was a stranger to Rose, although she fan- cied that she knew most of the London inanagers by sight, as from, her childhood she Jad been a regular attendant at the theatres, and had olten seen them summoned before the curtain, besides having seen several during the last few weeks, whilst making her daily applications for an interview at the various stage doors. This particular manager, however, was certainly unknown to her, and, moreover, was not at all the sort of person Rose would have fancied likely to occupy such a position. He was very young. He could not have been much more than uinetcen or twenty, at the utmost. There were no signs of whiskers on his cheeks, Ile rejoiced in two or three straggling hairs on his upper lip, but that was all. He was extremely pale. His hair was straw- coloured. He had-no eyelashes at all, and no eye- brows to speak of. His eyelids were red and swollen, and his eyes weak. His cheeks were hollow, and he spoke in a faint Voice, at times scarcely audible. He swore fearfully. He was showily dressed, and his clothes was reeking of stale tobacco. He carried a riding whip, and wore spurs. “Ah, my dear,” said the Jew, looking up, ‘ here he is. _ Here’s my manager.” Rose bowed, and the manager nodded. “There’s the young lady, Tom, that I was talking to you about,’’ ‘* Proud of the honour,” said Tom. ‘‘She’ll make your fortune, sir, and her own too 5 mark my words if she don’t.” ‘I hope so, sir. Ballet you suid, didn’t you ?”’ ‘Yes, to be sure. The ballet. You've got a vacaucy you say ?”’ ‘* Oh, yes ; certainly.” os Miss Mortimer will fill it then, si’, with credit.” ] have no doubt she will, sir, if you say so.’’ You shall be introduced “Of course. I have got two forms of engagement written out, and only want your two Signatures.” ‘Tf IT could have seen what the young lady could do,’’? remarked Tom, ROSE MORTIMER 3; OR, SS . » se “Do!” interrupted Aaron Heine. ‘‘ Do anything that Carlotta Grisi ever did, only a great deal better. You don’t want more than that, do you?” ** Well, no, that will do I think.” ‘Here, are the forms, then. There need be no more time lost, need there ?”’ ‘** No, certainly not. your recommendation, Mr. Heine.’’ *That’s satisfactory, eh, Miss Rose ?” ** Yes, sir,’’ stammered Rose, bewildered and econ- fused. ‘* If you—ifI—yes, sir. I think so.”’ ‘*To be sure. ‘l'o be sure. Now then, my dear, | just write your name to this, or we shall be too late to get it stamped.” As he spoke, the Jew handed her a pen, and spread a large formidable parchment before her, closely filled with crabbed characters. Aaron placed his finger upon a particular spot, / and said— ** Sign here.”’ She did as she was told, though with some vague suspicion that the proceedings were somewhat irre- gular. She wrote her name, taking, as she did so, a hurried glance at the lengthy document. ‘* She could read scarcely half a dozen words, how- ever, because the handwriting was such a curious one it seemed to her. She made out a few words, though, which were filledin, in another style of caligraphy. These words were— ‘* Fifteen guineas a week.” Vifteen guineas a week! What did that mean? Could it be possible that such a salary was guing to_ be hers ? A dreadful suspicion passed through her mind a moment afterwards. Was her talent worth fifteen guineas? What would she be expected to do? Could she do it ? There was no time to go into any explanation, how- ever. Neither was there any opportunity. She was on the point of speaking, but, somehow, could not manage to get in a word edgeways. When she had signed her name Aaron rang a Dell standing on the table by his side. A young nan, having the appearance of a lawyer’s clerk, entered the room in answer to the summons. ‘‘ Jackson,’’ said Mr. Heine. *‘ I want you to wit- ness this signature.” The clerk signed his name on the document. ‘* Now,” said Aaron, “ take it at once to the Lord High Chancellor’s office, and have his seal manual attached. That will be—let me see—fifty shillings.” Ite handed the clerk some moncy as he spoke. Then, turning to the manager, he continued— ‘The stamp money and iy fee of two guineas I Suppose you and Miss Mortimer will arrange about on the first pay-day. I need not detain you, my dear, any longer. We will have a chat at teatime.” He opened a door for Rose as he spoke, and she passed out without a word. She was indeed dumbfounded by what had happened. Surely there never was such a house of mystery as this. Mysteries, indeed—it was chock full of them ! When she reached her own room another surprise was awaiting her. The old woman was there, and rose as she entered ‘Well, my dear,” said Mrs. Woodruffe, ‘how do you get on! = Isit all settled ?”’ She had not mentioned the subject before, aud Rose Was surprised. ‘* Yes,”’ she replied slowly, . “it is.” ‘ That’s capital. I hope it’s as good an engage- ment as that of Miriam.” * Miriam! Is she engaged also ?”? ‘* Yes, she has just gone.” I accept the young lady on) —— aa