Rose Mortimer; Or, The Ballet-Girl's Revenge — page 99: what you’re looking at

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

** No, but—” “There, there. Suppose we lef it drop.” *€ You are so good.” “Am I. Well, you don’t know me yet. But I’ve no time to hear all these flattering things that you’ve got to tell me. I’m busy.” And with this she darted off to the parlour with two jugs of foaming beer, which she had drawn whilst speaking. In an instant she was back again. “Lor ! what rum people these are,’’ she said. declare they quite perplexed me.” “My parlour customers. It’s the manager and the head man of the new theatrical company that opens to-morrow night at the Theatre Royal. Rose pricked up her ears at this. The Theatre Royal ?”’ she asked. te Yes.” “Of this place ?” “Of the town.” *“Ts it only just opened ?”’ ‘Just re-opened. The last man that had it failed. In fact, it never did pay; only old Nym managed somehow to make a decent living out of it. He never paid the salaries, though, and some people declare that to be the cause of his success. I can’t say.” Rose was not thinking greatly of the hotess’s words. An idea had occurred to her, A chance here offered itself, and, pay or no pay, she would risk it, if possible. At any rate she would most probably be enabled to live. Presently, whilst the youthful landlady was busy- ing herself about, Rose strolled into the parlour. The entrance was screened off by a dingy green baize curtain, probably put there to keep away draughts, and her appearance was unnoticed by the occupants of the parlour. As she entered, the manager and his “‘heavy lead ”’ were engaged in an earnest but agitated conversation, of which we give a brief portion. ‘Well, Chowler,’? said one of them in sonorous bass tones. ‘‘ Unless she does turn up before re- hearsal we must turn 7¢ up.” “Turn up what ?”’ demanded the person addressed as Chowler, in a penny-trumpet voice. ‘‘ Not open with Richard the Third ?”’ “cs No.’’ “Pooh, pooh. Cut out her part.” “ What cut out Lady Anne ?”’ ‘ T3 Yes,” ‘Nonsense, Chowler—might as well leave out Gloster.” ** Well,”’ said Chowler, ‘‘ I have seen that done be- fore now.” | ** May be, but hark ye, Chowler, I haven’t done it, and, what’s more, I don’t mean to do it. By Saint Paul! I would sooner cut out ‘ My horse ! my horse !’ ”’ * And you’d get goosed.” “Never. You don’t know me yet, Chowler. I revel in the subtleties of character. I like hidden depths.’’ “Yes,” said Chowler, with a squeaking laugh. ‘‘ So hidden that very few persons get to the bottom of them.”’ The heavy man would hot appear disconcerted at his sally. He Jaughed with Chowler, and heartily. manager’s joke ! Suddenly he stopped short, with such an abrupt termination to his boisterous hilarity that its falseness was apparent. *“ Well, Chowler,”’ he said seriously. ‘‘ No matter. Once for all, if Miss Lotty Siddings don’t show up at rehearsal I don’t go on for Gloster to-morrow night.” ery It was a en OTMKENOO THE BALLET-GIRL’S REVENGE. = oe a a 93 The manager was in despair. He begged, prayed, and threatened by turns, but allin vain. The heavy lead was inexorable. *¢ Then what do you propose ?” asked the manager. “‘ We must open with ‘ The Stranger.’ ” “ And Mrs. Haller ?” ‘Oh, Miss Wilkins is up in the part.” “That won’t do,’ said the manager. ‘* Wilkins aint bad ata distance. Butthat glass eye of hers does for everything it touches.” “Then ‘George Barnwell.’ ” “No. Where’s Millwood?” saith the manager. ‘‘If we don’t open with Richard III., then we’ll do ‘The Mountain Gorge; or, The Hunchback of the Torrent.? ”” ‘What!’ exclaimed the heavy lead, aghast. “Cut the legitimate ? ”’ | ce Yes,” “* My dear Mr. Chowler, you get really absurd.” ** Thank you.” ‘* Excuse my little personalities.” “Dear, dear; don’t mention it. Quite agreeable.” ‘* But there’s one little matter you have overlooked. Where’s your boy?” | ‘What boy?” “Why, Juan, the dumb boy, that Lotty Siddings is down for.”’ **Oh! Wilkins must double it.” ** No, hang it! Chowler,’’ exclaimed the other, ‘* she can’t double two characters that are on together.” *“ No, no; of course not. I never thought of that. Then we'll cut it out.” “*Cut out the dumb boy. The thing’s worse than -| impossible.” ‘Well, it is odd, ain’t it? Hangit! itisafix. Ill fine Siddings a week’s salary when she does turn up.” “Good,” said the heavy man. “ It can go off the three weeks’ arrears.”’ Chowler coughed a short dry cough. The allusion was unpleasant. At this moment Rose advanced into the room to where tle theatrical gentlemen were sitting over their beer. “ Hullo!’ exclaimed both simultaneously. ‘‘ Excuse me,’’ said Rose, ‘‘ but I have overheard something of what you have said.”’ ce Oh ! 3) ‘* Listening.”’ Rose coloured slightly. “‘ Unintentionally—yes,’’she returned. ‘‘ But as you are in some difficulty, I came to offer my services.”’ “In what line ?’”’ « Anything I could do.” “ But what have you done before? ” Rose hesitated. She scarcely liked to say she had been in the ballet. “‘ Have you been on the boards?’ asked Chowler. “Oh, yes. I have danced.”’ The manager pricked up his ears, and grew in- terested at once. ** You dance?” <© Y.e8, S1ts2” ‘* Fancy dances? ”’ “Some, All ballet practice.” “ But hornpipes ,jigs, tallygorums, and cachucas ? ”’ *¢ Yes, I can,” ‘¢ And do you sing ?” era ‘little. The manager and his heavy lead exchanged glances. Rose watched them earnestly, and saw that their looks were of great satisfaction, and said clearly enough ‘‘ Here is the girl for our money,’ ‘‘ Haye you aquick study ?’’ demanded the manager.