Page:Gissing - The Nether World, vol. II, 1889.djvu/218

 This was Miss Walcott’s part, now Grace Danver’s. Clara looked at him with mistrust; her breath did not come quite naturally.

“How long would it take you, do you think,” pursued the other, “to get the words?”

“An hour or two; I all but know them.”

The manager took a few paces this way and that.

“We go on to Bolton tomorrow morning. Could you undertake to be perfect for the afternoon rehearsal?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’ll try you. Here’s a copy you can take. I make no terms, you understand; it’s an experiment. We’ll have another talk tomorrow. Good-night.”

She left the room. Near the door stood Grace Danver and another actress, both of whom were bidden to wait upon the manager before leaving. Clara passed under the fire of their eyes, but scarcely observed them.

Rain drenched her between the theatre and her lodgings, for she did not think of putting up an umbrella; she thought indeed of