On the present occasion the only handwriting that arrested
him for a second was Nina's; and some sort of half-understood
compunction made him open her letter. Well, it was not a letter; it was
merely a little printed form, such as is put about the stalls and boxes
of a theatre when an announcement has to be made. This announcement read
as follows:
"NOTICE: In consequence of the sudden indisposition of MISS
BURGOYNE, the part of 'Grace Mainwaring' will be sustained this
evening by MISS ANTONIA ROSS"
--while above these printed words Nina had written, in a rather
trembling hand: "_Ah, Leo, if you were only here to-night!_" Apparently
she had scribbled this brief message before the performance; perhaps
haste or nervousness might account for the uncertain writing. So Nina
was to have her great opportunity after all, he said to himself, as he
went joyfully down-stairs to join the brilliant assemblage in the
drawing-room. Poor Nina!--he had of late almost forgotten her existence.
CHAPTER X.
AIVRON AND GEINIG.
Honnor Cunyngham was quite as proud as Lionel himself that he had killed
a stag; for in a measure he was her pupil; at all events it was at her
instigation that he was devoting himself to these athletic sports and
pastimes, and so far withdrawing himself from the trivialities and
affectations of the serious little band of amateurs.
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