"
"Well, there's a difference somehow, Nina," said he, "and I think Miss
Burgoyne had better begin and copy you."
For a swift instant she raised her eyes; she was more than pleased. But
she said nothing--indeed, she had now to go on the stage. And if he had
contrasted her appearance favorably with that of Miss Burgoyne, he was
now inclined to give a similar verdict with regard to her acting. It
certainly wanted the self-confidence of long experience and also the
emphasis and exaggeration of comedy-opera; it was not nearly impudent
enough for the upper gallery; but it was graceful and natural to a
degree that surprised him. As for her voice, that was incomparably
better than Miss Burgoyne's; it was a fresh, sympathetic, finely
modulated voice that had been uninjured by excessive training or
excessive work. Lionel was quite proud of his _protegee_; unseen, here
in the wings, he could applaud as loudly as any; if Nina did not hear,
she must have been deaf. And when she came off at the end of the
act--or, rather, immediately after the recall, which was as enthusiastic
as the soul of actor or actress could desire--there was no stint to his
praise; and Nina's heartfelt pleasure on hearing this warm commendation
shone through all her stage make-up.
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