th the reiteration that exasperates the teacher and the taught. The girls had relapsed into sulkiness, the stage-manager's temper

essed in the ultra-fashionable style of the moment, some very expensively, a few with taste. The exceptions were Mag

, girls.

own heavily on the opening

um-point! Step it

rought the dance to a stop by leav

," she announced defiantly. "I'm lun

place, Miss Mortim

e. I'm

on her way out a voice came fr

appointments. If they're to interfere with your work h

in the direction of

Mr. De Freyne? Well, I

le complacently regarding his theatrical seraglio. All the girls were pretty, or if not pretty, showy. Some had been selected for their figures, some for their faces, some for both. No duchess, not even a fashionable duchess, was

which period the tired stage-manager dismissed the chorus for the

Step up to my room before you go

ne was sufficiently unusual to fill them with dismay. He was not in

to the front of the house and entered the managerial off

of a show," he told them. "I can't

y this curt rebuke to make any

t out. "How do you expect us to do it on th

your resources," was

gs, food, boots, and all the rest of it, and figure out how little we've got left to bu

howing no resentment at this tirade. "You silly

worry," said Maggy. She was afraid of De Fr

all. The ladies of my chorus have got to be dressed decently off the stage as well

hey had passed out of the sta

," said Alexandra in a

nd turn again-our dresses. I'll have a go at yours t

hite velvet. An effete-looking youth and the girl who h

followed them

's anything in i

wh

lat, money, pet dog, car, week-

nt to think

e're standing out for. No one thinks any the better of us for i

it. Talking makes

o more than talk.

odgings, where half a tin of sardines was waiting to be consumed. Neither had had anything to eat since early morning. And when the

t wait. We shan't be home till past two

of-" Alexandra

to temptation. Deprivation has this effect. De Freyne, lunching expensively at the Savoy, recognizing here and there approved members of his chorus and their c

e marble-topped tables. A

coffee, rolls

Alexandra

eak-and-kidney puddings,"

ndant went off to

's startled eyes. H

e. I don't care. I'm going to pay, and if I don't go bust tha