hall and then the vision of a pretty girl at the doorway, accompanied by a man and two women.
"Hallo, Jack! You are home before me, then."
"Bella, my dear, I must introduce you to an old friend of mine: Meynell, my wife."
Bella bowed a little coldly.
"My sister, Mr. Meynell," she said, seeing that the doctor was looking straight over Saidie's head. "My sister, Miss Saidie Blackall; daresay you have seen her from the front before." Then, looking towards the open door, "Come in, come in. Jack, I think you have already met Mr. and Mrs. Doss."
Chetwynd looked terribly annoyed; but there was no choice left for him but to extend his hand and mutter something to the effect that he had not had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of his wife's friends before.
"Glad to know you, sir—not one of us—not in the profession, I think?"
"No—er—no," responded Chetwynd feebly.
"And the 'appier you, take my tip for it. The wear and tear of the 'alls, sir, no one but a pro can estimate."
Here his wife, an over-dressed, showy individual a shade more of a cockney than himself, interposed with a coarse laugh.
"Get along, you jolly old humbug, you! You couldn't live away from them—could he, dear?" addressing Saidie, who was maliciously enjoying the effect that their sudden entrance had produced upon her brother-in-law and his friend.
"Ah; you think so, d'ye? that's all you know about it. Give me a nice quiet 'public' with a hold-established trade and me and the missis cosy-like in the private bar; that's the life for yours truly when he can take the farewell ben."
"How soon are your friends going to take their leave, Bella?" asked Chetwynd in an undertone to his wife.
But Bella turned her back upon him without deigning to give him so much as a word.
"I think I had the pleasure of seeing you perform the other night, Mrs. Doss,"
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