'DEAR MISS D'ARCY,--In recognition of your beauty and the graceful way in which you play your part, I beg to enclose you a ring, which I hope to see on your finger to-night. If you wear it on the right hand I shall understand that you will allow me to wait for you at the stage-door. If, however, you decide that my little offering suits better your left hand, I shall understand that I am unfortunate. '(Signed) AN ADMIRER.' 'Who left this here?' asked Kate of the doorkeeper. 'A tall young gent--a London man, I should think, by the cut of him, but he left no name.' 'A very pretty ring, anyhow,' said a girl, picking it up. 'Not bad,' said another; 'I got one like it last year at Sheffield,' 'But what shall I do with it?' asked Kate. 'Why, wear it, of course,' answered two or three voices simultaneously. 'Wear it!' she repeated, and feeling very much like one in possession of stolen goods, she hurried on to the stage, intending to ask Dick what she was to do with the ring. She found him disputing with the property man, and it was some time before he could bring himself to forget the annoyance that a scarcity of daggers had occasioned him. At last, however, with a violent effort of will, he took the note from her hand and read it through. When he had mastered the contents a good-natured smile illumined his chub-cheeked face, and he said: 'Well, what do you want to say? I think the ring a very nice one; let's see how it looks on your hand,' 'You don't mean that I'm to wear it?' 'And why not? I think it's a very nice ring,' the manager said unaffectedly. 'Wear it first on one hand and then on the other, dear; that will puzzle him,' 'But supposing he comes to meet me at the stage-door?' 'Well, what will that matter? We'll go out together; I'll see that he keeps his distance. But now run up and get dressed.' 'Now then, come in,' cried Dolly, who was walking about in a pair of blue stockings. 'You're as bashful as an undergraduate.' A roar of laughter greeted this sally, and feeling humiliated, she began to dress. 'You haven't heard Dolly's story of the undergraduate?' shouted a girl from the other end of the room. 'No, and don't want to,' replied Kate, indignantly. 'The conversation in this room is perfectly horrid. I shall ask Mr. Lennox to change me. And really, Miss Goddard, I think you might manage to dress yourself with a little more decency.' 'Well, if you call this dress,' exclaimed Dolly, fanning herself. 'I suppose one must take off one's stockings to please you. You're as bad as----' Dolly was the wit of No. 6 dressing-room, and having obtained her laugh she sought to conciliate Kate. To achieve this she began by putting on her tights. 'Now, Mrs. Lennox,' she said, 'don't be angry; if I've a good figure I can't help it. And I do want to hear about the diamond ring.'