Here she had to pause for lack of breath; and Dick, who had been pursuing his shirt-stud, which had rolled into the foot-lights, now drew himself up, and in his stage-commanding voice declared the rehearsal to be over. A few of the girls lingered, but they were beckoned away by the others, who saw that the present time was not suitable for the discussion of boots, tights, and dressing-rooms. There was no one left but Leslie, Montgomery, Dick, Kate, and Harding, who, twisting his moustache, watched and listened apparently with the greatest interest. 'Oh, you've no idea what a nice woman she used to be, and is, were it not for that cursed drink,' said Montgomery, with the tears running down his nose. 'You remember her, Leslie, don't you? Isn't what I say true? I never liked a woman so much in my life.' 'You were a friend of hers, then?' said Harding. 'I should think I was.' 'Then you never were--Yes, yes, I understand. A little friendship flavoured with love. Yes, yes. Wears better, perhaps, than the genuine article. What do you think, Leslie?' 'Not bad,' said the prima donna, 'for people with poor appetites. A kind of diet suitable for Lent, I should think.' 'Ah! a title for a short story, or better still for an operetta. What do you think, Montgomery? Shall I do you a book entitled _Lovers in Lent_, or _A Lover's Lent_? and Leslie will--' 'No, I won't. None of your forty days for me.' 'I can't understand how you people can go on talking nonsense with a scene so terrible passing under your eyes,' cried the musician, as he pointed to Kate, who was calling after Dick as she staggered in pursuit of him up the stairs towards the stage-door. 'Well, what do you want me to do?' 'She'll disgrace him in the street.' 'I can't help that. I never interfere in a love affair; and this is evidently the great passion of a life.' Montgomery cast an indignant glance at the novelist and rushed after his friends; but when he arrived at the stage-door he saw the uselessness of his interference.