The call for Lottie and Oswin was determined, so after the soldiers had called out their favourite officers, Oswin brought the girl forward, and the enthusiasm was very great. Lottie then went off, and for a few moments Markham remained alone upon the stage. He was most heartily applauded, and, after acknowledging the compliment, he was just stepping back, when from the centre of the seats a man's voice came, loud and clear: “Bravo, old boy! you're a trump wherever you turn up.” There was a general moving of heads, and some laughter in the front rows. But Oswin Markham looked from where he was standing on the stage down to the place whence that voice seemed to come. He neither laughed nor smiled, only stepped back behind the curtain. The stage was now crowded with the actors and their friends; everybody was congratulating everybody else. Lottie was in the highest spirits. “Could anything have been more successful?” she cried again to Oswin Markham. He looked at her without answering for some moments. “I don't know,” he said at last. “Successful? perhaps so.” “What on earth do you mean?” she asked; “are you afraid of the Natal critics?” “No, I can't say I am.” “Of what then?” “There is a person at the door who wishes to speak to you, Mr. Markham,” said one of the servants coming up to Oswin. “He says he doesn't carry cards, but you will see his name here,” and he handed Oswin an envelope. Oswin Markham read the name on the envelope and crushed it into his pocket, saying to the servant: “Show the--gentleman up to the room where I dressed.” So Miss Lottie did not become aware of the origin of Mr. Markham's doubt as to the success of the great drama _Throne or Spouse_. CHAPTER XXXII. Good my lord, what is your cause of distemper? You do surely bar the door upon your own liberty if you deny your griefs to your friend. ... tempt him with speed aboard; Delay it not; I'll have him hence to-night. Indeed this counsellor Is now most still, most secret, and most grave, Who was in life a foolish prating knave. This sudden sending him away must seem Deliberate.--_Hamlet._ |IN the room where he had assumed the dress of the part he had just played, Oswin Markham was now standing idle, and without making any attempt to remove the colour from his face or the streaks from his eyebrows. He was still in the dress of the Prince when the door was opened and a man entered the room eagerly.