As far as appearance went, she was in every way a contrast to beautiful, stately Evarne, with her aristocratic bearing, yet there was already a bond of sympathy between the two girls, and in less than five minutes they were forming a kind of duet to complain of the perfidious behaviour of the Punters. "It's really perfectly scandalous," declared Jessie Kennedy. "They promised me the rehearsals were to begin ten days ago. They've got no right to get their company together--or almost together--like this, until they were really going to make a start. And to bring you all the way down from London too! I suppose they paid your fare?" "Yes, they did that, or I couldn't have come. Still, it's a great shame. They must know people generally can't afford to live in idleness like this. Yet what can we do?" "Well, I shall accept another engagement in a couple of days if they don't begin, and so I shall tell them." "What part have you got?" "I understudy you, I believe, but otherwise I'm not actually in the play itself. I'm the pianist. Of course, we're only a 'fit-up,' and don't have an orchestra, but I'm at the piano all the time between the acts, and I play soft music during the love scenes, the death-beds, and the visions." "Then I should fancy you're kept very busy?" "Yes, there is plenty for me to do, but I don't mind that. I only want to start and do it." "I wonder how the remainder of the company is taking this miserable idleness? Do you know any of them?" "Oh yes; nearly all, more or less. One, Harry Douglas, lives in my street, and he and I have done double turns at music halls. He's got a voice like a seraph. He's the most glorious tenor you ever heard. He's limes-man in this company." "Do we have limelight, then?" "Rather, where 'Highland Mary' appears as a vision, and one or two other places." "And what does Mr. Douglas think of it all?" "It doesn't matter so much to him. He's working in a carpenter's shop until we start." "Fancy! Can't he do a lot of things!" "But you should just hear him sing. Oh, my! It's angels! It is really!" CHAPTER XIX NEW FRIENDS Jessie Kennedy turned out to be a very companionable little person, and after this first interview the two girls spent a good deal of time with each other.