After Carr had also been introduced to Aurelia, who, however, was still too much absorbed in her tea-gown to take much notice of him, he seemed glad to retreat to a chair by Evelyn, who gave him his tea, and talked pleasantly to him. He was very shy at first, but he soon got used to us, and many were the curious glances shot at him by the rest of the party as tea went on. There was to be a last rehearsal immediately afterwards, so that he might take part in it; and there was a general unacknowledged anxiety on the part of all the actors as to how he would bear that crucial test on which so much depended. I was becoming anxious myself, being in a manner responsible for him. "You're not nervous, are you?" I said, taking him aside when tea was over. "Only act half as well as you did on the steamer and you will do capitally." "Yes, I am nervous," he replied, with a short uneasy laugh. "It is enough to make a fellow nervous to be set down among a lot of people whom he has never seen before--to act a principal part, too. I had no idea it was going to be such a grand affair or I would not have come. I only did it to please you." Of course I knew that, and I tried to reassure him, reminding him that the audience would not be critical, and how grateful every one was to him for coming. "Tell me who some of the people are, will you?" he went on. "Who is that tall man with the fair mustache? He is looking at us now." "That is Charles, the eldest son," I replied; "and the shorter one, with the pleasant face, near the window, is Ralph, his younger brother." "That is a very good-looking girl he is talking to," he remarked. "I did not catch her name." "Hush!" I said. "That is Miss Grant, whom he is engaged to. They have just had a little tiff, and are making it up. He _does_ talk to her a good deal. I have noticed it myself. Such a sweet creature!" "Is she going to act?" "Yes," I replied. "They are going to begin at once. You need not dress. It is not a dress rehearsal." "I think I will go and get my boots off, though," said Carr. "Can you show me where I am?" "I am afraid you are not in the house at all," I said. "The fact is--did not Sir George tell you?" And then I explained. For a moment his face fell, but it cleared instantly, though not before I had noticed it. "You don't mind?" I said, astonished. "You quite understand--" "Of course, of course!" he interrupted. "It is all right, I have a cold, that is all; and I have to sing next week. I shall do very well. Pray don't tell your friends I have a cold. I am sure Sir George is kindness itself, and it might make him uneasy to think I was not in his house."