TippingTheVelvet英文原著-bySarahWaters

TippingtheVelvet

BySarahWaters

Chapter1

HaveyouevertastedaWhitstableoyster?Ifyouhave,youwillrememberit.SomequirkoftheKentishcoastlinemakesWhitstablenatives-astheyareproperlycalled-thelargestandthejuiciest,thesavouriestyetthesubtlest,oystersinthewholeofEngland.Whitstableoystersare,quiterightly,famous.TheFrench,whoareknownfortheirsensitivepalates,regularlycrosstheChannelforthem;theyareshipped,inbarrelsofice,tothedining-tablesofHamburgandBerlin.Why,theKinghimself,Iheard,makesspecialtripstoWhitstablewithMrsKeppel,toeatoystersuppersinaprivatehotel;andasfortheoldQueen-shedinedonanativeaday(orsotheysay)tillthedayshedied.DidyouevergotoWhitstable,andseetheoyster-parloursthere?Myfatherkeptone;Iwasborninit-doyourecallanarrow,weather-boardedhouse,paintedaflakingblue,half-waybetweentheHighStreetandtheharbour?Doyourememberthebulgingsignthathungabovethedoor,thatsaidthatAstley'sOysters,theBestinKentweretobehadwithin?Didyou,perhaps,pushatthatdoor,andstepintothedim,low-ceilinged,fragrantroombeyondit?Canyourecallthetableswiththeirchequeredcloths-thebilloffarechalkedonaboard-thespirit-lamps,thesweatingslabsofbutter?4

Wereyouservedbyagirlwitharosycheek,andasaucymanner,andcurls?Thatwasmysister,Alice.Orwasitaman,rathertallandstooping,withasnowyapronfallingfromtheknotinhisneck-tietothebowinhisboots?Thatwasmyfather.Didyousee,asthekitchendoorswungtoandfro,aladystandfrowningintothecloudsofsteamthatrosefromapanofbubblingoystersoup,orasizzlinggridiron?Thatwasmymother.Andwasthereathersideaslender,white-faced,unremarkable-lookinggirl,withthesleevesofherdressrolleduptoherelbows,andalockoflankandcolourlesshairforeverfallingintohereye,andherlipscontinuallymovingtothewordsofsomestreet-singer'sormusic-hallsong?

Thatwasme.

LikeMollyMaloneintheoldballad,Iwasafishmonger,becausemyparentswere.Theykepttherestaurant,andtheroomsaboveit:Iwasraisedanoyster-girl,andsteepedinalltheflavoursofthetrade.MyfirstfewchildishstepsItookaroundvatsofsleepingnativesandbarrelsofice;beforeIwasevergivenapieceofchalkandaslate,Iwas

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handedanoyster-knifeandinstructedinitsuse;whileIwasstilllispingoutmyalphabetattheschoolmaster'sknee,Icouldnameyouthecontentsofanoyster-cook'skitchen-couldsamplefishwithablindfoldon,andtellyoutheirvariety.Whitstablewasalltheworldtome,Astley'sParlourmyownparticularcountry,oyster-juicemymedium.AlthoughIdidn'tlongbelievethestorytoldtomebyMother-thattheyhadfoundmeasababyinanoyster-shell,andagreedycustomerhadalmosteatenmeforlunch-foreighteenyearsIneverdoubtedmyownoyster-ishsympathies,neverlookedfarbeyondmyfather'skitchenforoccupation,orforlove.

Itwasacuriouskindoflife,mine,evenbyWhitstablestandards;butitwasnotadisagreeableorevenaterriblyhardone.Ourworkingdaybeganatseven,andendedtwelvehourslater;andthroughallthosehoursmydutieswerethesame.WhileMothercooked,andAliceandmyfatherserved,Isat

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uponahighstoolatthesideofavatofnatives,andscrubbed,andrinsed,andpliedtheoyster-knife.Somepeopleliketheiroystersraw;andforthemyourjobiseasiest,foryouhavemerelytopickoutadozennativesfromthebarrel,swillthebrinefromthem,andplacethem,withapieceofparsleyorcress,uponaplate.Butforthosewhotooktheiroystersstewed,orfried-orbaked,orscalloped,orputinapie-mylaboursweremoredelicate.ThenImustopeneachoyster,andbeardit,andtransferittoMother'scooking-potwithallofitssavouryfleshintact,andnoneofitsliquorspilledortainted.Sinceasupper-platewillholdadozenfish;sinceoyster-teasarecheap;andsinceourParlourwasabusyone,withroomforfiftycustomersatonce-well,youmaycalculateforyourselfthevastnumbersofoysterswhichpassed,eachday,beneathmyprisingknife;andyoumightimagine,too,therednessandthesorenessandthesheersaltysoddennessofmyfingersatthecloseofeveryafternoon.Evennow,twodecadesandmoresinceIputasidemyoyster-knifeandquitmyfather'skitchenforever,Ifeelaghostly,sympathetictwingeinmywristandfinger-jointsatthesightofafishmonger'sbarrel,orthesoundofanoyster-man'scry;andstill,sometimes,IbelieveIcancatchthescentofliquorandbrinebeneathmythumb-nail,andinthecreasesofmypalm.Ihavesaidthattherewasnothinginmylife,whenIwasyoung,butoysters;butthatisnotquitetrue.Ihadfriendsandcousins,asanygirlmusthavewhogrowsupinasmalltowninalarge,oldfamily.IhadmysisterAlice-mydearestfriendofall-withwhomIsharedabedroomandabed,andwhoheardallmysecrets,andtoldmeallofhers.I

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evenhadakindofbeau:aboynamedFreddy,whoworkedadredgingsmackbesidemybrotherDavyandmyUncleJoeonWhitstableBay.

AndlastofallIhadafondness-youmightsay,akindofpassion-forthemusichall;andmoreparticularlyformusic-hallsongsandthesingingofthem.IfyouhavevisitedWhitstableyouwillknowthatthiswasaratherinconvenient

passion,forthetownhasneithermusichallnortheatre-onlyasolitarylamp-postbeforetheDukeofCumberlandHotel,whereminstreltroupesoccasionallysing,andthePunch-and-Judyman,inAugust,setshisbooth.ButWhitstableisonlyfifteenminutesawaybytrainfromCanterbury;andheretherewasamusichall-theCanterburyPalaceofVarieties-wheretheshowswerethreehourslong,andtheticketscostsixpence,andtheactswerethebesttobeseen,theysaid,inallofKent.

ThePalacewasasmalland,Isuspect,arathershabbytheatre;butwhenIseeitinmymemoriesIseeitstillwithmyoyster-girl'seyes-1seethemirror-glasswhichlinedthewalls,thecrimsonplushupontheseats,theplastercupids,paintedgold,whichswoopedabovethecurtain.Likeouroyster-house,ithaditsownparticularscent-thescent,Iknownow,ofmusichallseverywhere-thescentofwoodandgrease-paintandspillingbeer,ofgasandoftobaccoandofhair-oil,allcombined.ItwasascentwhichasagirlIloveduncritically;laterIhearditdescribed,bytheatremanagersandartistes,asthesmelloflaughter,theveryodourofapplause.LaterstillIcametoknowitastheessencenotofpleasure,butofgrief.

That,however,istogetaheadofmystory.

IwasmoreintimatethanmostgirlswiththecoloursandscentsoftheCanterburyPalace?intheperiod,atleast,ofwhichIamthinking,thatfinalsummerinmyfather'shouse,whenIbecameeighteen-becauseAlicehadabeauwhoworkedthere,aboynamedTonyReeves,whogotusseatsatknock-downpricesorforfree.TonywasthenephewofthePalace'smanager,thecelebratedTrickyReeves,andthereforesomethingofacatchforourAlice.Myparentsmistrustedhimatfirst,thinkinghim'rapid'becauseheworkedinatheatre,andworecigarsbehindhisears,andtalkedgliblyofcontracts,London,andchampagne.ButnoonecoulddislikeTonyforlong,hewassolarge-heartedandeasyandgood;andlikeeveryotherboywhocourtedher,headoredmysister,andwasreadytobekindtousallonheraccount.

ThusitwasthatAliceandIweresofrequentlytobefound

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onaSaturdaynight,tuckingourskirtsbeneathourseatsandcallingoutthechorusestothegayestsongs,inthebestandmostpopularshows,attheCanterburyPalace.Liketherestoftheaudience,wewerediscriminating.Wehadourfavouriteturns-artisteswewatchedandshoutedfor;songswebeggedtohavesungandre-sungagainandagainuntilthesinger'sthroatwasdry,andshe-formoreoftenthannotitwastheladysingerswhomAliceandIlovedbest-couldsingnomore,butonlysmileandcurtsey.Andwhentheshowwasover,andwehadpaidourrespectstoTonyinhisstuffylittleofficebehindtheticket-seller'sbooth,wewouldcarrythetunesawaywithus.WewouldsingthemonthetraintoWhitstable-andsometimesothers,returninghomefromthesameshowasmerryaswe,wouldsingthemwithus.Wewouldwhisperthemintothedarknessaswelayinbed,wewoulddreamourdreamstothebeatoftheirverses;andwewouldwakenextmorninghummingthemstill.We'dserveabitofmusic-hallglamour,then,withourfishsuppers-Alicewhistlingasshecarriedplatters,andmakingthecustomerssmiletohearher;me,perchedonmyhighstoolbesidemybowlofbrine,singingtotheoystersthatIscrubbedandprisedandbearded.MothersaidIshouldbeonthestagemyself.

Whenshesaidit,however,shelaughed;andsodidI.ThegirlsIsawintheglowofthefootlights,thegirlswhosesongsIlovedtolearnandsing,theyweren'tlikeme.Theyweremorelikemysister:theyhadcherrylips,andcurlsthatdancedabouttheirshoulders;theyhadbosomsthatjutted,andelbowsthatdimpled,andankles-whentheyshowedthem-asslimandasshapelyasbeer-bottles.Iwastall,andratherlean.Mychestwasflat,myhairdull,myeyesadrabandanuncertainblue.Mycomplexion,tobesure,wasperfectlysmoothandclear,andmyteethwereverywhite;butthese-inourfamily,atleast-werecountedunremarkable,forsinceweallpassedourdaysinamiasmaofsimmeringbrine,wewereallasbleachedandblemishlessascuttlefish.

No,girlslikeAliceweremeanttodanceuponagildedstage,skirtedinsatin,hailedbycupids;andgirlslikemeweremadetositinthegallery,darkandanonymous,andwatchthem.

Orso,anyway,Ithoughtthen.

TheroutineIhavedescribed-theroutineofprisingandbeardingandcookingandserving,andSaturday-nightvisitstothemusichall-istheonethatIremembermostfrommygirlhood;butitwas,ofcourse,onlyawinterone.FromMaytoAugust,whenBritishnativesmustbelefttospawn,thedredgingsmackspulldowntheirsailsorputto

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seainsearchofotherquarry;andoyster-parloursalloverEnglandareobliged,inconsequence,tochangetheirmenusorclosetheirdoors.Thebusinessthatmyfatherdidbetweenautumnandspring,thoughexcellentenough,wasnotsogoodthathecouldaffordtoshuthisshopthroughoutthesummerandtakeaholiday;but,likemanyWhitstablefamilieswhosefortunesdependedupontheseaanditsbounty,therewasanoticeableeasingofourlaboursinthewarmermonths,akindofshiftingintoaslower,looser,gayerkey.Therestaurantgrewlessbusy.Weservedcrabandplaiceandturbotandherrings,ratherthanoysters,andthefilletingwaskinderworkthantheendlessscrubbingandshellingofthewintermonths.Wekeptourwindowsraised,andthekitchendoorthrownopen;wewereneitherboiledalivebythesteamofthecooking-pots,nornumbedandfrozenbybarrelsofoyster-ice,aswewereinwinter,butgentlycooledbythebreezes,andsoothedbythesoundofflutteringcanvasandringingpulleysthatdriftedintoourkitchenfromWhitstableBay.

ThesummerinwhichIturnedeighteenwasawarmone,andgrewwarmerastheweeksadvanced.FordaysatatimeFatherlefttheshopforMothertorun,andsetupacockle-and-whelkstallonthebeach.AliceandIwerefreetovisittheCanterburyPalaceeverynightifwecaredto;butjustasnoonethatJulywantedtoeatfriedfishandlobstersoupinourstuffy

Parlour,sotheverythoughtofpassinganhourortwoinglovesandbonnet,beneaththeflaringgasoliersofTrickyReeves'sairlessmusichall,madeusgaspanddroopandprickle.

Therearemoresimilaritiesbetweenafishmonger'stradeandamusic-hallmanager'sthanyoumightthink.WhenFatherchangedhisstocktosuithispatrons'dulledandover-heatedpalates,sodidTricky.Hepaidhalfofhisperformersoff,andbroughtinahostofnewartistesfromthemusichallsofChatham,MargateandDover;mostcleverlyofall,hesecuredaone-weekcontractwitharealcelebrity,fromLondon:GullySutherland?oneofthebestcomicsingersinthebusiness,andaguaranteedhall-fillereveninthehottestofhotKentishsummers.

AliceandIvisitedthePalaceontheveryfirstnightofGullySutherland'sweek.Bythistimewehadanarrangementwiththeladyintheticket-booth:wegaveheranodandasmileaswearrived,thensaunteredpastherwindowandchoseanyseatinthehallbeyondthatwefancied.Usually,thiswassomewhereinthegallery.Icouldneverunderstandtheattractionofthestallsticket;itseemedunnaturaltometoseatoneself

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belowthestage,andhavetopeerupattheartistesfromalevelsomewhereneartheirankles,throughthefaint,shimmeringhazeofheatthatroseabovethefootlights.Thecirclegaveabetterview,butthegallery,thoughfurtheraway,tomymindgavethebestofall;andthereweretwoseatsinthefrontrow,attheverycentreofthegallery,thatAliceandIparticularfavoured.Hereyouknewyourselftobenotjustatashowbutinatheatre:youcaughttheshapeofthestageandthesweepoftheseats;andyoumarvelledtoseeyourneighbours'faces,andtoknowyourowntobeliketheirs-allqueerlylitbytheglowofthefootlights,andadampatthelip,andwithagrinuponit,likethatofademonatsomehellishrevue.

ItwascertainlyashotashellintheCanterburyPalaceonGullySutherland'sopeningnight-sohotthat,whenAliceandIleanedoverthegalleryrailtogazeattheaudiencebelow,

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weweremetbyablastoftobacco-andsweat-scentedair,thatmadeusreelandcough.Thetheatre,asTony'sunclehadcalculated,wasalmostfull;yetitwasstrangelyhushed.Peoplespokeinmurmurs,ornotatall.Whenonelookedfromthegallerytothecircleandthestalls,onesawonlytheflapofhatsandprogrammes.Theflappingdidn'tstopwhentheorchestrastruckupitsfewbarsofovertureandthehouselightsdimmed;butitslowedalittle,andpeoplesatupratherstraighterintheirseats.Thehushoffatiguebecameasilenceofexpectation.

ThePalacewasanold-fashionedmusichalland,likemanysuchplacesinthe1880s,stillemployedachairman.This,ofcourse,wasTrickyhimself:hesatatatablebetweenthestallsandtheorchestraandintroducedtheacts,andcalledfororderifthecrowdbecametoorowdy,andledusintoaststotheQueen.Hehadatop-hatandagavel-Ihaveneverseenachairmanwithoutagavel-andamugofporter.Onhistablestoodacandle:thiswaskeptlitforaslongastherewereartistesuponthestage,butitwasextinguishedfortheinterval,andattheshow'sclose.

Trickywasaplain-facedmanwithaveryhandsomevoice-avoicelikethesoundofaclarinet,atonceliquidandpenetrating,andlovelytolistento.OnthenightofSutherland'sfirstperformancehewelcomedustohisshowandpromisedusanevening'sentertainmentwewouldneverforget.Hadwelungs?heasked.Wemustbepreparedtousethem!Hadwefeet,andhands?Wemustmakereadytostamp,andclap!Hadwesides?Theywouldbesplit!Tears?Wewouldshedbucketsofthem!Eyes?

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'Stretch'em,now,inwonder!Orchestra,please.Limes-men,ifyouwill.'Hestruckthetablewithhisgavel-clack!-sothatthecandle-flamedipped.'Igiveyou,themarvellous,themusical,thevery,verymerry,Merry"-hestruckthetableagain-'Randalls!'Thecurtainquivered,thenrose.Therewasaseasidebackdroptothestageand,upontheboardsthemselves,realsand;

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andoverthisstrolledfourgayfiguresinholidaygear:twoladies-onedark,onefair-withparasols;andtwotallgents,onewithaukuleleonastrap.Theysang'AlltheGirlsareLovelybytheSeaside",verynicely;thentheukuleleplayerdidasolo,andtheladiesliftedtheirskirtsforaspotofsoft-shoedancingonthesand.Forafirstturn,theyweregood.Wecheeredthem;andTrickythankedusverygraciouslyforourappreciation.Thenextactwasacomedian,thenextamentalist-aladyineveningdressandgloves,whostoodblindfoldeduponthestagewhileherhusbandmovedamongtheaudiencewithaslate,invitingpeopletowritenumbersandnamesuponitwithapieceofchalk,forhertoguess.

'Imaginethenumberfloatingthroughtheairinflamesofscarlet,'saidthemanimpressively,'andsearingitswayintomywife'sbrain,throughherbrow.'Wefrownedandsquintedatthestage,andtheladystaggeredalittle,andraisedherhandstohertemples.

ThePower,"shesaid,'itisverystrongtonight.Ah,Ifeelitburning!'Afterthistherewasanacrobatictroupe-threemeninspangleswhoturnedsomersaultsthroughhoops,andstoodononeanother'sshoulders.Attheclimaxoftheiracttheyformedakindofhumanloop,androlledaboutthestagetoatunefromtheorchestra.Weclappedatthat;butitwastoohotforacrobatics,andtherewasageneralshufflingandwhisperingthroughoutthisact,asboysweresentwithorderstothebar,andreturnedwithbottlesandglassesandmugsthathadtobehanded,noisily,downtherows,pastheadsandlapsandgraspingfingers.IglancedatAlice:shehadremovedherhatandwasfanningherselfwithit,andhercheekswereveryred.Ipushedmyownlittlebonnettothebackofmyhead,leanedupontherailbeforemewithmychinuponmyknuckles,andclosedmyeyes.IheardTrickyriseandcallforsilencewithhisgavel.'Ladiesandgentlemen,"hecried,'alittletreatforyounow.

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Alittlebitofheleganceandtop-drawerstyle.Ifyou'vechampagneinyourglasses'-therewasanironicalcheeringatthis-'raisethemnow.Ifyou'vebeer-why,beer'sgotbubbles,don'tit?Raisethattoo!Aboveall,raiseyourvoices,asIgivetoyou,directfromthePhoenixTheatre,Dover,ourveryownKentishswell,ourdiminutiveFavershammasher...MissKitty'-clack!-'Butler!'

Therewasaburstofhandclappingandafewdampwhoops.Theorchestrastruckupwithsomejollynumber,andIheardthecreakandwhisperoftherisingcurtain.AllunwillinglyIopenedmyeyes-thenIopenedthemwider,andliftedmyhead.Theheat,myweariness,werequiteforgotten.Piercingtheshadowsofthenakedstagewasasingleshaftofrosylimelight,andinthecentreofthistherewasagirl:themostmarvellousgirl-Iknewitatonce!-thatIhadever

seen.

Ofcourse,wehadhadmaleimpersonatorturnsatthePalacebefore;butin1888,intheprovincialhalls,themasheractswerenotthethingstheyaretoday.WhenNellyPowerhadsungTheLastoftheDandies'toussixmonthsbeforeshehadworntightsandbullionfringe,justlikeaballet-girl-onlycarriedacaneandabillycockhattomakeherboyish.KittyButlerdidnotweartightsorspangles.Shewas,asTrickyhadbilledher,akindofperfectWest-Endswell.Sheworeasuit-ahandsomegentleman'ssuit,cuttohersize,andlinedatthecuffsandtheflapswithflashingsilk.Therewasaroseinherlapel,andlavenderglovesatherpocket.Frombeneathherwaistcoatshoneastiff-frontedshirtofsnowywhite,withastand-upcollartwoincheshigh.Aroundthecollarwasawhitebow-tie;andonherheadtherewasatopper.Whenshetookthetopperoff-asshedidnowtosalutetheaudiencewithagay'Hallo!'-onesawthatherhairwasperfectlycropped.

Itwasthehair,Ithink,whichdrewmemost.IfIhadeverseenwomenwithhairasshortashers,itwasbecausetheyhadspenttimeinhospitalorprison;orbecausetheyweremad.TheycouldneverhavelookedlikeKittyButler.Herhairfitted

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L

herheadlikealittlecapthathadbeensewn,justforher,bysomenimble-fingeredmilliner.Iwouldsayitwasbrown;brown,however,istoodullawordforit.Itwas,rather,thekindofbrownyoumighthearsungabout-anut-brown,orarusset.Itwasalmost,perhaps,thecolourofchocolate-butthenchocolatehasnolustre,andthishairshone

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intheblazeofthelimesliketaffeta.Itcurledathertemple,slightly,andoverherears;andwhensheturnedherheadalittletoputherhatbackon,Isawastripofpalefleshatthenapeofherneckwherethecollarendedandthehairlinebeganthat-forallthefireofthehot,hothall-mademeshiver.

Shelooked,Isuppose,likeaveryprettyboy,forherfacewasaperfectoval,andhereyeswerelargeanddarkatthelashes,andherlipswererosyandfull.Herfigure,too,wasboy-likeandslender-yetrounded,vaguelybutunmistakably,atthebosom,thestomach,andthehips,inawaynorealboy'severwas;andhershoes,Inoticedafteramoment,hadtwo-inchheelstothem.Butshestrodelikeaboy,andstoodlikeone,withherfeetfarapartandherhandsthrustcarelesslyintohertrouserpockets,andherheadatanarrogantangle,attheveryfrontofthestage;andwhenshesang,hervoicewasaboy'svoice-sweetandterriblytrue.

Hereffectuponthatover-heatedhallwaswonderful.Likeme,myneighboursallsatup,andgazedatherwithshiningeyes.Hersongswereallwell-chosenones-thingslike'DrinkUp,Boys!',and'SweetheartsandWives',whichthelikesofG.H.Macdermotthadalreadymadefamous,andwithwhichwecouldall,inconsequence,joinin-thoughitwaspeculiarlythrillingtohavethemsungtous,notbyagent,butbyagirl,inneck-tieandtrousers.Inbetweeneachsongsheaddressedherself,inaswaggering,confidentialtone,totheaudience,andexchangedlittlebitsofnonsensewithTrickyReevesathischairman'stable.Herspeakingvoicewaslikehersingingone-strongandhealthy,andwonderfullywarmupontheear.Heraccentwassometimesmusic-hallcockney,sometimestheatrical-genteel,sometimespurebroadKent.

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Hersetlastednolongerthanthecustomaryfifteenminutesorso,butshewascheeredandshoutedbackontothestageattheendofthattimetwiceover.Herfinalsongwasagentleone-aballadaboutrosesandalostsweetheart.Asshesangsheremovedherhatandheldittoherbosom;thenshepulledtheflowerfromherlapelandplaceditagainsthercheek,andseemedtoweepalittle.Theaudience,insympathy,letoutonehugecollectivesigh,andbittheirlipstohearherboyishtonesgrowsuddenlysotender.Allatonce,however,sheraisedhereyesandgazedatusoverherknuckles:wesawthatshewasn't'weepingatall,butsmiling-andthen,suddenly,winking,hugelyandroguishly.Veryswiftlyshesteppedonceagaintothefrontofthestage,andgazedinto

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thestallsfortheprettiestgirl.Whenshefoundher,sheraisedherhandandtherosewentflyingovertheshimmerofthefootlights,overtheorchestra-pit,tolandintheprettygirl'slap.

Wewentwildforherthen.Weroaredandstampedandshe,allgallant,raisedherhattousand,waving,tookherleave.Wecalledforher,buttherewerenomoreencores.Thecurtainfell,theorchestraplayed;Trickystruckhisgaveluponhistable,blewouthiscandle,anditwastheinterval.

Ipeered,blinking,intotheseatsbelow,tryingtocatchsightofthegirlwhohadbeenthrowntheflower.Icouldnotthinkofanythingmorewonderful,atthatmoment,thantoreceivearosefromKittyButler'shand.

IhadgonetothePalace,likeeveryoneelsethatnight,toseeGullySutherland;butwhenhemadehisappearanceatlast-moppinghisbrowwithagiantspottedhandkerchief,complainingabouttheCanterburyheatandsendingtheaudienceintofitsofsweatylaughterwithhiscomicalsongsandhisface-pulling-1foundthat,afterall,Ihadn'ttheheartforhim.IwishedonlythatMissButlerwouldstrideuponthestageagain,tofixuswithherelegant,arrogantgaze-tosingtousaboutchampagne,andshouting'Hurrah!'attheraces.Thethoughtmademerestless.AtlastAlice-whowaslaughingat

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Gully'sgrimacesasloudlyaseverybodyelse-puthermouthtomyear:'What'supwithyou?'

'I'mhot,'Isaid;andthen:'I'mgoingdownstairs.'Andwhileshesatonfortherestoftheturn,Iwentslowlydowntotheemptylobby-theretostandwithmycheekagainstthecoolglassofthedoor,andtosingagain,tomyself,MissButler'ssong,'SweetheartsandWives'.

SoontherecametheroarsandstampsthatmeanttheendofGully'sset;andafteramomentAliceappeared,stillfanningherselfwithherbonnet,andblowingatthedampenedcurlswhichclungtoherpinkcheeks.Shegavemeawink:'Let'scallonTony.'Ifollowedhertohislittleroom,andsatandidlytwistedinthechairbehindhisdesk,whilehestoodwithhisarmaboutherwaist.TherewasabitofchataboutMrSutherlandandhisspottedhandkerchief;then,'WhataboutthatKittyButler,eh?'saidTony.'Ain'tsheasmasher?Ifshecarriesonticklingthecrowdlikeshedidtonight,Itellyou,Uncle'11beextendinghercontracttillChristmas.'

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AtthatIstoppedmytwirling.'She'sthebestturnIeversaw,"Isaid,'hereoranywhere!Trickywouldbeafooltolethergo:youtellhimfromme.'Tonylaughed,andsaidhewouldbesureto;butashesaiditIsawhimwinkatAlice,thenlethisgazedally,ratherspoonily,overherlovelyface.

Ilookedaway,andsighed,andsaidquiteguilelessly:'Oh,IdowishthatImightseeMissButleragain!'

'Andsoyoushall,'saidAlice,'onSaturday.'WehadallplannedtocometothePalace-Father,Mother,Davy,Fred,everyone-onSaturdaynight.Ipluckedatmyglove.'Iknow,'Isaid.'ButSaturdayseemssoveryfaraway

Tonylaughedagain.'Well,Nance,andwhosaidyouhadtowaitsolong?Youcancometomorrownightifyoulike-andanyothernightyouplease,sofarasI'mconcerned.Andifthereain'taseatforyouinthegallery,why,we'llputyouinaboxatthesideofthestage,andyoucangazeatMissButlertoyourheart'scontentfromthere!'Hespoke,I'msure,toimpressmysister;butmyheartgave

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astrangekindoftwistathiswords.Isaid,'Oh,Tony,doyoureallymeanit?''Ofcourse.'

'Andreallyinabox?'

'Whynot?Betweenyouandme,theonlycustomersweevergetforthoseseatsaretheWoodfamilyandthePlushes.Yousitinabox,andmakesuretheaudiencegetsalookatyou:itmightgivethemideasabovetheirstation.'

'Itmightgive