But Madame Bonanni was in favour of temporising.

'Don't send for him, my dear,' she said. 'Getting angry is very bad for

the voice, and your duet with Rigoletto in the next act is always

trying.

They were in the dressing-room now, all three women, and the door was

shut.

'Is it all right?' Margaret asked, sitting down and looking into the

glass. 'Am I doing well?' 'You don't need me to tell you that! You are magnificent! Divine! No

one ever began so well as you, not even I, my dear, not even I myself!' This was said with great emphasis. Nothing, perhaps, could have

surprised Madame Bonanni more than that any one should sing better at

the beginning than she had sung herself; but having once admitted the

fact she was quite willing that Margaret should know it, and be made

happy.

'You're the best friend that ever was!' cried Margaret, springing up;

and for the first time in their acquaintance she threw her arms round

the elder woman's neck and kissed her--hitherto the attack, if I may

call it so, had always come from Madame Bonanni, and had been sustained

by Margaret.

'Yes,' said Madame Bonanni, 'I'm your best friend now, but in a couple

of days you will have your choice of the whole world! Now dress, for

I'm going away, and though it's only a rehearsal, it's of no use to

keep people waiting.' Margaret looked at her and for the first time realised the change in

her appearance, the quiet colours of her dress, the absence of paint on

her cheeks, the moderation of the hat. Yet on that very morning

Margaret had seen her still in all her glory when she had arrived from

Paris.

One woman always knows when another notices her dress. Women have a

sixth sense for clothes.

'Yes, my dear,' Madame Bonanni said, as soon as she was aware that

Margaret had seen the change, 'I did not wish to come to your

début looking like an advertisement of my former greatness, so I

put on this. Tom likes it. He thinks that I look almost like a human

being in it!' 'That's complimentary of him!' laughed Margaret.

'Oh, he wouldn't say such a thing, but I see it is just what he thinks.

Perhaps I'll send him to you with a message, by and by, before you get

into your sack, while the storm is going on. If I do, it will be

because it s very important, and whatever he says comes directly from

me.' 'Very well,' Margaret said quietly. 'I shall always take your advice,

though I hate that last scene.' 'I'm beginning to think that it may be more effective than we thought,'

answered Madame Bonanni, with a little laugh. 'Good-bye, my dear.' 'Won't you come and dine with me afterwards?' asked Margaret, who had

begun to change her dress. 'There will only be Madame De Rosa. You know

she could not get here in time for the rehearsal, but she is coming

before nine o'clock.' 'No, dear. I cannot dine with you to-night. I've made an engagement I

can't break. But do you mean to say that anything could keep De Rosa in

Paris this afternoon?' Madame Bonanni was very much surprised, for she

knew that the excellent teacher almost worshipped her pupil.




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