CHAPTER VI.
"I HOPE Miss Vanstone knows her part ?" whispered Mrs.Marrable, anxiously addressing herself to Miss Garth, in a corner of the theater.
"If airs and graces make an actress, ma'am, Magdalen's performance will astonish us all." With that reply, Miss Garth took out her work, and seated herself, on guard, in the center of the pit.
The manager perched himself, book in hand, on a stool close in front of the stage.

He was an active little man, of a sweet and cheerful temper; and he gave the signal to begin with as patient an interest in the proceedings as if they had caused him no trouble in the past and promised him no difficulty in the future.

The two characters which opened the comedy of The Rivals, "Fag" and "The Coachman," appeared on the scene--looked many sizes too tall for their canvas background, which represented a "Street in Bath"-- exhibited the customary inability to manage their own arms, legs, and voices--went out severally at the wrong exits--and expressed their perfect approval of results, so far, by laughing heartily behind the scenes.

"Silence, gentlemen, if you please," remonstrated the cheerful manager.

"As loud as you like _on_ the stage, but the audience mustn't hear you _off_ it.