"Oh yes--impossible--quite, quite impossible," he muttered, as if talking to himself, and then he got up rather suddenly and took an abrupt departure.
There was certainly something strange about Captain Vesey. He had forgotten his gloves and he had not touched his tea. The two young men who had brought him exchanged glances and grins and one of them exclaimed: "Sunstroke!"
"I hope you don't mind him, Mrs. Hayes-Billington," he added apologetically, "but Vesey is the most eccentric old bird."
"So it seems," she rejoined with a laugh, "and I have not the slightest wish to put salt on his tail!"
The great day of our theatricals was approaching. The evening before it took place we had a full-dress rehearsal--a _répétition générale_, French fashion--at the theatre, to which at least half of the people came, bidden or unbidden, but everyone was more or less interested in the performance. If they were not acting their friends or relations were taking part, or they had lent properties, garments, furniture, or given assistance in dressing and making up.
The little theatre was almost full. I made this discovery by peeping through that indispensable hole in the curtain. Mrs. Dane, the general's wife, was already seated in the middle of the front row, and with her was a lady, a rather austere-looking, middle-aged woman whom I had never seen before, also a grey-haired gentleman, presumably her husband. I may add that the _crème de la crème_ of the station were present at this rehearsal, but every one of them would be there the next evening, honourably paying their ten rupees a ticket. Rather a high price, but then it was for a local charity.
I must admit that I was highly excited, being about to make my first appearance on the stage. I dressed myself as a smart parlourmaid; my face had been beautifully painted by Major Wray--who was quite an artist in this line--and I was ready!
After some delay the curtain rose on Mathilde and her companion. Dolly acquitted herself well (although she had been nearly crying with stage fright). I had helped to attire the Marquise; she looked magnificent and wore her diamonds. Having played my own little part and accomplished my dusting I went round to the front to enjoy the performance.