Punch in the presence of the passenjare!'
The scene was imagined to represent a studio, and Jane Map, as Enid Anstruther, was posing on the model's throne.
'Jane,' Mr. Pilgrim hissed out, 'you pose for all the world like an artist's model!'
'Well,' Jane retorted, 'I am an artist's model.'
'No, you aren't,' said John. 'You're an actress on my stage, and you must pose like one.'
Whereupon Mr. Pilgrim ascended to the stage and began to arrange Jane's limbs. By accident Jane's delightful elbow came into contact with John Pilgrim's eye. The company was horror-struck as Mr. Pilgrim lowered his head and pressed a handkerchief to that eye.
'Jane, Jane!' he complained in his hoarse and conspiratorial whisper, 'I've been teaching you the elements of your art for two years, and all you have achieved is to poke your elbow in my eye. The rehearsal is stopped.'
And everybody went home.
Such is a specimen of the incidents which were continually happening.