When the first transports of emotion were over, the young girl said, tremulously:
"My mother—when shall I see her? Oh, I must go to her at once! I must, I must!"
"Of course, Mr. Wattles will give you leave of absence as soon as we tell him what we have discovered."
"I do not see how he can."
"Why can't he?"
"I have no understudy. No, I must remain; he has been very kind to me, and I could not ask a favor that I knew it would be so very difficult for him to grant."
"That is right, sister. But I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll telegraph to mother to come on here at once. She will arrive before the evening performance."
"Do so, brother—— Oh, how strange, yet how delightful, it is to utter that sacred name! But do not tell her the truth until she comes."
"No, indeed. Why, I think the shock would almost kill her. We must break it to her gently."
At this moment Mr. Wattles came bustling into the room.