He stopped short on the threshold, for really the pair before him presented a most extraordinary appearance.
Mr. Wycherly leapt to his feet, exclaiming:
"Curly, my dear fellow, I am delighted to see you." He had quite forgotten the "Magnolia Bloom" in his pleasure at beholding an old friend.
"Am I interrupting a rehearsal, or what?" the young man asked, as he shook hands warmly.
Mr. Wycherly sneezed again. "Oh, this abominable powder; I had forgotten it for the moment. Now, Curly, you are an actor; you are familiar with make-up in every shape and form. Will you kindly tell this young lady whether you consider us improved by this whitewash?"
The situation jumped to the eye. The young man laughed.
"You are both of you rather new to the use of powder, I should say; no one ever leaves it on, you know."
"Then what on earth is the use of it?" demanded Mr. Wycherly.
"It has, perhaps, a softening effect, but it is never used in such quantities."
"Go and wash, Jane-Anne," said Mr. Wycherly, "and I must do the same, then ask Mrs. Dew—no, come yourself with a dustpan and brush and clear up as well as you can. Curly will go downstairs."