“I can’t help it, Gertrude,” Mother said. “I thought George would have——”
“Never fear! He’ll hold out till the end of the play. Then he’ll be round here bothering as sure as my name is Gertrude Jenynge!”
And her name is Gertrude Jennings, which is pretty near, and in the third piece of acting, when Mother was not on much, I heard George’s voice asking to be taken to her.
“Miss Jennings left word she was not to be disturbed this wait.”
“I’m her husband.”
“Very likely, sir!” The man sneered.
He didn’t get in, and he stood there neglected by the staircase till the beginning of the next and last act, as they said it was. I dared not go and speak to him, for he looked so cross, and I was also afraid he would carry me away to the box with Lady Scilly, so I just slipped behind a bit of scenery and observed.
Presently Mother came softly out of her room and passed George leaning on the rail of the staircase leading to her dressing-room.
She nodded and laughed.
“Wait for me, George, please. Kate, take this gentleman to my room——”