Nina laughed.
"She sees in the papers that you come back—it is to be a great occasion—she says to herself, 'Will he sing with that Italian girl? No! Let my throat be well or ill, I am going back;' and she is coming, Leo. Never mind; I am to have the part of Clara; is it not an advancement? And everything is so much more comfortable now; Miss Girond has taken a room with Mrs. Grey; then we go home always together, and she has the use of the piano—"
"Miss Ross, please!" called a voice at the door.
"All right!" she called in reply.
"The chorus is on, miss."
"All right!"
"Ah," she continued, "it is so good to see you back, Leo; yes, yes? London was a stranger city when you were away—there was no one. And it is all you I have to thank, Leo, for my introduction here and my good-fortune—"
"Oh, nonsense, Nina!" he said. "What else could I have done? It isn't you who ought to thank me—it's Lehmann; I consider him precious lucky to have got a substitute for Miss Burgoyne so easily. So Miss Burgoyne is coming back on Monday?"
"Yes," said Nina, as she went to the door. "Shall I see you again, Leo, to-night?"
"Oh, I'm coming to hear you sing 'Now to the dance,'" he said, as he followed her out into the corridor and ascended with her into the wings.