The next day but one was the day of the first full rehearsal.  On the previous evening Mrs. Vanstone’s spirits had been sadly depressed.  At a private interview with Miss Garth she had referred again, of her own accord, to the subject of her letter from London—­had spoken self-reproachfully of her weakness in admitting Captain Wragge’s impudent claim to a family connection with her—­and had then reverted to the state of her health and to the doubtful prospect that awaited her in the coming summer in a tone of despondency which it was very distressing to hear.  Anxious to cheer her spirits, Miss Garth had changed the conversation as soon as possible—­had referred to the approaching theatrical performance—­and had relieved Mrs. Vanstone’s mind of all anxiety in that direction, by announcing her intention of accompanying Magdalen to each rehearsal, and of not losing sight of her until she was safely back again in her father’s house.  Accordingly, when Frank presented himself at Combe-Raven on the eventful morning, there stood Miss Garth, prepared—­in the interpolated character of Argus—­to accompany Lucy and Falkland to the scene of trial.  The railway conveyed the three, in excellent time, to Evergreen Lodge; and at one o’clock the rehearsal began.

CHAPTER VI.

“I HOPE Miss Vanstone knows her part?” whispered Mrs. Marrable, anxiously addressing herself to Miss Garth, in a corner of the theater.

“If airs and graces make an actress, ma’am, Magdalen’s performance will astonish us all.”  With that reply, Miss Garth took out her work, and seated herself, on guard, in the center of the pit.

The manager perched himself, book in hand, on a stool close in front of the stage.  He was an active little man, of a sweet and cheerful temper; and he gave the signal to begin with as patient an interest in the proceedings as if they had caused him no trouble in the past and promised him no difficulty in the future.  The two characters which opened the comedy of The Rivals, “Fag” and “The Coachman,” appeared on the scene—­looked many sizes too tall for their canvas background, which represented a “Street in Bath”—­exhibited the customary inability to manage their own arms, legs, and voices—­went out severally at the wrong exits—­and expressed their perfect approval of results, so far, by laughing heartily behind the scenes.  “Silence, gentlemen, if you please,” remonstrated the cheerful manager.  “As loud as you like on the stage, but the audience mustn’t hear you off it.  Miss Marrable ready?  Miss Vanstone ready?  Easy there with the ‘Street in Bath’; it’s going up crooked!  Face this way, Miss Marrable; full face, if you please.  Miss Vanstone—­” he checked himself suddenly.  “Curious,” he said, under his breath—­“she fronts the audience of her own accord!” Lucy opened the scene in these words:  “Indeed, ma’am, I traversed half the town in search of it:  I