"Why, dash my stars and stripes, if it isn't Sydney Green!" he

exclaimed, with so evident a pleasure that Celia's eyes glowed and she

smiled upon him; and Mr. Bloxford, as if drawn by the smile, turned to

her, and, sweeping off his hat, said, "And I take it you're his young lady, miss?"

"I'm his wife," said Celia, with unabashed pride.

"You don't say!" commented Mr. Bloxford, his admiration eloquently

expressed in his staring, Simian eyes. "Well, Mr. Green, you've taken

the cake! Lor' bless my soul, what a picture you'd make in the

high-stepping act! And you're well, and doing well, I should say, by the

look of you, Mr. Green," he said to Derrick, who, indeed, looked

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absurdly happy and proud at that moment. "Well, you deserve it. Look

here, ma'am, I could tell you a sight about this big gentleman of yours.

You take it from me that he's a topper, a tip-topper. Here, just step in

here, and I'll tell you how he saved the whole show from a wrecking out

there in that darned dingo-land, Buenos Aires."

"I should like to hear it very much, Mr. Bloxford," said Celia, still

glowing on him; "though my husband has already told me about it."

"Oh, well, you don't want to hear it from me; though, mind you, it was

one of the coolest things I've ever seen done. Oh, he's grit all

through, is that good man of yours."

"I know he is," said Celia, her face radiant, her smile fascinating and

bewildering.

"But, look here!" he said. "The company will want to see you. Here, come

along! I tell you, ma'am"--over his shoulder to Celia, as he led the way

to the "Green Room"--"he is the most popular man we've ever had. And got

a head as well as a heart; the best head I ever saw. Here, ladies and

gentlemen," he cried to the medley group in the performers' tent,

"here's an old friend come to pay you a visit. Here's Mr. Sydney Green,

and his missis!"

They all turned and stared for a moment in silence. Isabel's face went

pale, but not so pale as Alice's. Isabel was the first to recover. With

a flush on her face now, she came forward with her graceful swing and

held out her hand, first to Derrick and then, after a momentary pause,

to Celia; her hand was grasped warmly by both. An excited interchange of

talk ensued; and presently, in the midst of it, Derrick felt a hand on

his arm, and Sidcup, to whom he had spoken already, signed to him.

Derrick went out of the tent with him.




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