into her box from the reserved enclosure. The widow and young family of the late Joe McPherson would, undoubtedly, gain very substantially from her efforts, as other deserving objects had done in the past and were likely to do in the future.
The rakish green hats of Horace and Johnny were well to the fore, and the fact that Mary couldn't possibly miss them cost their owners half-a-crown apiece. And Horace Allwright, as he proudly disbursed this sum, remembered that in the near future a benefit performance was going to be given at the Royal Italian Opera House, Blackhampton, for one who had served the public long and faithfully, but who now had fallen upon evil days.
"I say, Mary, old girl," said Horace, "that reminds me, we are giving a complimentary matinée at Blackhampton on Tuesday week for poor old Harry Merino—you remember poor old Harry—and you are such a great power in Blackhampton that I thought perhaps—"
"Why, of course," said Mary. "Half-a-crown, please, Horace. Yes, of course, put me down for 'Arcadee' and 'Nelson' and—now, do I ever forget?"
"No, you don't, old girl," said Horace Allwright humbly, and Johnny Dubosque echoed him.
"That's all right, then. And don't say another
