i6 CASUALS IN THE CAUCASUS 



A Dresden-china lady appeared, all pink and white 

 and blue complexion powder, like the front row of the 

 ballet at home. She exchanged steely glances with the 

 leading lady, and talked to the ceiling in a high staccato. 



" Late, am I ? Well, it cannot be helped. I've 

 been trying on my dress for the second act. Such a 

 glorious colour-scheme ! Reseda, and the palest, 

 palest yellow. I shall wear a bunch of cornflowers on 

 my right shoulder. Do I know my lines ? I think so. 

 About my shoes. Major Abdy, would you advise heels 

 or not ? The General says decidedly not." 



Persuasively the energetic stage-manager coaxed 

 the chorus into wavering lines. 



" Come forward easily. Don't huddle together so. 

 Be animated ! Be cheerful ! Can't you look as 

 though you were enjoying yourselves ? You are a 

 merry crowd of Maori girls, remember, dancing on the 

 beach at Weheka. Throw yourselves right into it ! 

 Throw yourselves right into it ! " 



The Maori girls looked about them aimlessly, as 

 though in search of a cleanly spot on which to precipi- 

 tate themselves, and seemed to a woman bored almost 

 to tears. 



" My husband won't act unless I'm the heroine," 

 said a plaintive fragihty, taking the manager's arm 

 confidentially. 



" We shall not be ready on the advertised 



NIGHT unless WE SET ABOUT THIS THING WITH MORE 



METHOD," roared the harassed man in a megaphone 

 voice. " Have you no idea how that goes ? I've told 

 you'scores of times." 



