She paused just after entering and said in an eager voice, which had a touch of huskiness: 'What do you think?
Miss Walcott's taken her hook!' Clara did not allow herself to be moved at this announcement.

For several days what is called unpleasantness had existed between the leading lady and the manager: in other words, they had been quarrelling violently on certain professional matters, and Miss Walcott had threatened to ruin the tour by withdrawing her invaluable services.

The menace was at last executed, in good earnest, and the cause of Grace Danver's excitement was that she, as Miss Walcott's understudy, would to-night, in all probability, be called upon to take the leading part.
'I'm glad to hear it,' Clara replied, very soberly.
'You don't look as if you cared much,' rejoined the other, with a little irritation.
'What do you want me to do?
Am I to scream with joy because the greatest actress in the world has got her chance at last ?' There was bitterness in the irony.

Whatever their friendship in days gone by, these two were clearly not on the most amiable terms at present.

This was their first engagement in the same company, and it had needed but a week of association to put a jealousy and ill-feeling between them which proved fatal to such mutual kindness as they had previously cherished.