f
any lady in the land."

"Learning, more learning, always learning! I've had enough of it in my
life!" muttered Lily, affected, nevertheless, by Jimmy's intense
excitement, and lowering her eyes under his glance.

"Why, yes, Lily, always learning, that's life!" said Jimmy. "But the other
chap, of course, promises you the earth! Some millionaire, I suppose: an
admirer in the front boxes?"

"He's an artiste," said Lily.

"Why," said Jimmy, stepping back, without letting go of her. "But, no,
it's impossible; you're not thinking of Trampy!"

"Why not?" said Lily angrily, trying to release herself from Jimmy's
passionate grasp.

"Why, because ... because he's a drunkard ... a ... The other day I saw
him at the bar of the Crown, as I was passing. He was blind-drunk."

"What's the good of talking?" said Lily. "He's miserable. He worships me.
He drinks to forget. He told me so himself!"

"But they say he's married," said Jimmy. "Why ..."

"It's mean and jealous of you to say that," said Lily, suddenly
withdrawing her hands. "You deserve a smacking! How can he be married,
when he wants to marry me?"

And with that she left him and went up to the dressing-room.

Jimmy was heartbroken.

"It's a joke of Lily's ... as in my shop, some months ago, when she
pretended to have a sweetheart, though she hadn't!"

But, argue as he would, Jimmy thought with terror of Trampy's habits of
conquest, of his reputation in the profession as a Don Juan. He bitterly
regretted waiting so long to speak to Lily. He had thought that he was
pleasing her by keeping in the background, for fear of causing her
annoyance at home: was his sole offense now that of coming too late?

Oh, if he had only had evidence to hand! But Trampy's marriage was one of
those vague rumors. One could say nothing for certain. However, the
danger, no doubt, was not yet imminent. And Jimmy had a friend who was
doing America in the theaters of the Eastern and Western Trust: he
resolved to write to him; the friend would receive his letter at the
Majestic, Houston, Texas, or at the Denver Orpheum. The thing had happened
over there; they would probably remember it in the theaters he passed
through; he could make inquiries, perhaps even obtain proofs. That
exquisite Lily, that masterpiece of grace: what a darling wife she would
make! And all for Trampy! Jimmy was determined to do everything to prevent
it.

He did not despair of supplying Lily, before long, with the