d to act in.

She had broken the news to him.

"Miss Luscombe, do you mean to say that is the very best you can do for
me?"

She explained the difficulties.

He was only one of so many! Unless the name was known it was
frightfully difficult--even for geniuses--to get on. Of course, he might
try, and go and see the various managers himself, but, frankly, probably
nothing would come of it.

He was deeply depressed. What should she suggest?

"Might I ask if you care very, very much?" she asked.

"You might. I do." Yes. His heart was set on it.

Was it really? Well, if he simply hadn't the strength to go on living
another day without going on the stage, the only thing, clearly, was
just to hire a theatre and _go_ on! A _matinee_, perhaps. Why not Romeo?

"And why not Juliet?" said he, rather rashly.

"Oh, that would be lovely!"

Her attention wandered at this moment. A very pretty, fair woman was
rising from behind a palm where she had been seated with her back to the
room. She went out rather quickly, followed by a good-looking young man
with a single eye-glass.

"They have been trying to hide!" she exclaimed. "What a joke! It's that
sweet Valentia Wyburn and Harry de Freyne. They must have been here when
we arrived, for we should have seen them come in. I wonder what they
came for?"

"To have tea, perhaps?" suggested Rathbone, after deep thought,
shrewdly.

"Yes, yes, I know. But why hide like that?"

"Perhaps they didn't want to be seen," said Rathbone brilliantly.

"Yes, of course, but why not? I hope it doesn't show...."

"Well, it shows there's nothing in it, or they wouldn't come here."

"Does it?" said Miss Luscombe, rather disappointed.

"Well, where's the harm in being here? Ain't we here?"

"Oh yes, of course; but that's different. They're cousins, too, of
course; I had forgotten."

"I don't see why you should worry if Romer doesn't," said Rathbone.

Before they left Rathbone had very nearly promised to see about engaging
a theatre, and either for a charity or as an invitation _matinee_, rope,
as he expressed it, all his friends in, lock the door, and force them to
see him play Romeo to Miss Luscombe's Juliet.

Flora was deliriously happy at the idea, but had too much experience to
rely on it, and was quite prepared to be thrown over for another more
professional actress, and asked to play one of the ladies at the ball in
the first act instead, probably in a mask. She went home and re