he would put down
the veil quickly, as one would drop a curtain over a beautiful picture,
and rise with great dignity and say, "if you talk like that I shall not
come again."

She was sure that if she could only get some work to do her head would
be filled with more important matters than whether Reggie loved her or
not.

"But the managers seem inclined to cut their cavendish very fine just
at present," she said. "If I don't get a part soon," she announced, "I
shall ask Mitchell to put me down on the list for recitations at evening
parties."

"That seems a desperate revenge," said the American; "and besides, I
don't want you to get a part, because some one might be idiotic enough
to take my comedy, and if he should, you must play Nancy."

"I would not ask for any salary if I could play Nancy," Miss Cavendish
answered.

They spoke of a great many things, but their talk always ended by her
saying that there must be some one with sufficient sense to see that
his play was a great play, and by his saying that none but she must play
Nancy.

The Lion preferred the tall girl with masses and folds of brown hair,
who came from America to paint miniatures of the British aristocracy.
Her name was Helen Cabot, and he liked her because she was so brave and
fearless, and so determined to be independent of every one, even of the
lodger--especially of the lodger, who it appeared had known her
very well at home. The lodger, they gathered, did not wish her to be
independent of him and the two Americans had many arguments and disputes
about it, but she always said, "It does no good, Philip; it only hurts
us both when you talk so. I care for nothing, and for no one but my art,
and, poor as it is, it means everything to me, and you do not, and, of
course, the man I am to marry, must." Then Carroll would talk, walking
up and down, and looking very fierce and determined, and telling her
how he loved her in such a way that it made her look even more proud and
beautiful. And she would say more gently, "It is very fine to think that
any one can care for like that, and very helpful. But unless I cared in
the same way it would be wicked of me to marry you, and besides--" She
would add very quickly to prevent his speaking again--"I don't want
to marry you or anybody, and I never shall. I want to be free and to
succeed in my work, just as you want to succeed in your work. So please
never speak of this again." When she went away the lodger use