laughed.

"Why should it be a thing to be enthusiastic about?"

"Well, he's charming and _I_ trust him."

"So do I," said Sherringham.

"They've gone to see Madame Carre."

"She has come back then?"

"She was expected back last week. Miriam wants to show her how she has
improved."

"And _has_ she improved?"

"How can I tell--with my mother's heart?" asked Mrs. Rooth. "I don't
judge; I only wait and pray. But Mr. Dashwood thinks she's wonderful."

"That's a blessing. And when did he turn up?"

"About a fortnight ago. We met Mrs. Lovick at the English church, and
she was so good as to recognise us and speak to us. She said she had
been away with her children--otherwise she'd have come to see us. She
had just returned to Paris."

"Yes, I've not yet seen her. I see Lovick," Peter added, "but he doesn't
talk of his brother-in-law."

"I didn't, that day, like his tone about him," Mrs. Rooth observed. "We
walked a little way with Mrs. Lovick after church and she asked Miriam
about her prospects and if she were working. Miriam said she had no
prospects."

"That wasn't very nice to me," Sherringham commented.

"But when you had left us in black darkness what _were_ our prospects?"

"I see. It's all right. Go on."

"Then Mrs. Lovick said her brother was to be in Paris a few days and she
would tell him to come and see us. He arrived, she told him and he came.
_Voila_!" said Mrs. Rooth.

"So that now--so far as _he_ is concerned--Miss Rooth has prospects?"

"He isn't a manager unfortunately," she qualified.

"Where does he act?"

"He isn't acting just now; he has been abroad. He has been to Italy, I
believe, and is just stopping here on his way to London."

"I see; he _is_ a perfect gentleman," said Sherringham.

"Ah you're jealous of him!"

"No, but you're trying to make me so. The more competitors there are for
the glory of bringing her out the better for her."

"Mr. Dashwood wants to take a theatre," said Mrs. Rooth.

"Then perhaps he's our man."

"Oh if you'd help him!" she richly cried.

"Help him?"

"Help him to help us."

"We'll all work together; it will be very jolly," said Sherringham
gaily. "It's a sacred cause, the love of art, and we shall be a happy
band. Dashwood's his name?" he added in a moment. "Mrs. Lovick wasn't a
Dashwood."

"It's his _nom de theatre_--Basil Dashwood. Do you like it?" Mrs. Rooth
wonderfully inquired.

"You say that as Miriam might. Her talent's catching