the
stage--whether I had the stuff of a tragic actress in me. And, you know,
in that case, I ought to dress in black velvet, and carry a taper
through dungeons, and get accustomed to storms, and gloom, and thunder
and lightning."

"We have no appliances here for the education of an actress--I am very
sorry," said he.

"Now, Keith, that is hardly fair," said she, with a smile. "You know it
is only a trial. And you saw what they said of my _Juliet_. Oh, did I
tell you about the new tragedy that is coming out?"

"No, I do not think you did," said he.

"Ah, well, it is a great secret as yet; but there is no reason why you
should not hear of it."

"I am not anxious to hear of it," said he, without any rudeness.

"But it concerns me," she said, "and so I must tell you. It is written
by a brother of Mr. Lemuel, the artist I have often spoken to you about.
He is by profession an architect; but if this play should turn out to be
as fine as some people say it is, he ought to take to dramatic writing.
In fact, all the Lemuels--there are three brothers of them, you
know--are like Michael Angelo and Leonardo--artists to the finger-tips,
in every direction--poets, painters, sculptors, and all the rest of it.
And I do think I ought to feel flattered by their choice in asking me to
play the heroine; for so much depends on the choice of the actress--"

"And you are still to act?" said he, quickly, though he spoke in a low
voice, so that those behind should not hear.

"Surely I explained to you?" said she, in a pleasant manner. "After all,
lifelong habits are not so easily cast aside; and I knew you would be
generous, and bear with me a little bit, Keith."

He turned to her. The glow of the sunset caught his face. There was a
strange, hopeless sadness in his eyes.

"Generous to you?" said he. "You know I would give you my life if that
would serve you. But this is worse than taking my life from me."

"Keith, Keith!" said she, in gentle protest, "I don't know what you
mean. You should not take things so seriously. What is it, after all? It
was as an actress that you knew me first. What is the difference of a
few months more or less? If I had not been an actress, you would never
have known me--do you recollect that? By the way, has Major Stuart's
wife got a piano?"

He turned and stared at her for a second, in a bewildered way.

"Oh yes," said he, with a laugh, "Mrs. Stuart has got a piano; she has
got a very good piano. And