I can't
imagine--he's a queer chap to be writing things like that."
"It works out better than you--than one might suppose," Hilda returned,
moving toward the door. "Some of the situations are really almost novel,
in spite of all your centuries of preaching." She sent a disarming smile
with that, looking over her shoulder in one of her most effective
hesitations, one hand holding back the portiere.
"And next week?" cried Alicia.
"Oh, next week we do _L'Amourette de Giselle_--Frank Golding's re-vamp.
Good-bye! Good-bye!"
"I wonder very much what Patullo has done with _The Offence of
Galilee_," Arnold said, after she had gone.
"Come and see, Stephen. We have a box, and there will be heaps of room.
It's--suitable, isn't it?"
"Oh, quite."
"Then dine with us--the Yardleys are coming--and go on. Why not?"
"Thanks, very much indeed. It is sure to reward one. I think I shall be
able to give myself that pleasure."
Arnold made a longer visit than usual; his cup of coffee, indeed, became
a cup of tea; and his talk, while he staid, seemed to suffer less from
the limitations of his Order than it usually did. He was fluent and
direct; he allowed it to appear that he read more than his prayers, that
his glance at the world had still a speculation in it; and when he went
away, he left Alicia with flushed cheeks and brightened eyes, murmuring
a vague inward corollary upon her day--
"It pays! It pays!"
CHAPTER V.
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