"It's—it's such a naughty, naughty piece," says Mr. Kelly, bashfully, beating an honorable retreat from his first meaning.
"Nonsense! One can strike out anything distasteful."
"Shades of Farren—and——Who would be Lady Teazle?" says Olga.
"I would," says Bella, modestly.
"That is more than good of you," says Olga, casting a curious glance at her from under her long lashes. "But I thought, perhaps——You, Hermia, would you not undertake it? You know, last season, they said you were——"
"No, dear, thanks. No, indeed," with emphasis.
"Cobbett does Joseph Surface to perfection," breaks in Mr. Ryde, enthusiastically.
"Oh, I say now, Ryde! Come, you know, this is hardly fair," says the little captain, coyly, who is looking particularly pinched and dried to-day, in spite of the hot sun. There is a satisfied smirk upon his pale lips, and a poor attempt at self-depreciation about his whole manner.
"You know you took 'em by storm at Portsmouth, last year,—made 'em laugh like fun. You should see him," persists Ryde, addressing everybody generally.
"Perhaps you mean the part of Charles Surface," says Ronayne, in some surprise.