“One of the brothers?”
“The eldest. You have puzzled me, Mrs. Abington. I should like to know just what you meant when——”
“And I should like to know that young gentleman. If you do not beckon him hither and present him to me, I shall apply to Mr. Hale to perform that friendly office for me.”
Dick sprang from his seat with clenched hands.
[page [116].
“I must know what you meant by introducing the idea of a comedy——”
“And I insist on your introducing young Mr. Linley. What, sir! are you fearful lest that pretty youth may become, under my tuition, a fitting subject for another serious comedy? No, no; no further word will you get from me. I have said far too much already. Go home, Dick, and try to recall something of all the nonsense that I talked in your hearing, and if you succeed, believe me, you will know more of woman and a woman’s comedy than you have acquired during all your life.”
“Am I to believe——”