Valerie, who had not been at all pleased to hear that her betrothed proposed to spend the evening playing Bridge, bestowed a dazzling smile upon Roydon, and said: "I'm simply dying to ask you about this play of yours. I'm utterly thrilled about it! Do come and tell me all about it!"
Since Willoughby, sore from the lack of appreciation shown by Nathaniel, at once moved across to Miss Dean's side, only Paula was left to make up Joseph's round game. He seemed to feel the impossibility of organising anything very successful under such conditions, and with only a faint, quickly suppressed sigh, abandoned the project, and sat down to watch his wife playing Patience.
After continuing to walk about the room for some time, occasionally joining in Roydon's conversation with Valerie, Paula cast herself upon a sofa, and began to flick over the pages of an illustrated paper. Joseph soon moved over to join her, saying in a confidential tone: "Tell your old uncle all about it, my dear! What sort of play is it? Comedy? Tragedy?"
"You can't label it like that," Paula answered. "It's a most subtle character-study. There isn't another part in the world I want to play more. It's written for me! It is me!"
"I know exactly how you feel," nodded Joseph, laying a hand over hers, and pressing it sympathetically. "Ah, how often one has been through that experience! I daresay it seems funny to you to think of your old uncle on the boards, but when I was a young man I shocked all my relations by actually running away from a respectable job in a solicitor's office to join a travelling company!" He laughed richly at the memory. "I was a romantic lad! I expect a lot of people called me an improvident young fool, but I've never regretted it, never!"
"I wish you'd make Uncle Nat listen to reason," said Paula discontentedly.
"I'll try, my dear, but you know what Nat is! Dear old crosspatch! He's the best of good fellows, but he has his prejudices."
"Two thousand pounds wouldn't make any difference to him. I can't see why I shouldn't have it now, when I need it, instead of having to wait till he dies."
"You bad girl! Counting your chickens before they are hatched!"
"I'm not. He told me he'd leave me some money. Besides, he's bound to: I'm his only niece."