Another lady, who found it embarrassing to explain her anxiety in public, faltered "that she had just looked in to hear if Mr. Passmore could kindly——"
"Nothing doing! perhaps later on. I'll let you know."
"You will bear me in mind, won't you, Mr. Passmore?" she pleaded.
"What?" he said. "Oh, yes, yes; I'll drop you a postcard—I won't forget you. Good-day." He did not even recollect her name.
"Can I speak to you, Mr. Passmore?" said Mamie, rising.
"You?" he said questioningly. "Oh, I can't do anything for you yet! Everything's made up—things are very quiet just now.... Here, Miss Beaumont, I want a word with you."
"Give me a minute," persisted Mamie. "I want an engagement; I don't care how small the part is. I'll be a servant, I'll be anything, I want a beginning! I recited to you, if you remember, and——"
"Did you?" he said. "Oh, yes, yes, I remember—very nice. You wanted to play Juliet!" He laughed.
"I'll be anything!" she said again. "I'll give you double the commission if——"
"Have you got enough voice for chorus?" he asked testily. "How are your limbs?"