"Well, then, don't say anything now. It's all right. Boat blew up at the door of our city, and why shouldn't we care for the unfortunates?"
"But before going away I want to give you some sort of an expression of—"
"That's all right, Sir. There's time enough."
"No, I shall go to-morrow."
"Better wait a day or two. Have you an engagement in view?"
"No, and I shall not look for one. I have decided to quit the stage."
"Well, Sir, I don't know but you are wise. It must be an uncertain sort of life. But what are you going to do?"
"I am going to write plays."
"That's well enough; easy work I should think. All you've got to do is to hatch out your plot and then stand your people around it. And look here, Belford, there are characters enough about here to make one of the best plays you ever saw. Why not stay here and do your writing? The fact is, we like you, and don't want you to go away."
"But I must go."