[229]
] Her slim fingers curled round his.
“We both love the theater so, don’t we?”
“Yes—” But he was not thinking of her words.
“Only I never had it, dear,—the spark. It is a spark—”
“You have the greatest spark in the world, darling,—the love that you give and inspire—that will live on when the theater has forgotten me.”
“It must never forget you.” She stopped, then softly went on, “I—I wanted so much for myself—at first. I could learn lines and be letter perfect in a few days—and look pretty.”
“You were always beautiful. You always will be.”
She gave a little tired movement of dissent.
“It doesn’t matter much—because—because—anyway—”
“I love you so,” he said in a shaking voice.