"Yes. Yes, Susan!"
"I think the success or failure only matters really as it affects character, and the relation existing between your soul and your husband's. The rest scarcely counts, I think. And so, if I were to pray about such a thing as this opera, pray with the impulse of a friend who really does care for you, I should pray that your two souls might have what they need, what they must be asking for, whether that is a great success, or a great failure."
The door opened and Claude came in on the two women.
"Did I hear the word failure?" he said, smiling, as he went up to Susan and took her hand. "Charmian, I wonder you allow it to be spoken in our sitting-room."
"I—I didn't—we weren't," she almost stammered. But quickly recovering herself, she said:
"Susan has come with a message from Adelaide Shiffney."
"You mean about being let in at a rehearsal?"
"Yes," said Susan.
"I've just been with Mrs. Shiffney. She called at the theater after you had gone, Charmian. I drove to the Ritz with her and went in."
Charmian looked narrowly at her husband.