"Yes—no—yes, I mean; I go to heaps." He wondered if his reply sounded very foolish and absent-minded. He rushed on to cover it. "I've seen this particular play a dozen times; it's a great favourite of mine. I—I'm very keen on it."
"I think it is lovely," said Christine dreamily.
She was leaning back beside him in the corner. He could only see her white-gloved hands clasped in the lap of her frock.
"You must let me take you to some," he said. He had a rotten feeling that if he stopped talking for a minute he would make a fool of himself. "I often get passes for first nights and things," he rambled on.
Christine sat up. "Do you! oh, how lovely! I should love to go! Jimmy, do you—do you know any people on the stage—actors and actresses?"
"I know some—yes. I know quite a lot."
"Not Miss Farrow, I suppose?" she questioned eagerly.
"Yes—yes, I do," said Challoner.
She gave a little cry of delight. "Oh, I wish I could meet her—she's so beautiful."
Challoner could not answer. He would have given worlds had it been possible to stop the cab and rush away; but he knew he had got to go through with it now, and presently he found himself following Mrs. Wyatt and Christine through the hall of the hotel at which they were staying.