irresponsible passion which is genius. There's that little Rose
Massey--that little baby who spends half her day dreaming, and who is as
ignorant as a cod-fish. Well, she has got that something--that undefinable
but always recognisable something. It was Price who discovered her. We used
to laugh at him when he said she had genius. He was right; we were wrong.
The other night I was standing in the wings; she was coming down from her
dressing-room--she lingered on the stairs, looking the most insignificant
little thing you can well imagine; but the moment her cue came a strange
light came into her eyes and a strange life was fused in her limbs; she was
transformed, and went on the stage a very symbol of passion and romance.'

The slate colour of the sky did not seem to change, and yet the night grew
visibly denser in the park; and there had come the sensation of things
ended, a movement of wraps thrown over shoulders and thought of bedtime and
home. The crowd was moving away, and nearly lost in the darkness Hubert
came towards his friends. He had just knocked the ash from his cigar, and
as he drew in the smoke the glow of the lighted end fled over his blonde
face.




XIV


One day a short letter came from Hubert, asking Mrs. Bentley to send the
dog-cart to the station to fetch him. He had decided to come home at once,
and postpone the production of his play till the coming spring.

Every rehearsal had revealed new and serious faults of construction. These