Kingston I wasn't nearly so much at my ease as I am here. Here one can
always do one's best and be sure that the audience will appreciate it. I
have all sorts of projects in my head. Next year I shall have a theatre
of my own, I think, and then--'

'And then we shall see you in all the great parts?'

The beauty had just begun her answer when Kendal became conscious of Mrs.
Stuart standing beside him, with another aspirant at her elbow, and
nothing remained for him but to retire with a hasty smile and handshake,
Miss Bretherton brightly reminding him that they should meet again.

A few minutes afterwards there was once more a general flutter in the
room. Miss Bretherton was going. She came forward in her long flowing
black garments, holding Mrs. Stuart by the hand, the crowd dividing as
she passed. On her way to the door stood a child, Mrs. Stuart's youngest,
looking at her with large wondering brown eyes, and finger on lip. The
actress suddenly stooped to her, lifted her up with the ease of physical
strength into the midst of her soft furs and velvets, and kissed her with
a gracious queenliness. The child threw its little white arms around her,
smiled upon her, and smoothed her hair, as though to assure itself that
the fairy princess was real. Then it struggled down, and in another
minute the bright vision was gone, and the crowded room seemed to have
grown suddenly dull and empty.

'That was prettily done,' said Edward Wallace to Kendal as they stood
together looking on. 'In another woman those things would be done for
effect, but I don't think she does them for effect. It is as though she
felt herself in such a warm and congenial atmosphere, she is so sure of
herself and her surroundings, that she is able to give herself full play,