and will have nothing to do with it."

"I'm sure your play will be a dandy," said Mr. Bingle warmly. "The
plot is tip-top. Even a manager ought to be able to tell what it's all
about."

"I can't tell you how much I appreciate your kindness in listening to
all I've had to say about the piece. I'm afraid I've bored you
terribly."

"Not at all, not at all. I've always been interested in the theatre.
I'll confess to you that I've always wanted to know a real actor or
actress. Now that our dear Miss Fairweather turns out to be--er--to
have been on the stage for some time before she came to us, my
interest in the profession is intensified. I really am quite thrilled
over knowing a real, flesh and blood actress."

"We were a little afraid you wouldn't look at it so generously, Mr.
Bingle."

"I know. Miss Fairweather has told us of her sleepless nights,
worrying over the supposed deception. She might just as well have
slept comfortably, Dick. She may have been a bad actress but she
wasn't a bad woman, so no harm has come of it. Do you think she is
qualified to play the leading part in your show? It strikes me that it
is a very difficult part. I should think it would take some one like
Modjeska or Julia Marlowe to play it properly. She is--" "My dear Mr.
Bingle, Amy is just the woman for the part of Deborah. I am sure of
it--positively. The trouble is that I'm afraid the managers will
insist on putting in somebody with a name--like Ethel Barrymore or