commanded by her manuscript. "She's frightened but she's
steady."

"What girl?" Canby was shampooing himself feverishly and had
little interest in girls. "I made it a disagreeable character
because--"

"I mean the one he's letting out on--Malone," said Tinker.
"Didn't you notice her voice? Her laugh reminds me of Fanny
Caton's--and Dora Preston's--"

"Who?" Canby asked vaguely.

"Oh, nobody you'd remember; some old-time actresses that had
their day--and died--long ago. This girl's voice made me think
of them."

"She may, she may," said Canby hurriedly. "Mr. Tinker, the play
is ruined. He's tangled the whole act up so that I can't tell
what it's about myself. Instead of Roderick Hanscom's being a
man that people dislike for his conceit and selfishness he's
got him absolutely turned round. I oughtn't to allow it--but
everything's so different from what I thought it would be! He
doesn't seem to know I'm here. I came prepared to read the play
to the company; I thought he'd want me to."

"Oh, no," said Tinker. "He never does that."

"Why not?"