Part 17 (1/2)
”You've aseyes, ”as a bob-tailed dog in fly time! There's one of your own Americanis could not help laughing, though Beatrice seehly bad te ”Where did you hear that?”
Then he becaraver ”But I won't worry you any uess I'll study to iet to business,” said Beatrice, sitting down ”I'm tired to death of this What is it you want?”
”Well,” he said, following her exas The first was to ask you to be h! I know that's a back number now For the present, anyway If that didn't materialize I wanted to know if you'd care to tour the provinces in _A False Step_
You knoe close down in a week, and I' to start the tour--number one towns only--in the autu to take a rest”
”You'll have lots of time to take a rest before the tour starts Why not----”
”Look here, Ashford! You see I've already refused your offer for a London shop, and I don't mean to think about the provinces See? I won't be worried any more--I' her face in her hands
Ashford Billing, long accustoh school, was completely taken aback He had known Beatrice for a fine actress and a finer woood looks and character To see her break down for no apparent reason was not irl,” he said kindly--and there was no hint of disrespect, though on other occasions he was scrupulous in his use of ”Miss Blair”--”I'm real sorry I didn't know you'd feel bad about it What's the trouble? Can I be of any help?”
Beatrice recovered herself, feeling extre her eyes with vicious dabs ”I didn't sleep last night That's all Give ave her one, looking gravely at her There was soht, but what it was he could not guess
”I won't worry you any more,” he said quietly ”I'd have liked to book you for that tour, but I guess you know best You've had a tiring season--long runs are the very deuce, though they pay the ood one But let ain”
”Thanks, Ashford,” said Beatrice, sood sort
But, honestly, I' sick of it”
Billing, who had had the kudos of giving Beatrice her first chance, felt his heart sink But, realizing that this was not the tie mature reflection, he held his peace Beatrice talked idly a few reat
”Where are you going for a holiday?” she asked
”Flying,” he answered ”Across the channel, perhaps I've never done it yet”
”What a queer boy you are,” she said, looking at him fixedly ”What on earth made you take to the aeroplane?”
”Why on earth did I take to the sky?” he laughed ”I did it to advertise oods, too, for every one talked about the actor- it was, I couldn't stop That's all”
”You're odd creatures, you ing theaters was exciting enough”
”Change of excite in love with a neeetheart,”
he smiled