Part 30 (2/2)
”That means that you don't love her.”
”I have only loved one person in my life, and it certainly was not her.”
Miss Johnson looked straight in front of her, as if she desired to convey the impression that she had no idea that any allusion was intended. Margaret urged Mr. Winton.
”Come, tell me what Harry's position really is, since I am quite unable to get it out of him.”
”Shall I, Talfourd?”
”You may say what you choose, only give me leave to doubt if you are so well informed as you yourself imagine. I don't understand myself as well as I should like to.”
”I fancy I understand pretty well. The truth is, Miss Wallace, Mrs. Lamb is fonder of Talfourd than he is of her.”
”I am quite aware of that.”
”I don't think you altogether appreciate my meaning. If there were no Mr. Lamb, Mrs. Lamb would not object to being Mrs.
Talfourd--which is why she wants to produce 'The Gordian Knot,'
and why Talfourd doesn't want her to.”
”Do you mean that she's in love with him? Harry! is this true?
You told me that she had never said anything to you she ought not to have done.”
”Nor has she. Winton speaks crudely. I don't know what is his authority for his statement, he certainly has had none from me.”
”Is it simply because--she feels for you like that--that she wants to produce your play?”
”Honestly, Meg, I don't know what her reasons are. I wish I did.”
”Does she know that you're--engaged?”
”Not that I am aware of. So far as possible I have carefully avoided speaking to her of myself. Frankly, Meg, it's no use blinking the fact that as Mrs. Lamb's private secretary there's nothing for me to do; that she has not the slightest real need for such a functionary; and that I am very much exercised in my mind as to the motives which would actuate her in the production of 'The Gordian Knot'. Although I am quite aware that he meant well, I should have been obliged to Winton if he hadn't said a word to her about the thing.”
”At that time I had no actual knowledge of how the land was lying.”
”But you guessed.” This was Margaret.
”Well, if you will permit me to be quite plain, Miss Wallace, I don't know that I regarded it as a drawback even if I did guess.
An actor depends for his existence on personal favour. He has to please the public in the ma.s.s, and, also, as individuals. When a woman tells me she admires me I expect her to take a stall to see me act; if she admires me very much, I expect her to take two or three, or a box. There have been women who have admired me so much that they have booked seats for an entire season.
Now proceed a step farther. I can conceive of it as possible that a woman might provide me with the means to take a theatre because her admiration for me was so great. I shouldn't stop to ask myself trivial questions as to whether she was married or single, I should regard the matter as purely one of business--one proof of my success--and take the good the G.o.ds provided, while, at the same time, my position in the affair would be entirely a platonic one. I want Talfourd to treat the matter from my point of view, but it seems he can't.”
”I'm sorry.”
”I'm not sorry!” The first remark came from Harry, the second from Margaret. She went on: ”Now I begin to understand. Of course it's quite inconceivable, Harry, how any one could fall in love with you; but supposing any woman to be so foolish, I certainly don't want you to trade on her affection. I'm not saying it with any desire to wound you, Mr. Winton.”
”Don't be afraid, I'm not easily wounded.”
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