Part 45 (1/2)
”The family again!” said George sympathetically. ”They're a perfect curse.”
”I want to go on the stage. Are you fond of the theatre?”
”Fairly.”
”I love it. Have you seen Hubert Broadleigh in ”Twas Once in Spring'?”
”I'm afraid I haven't.”
”He's wonderful. Have you see Cynthia Dane in 'A Woman's No'?”
”I missed that one too.”
”Perhaps you prefer musical pieces? I saw an awfully good musical comedy before I left town. It's called 'Follow the Girl'. It's at the Regal Theatre. Have you seen it?”
”I wrote it.”
”You--what!”
”That is to say, I wrote the music.”
”But the music's lovely,” gasped little Miss Plummer, as if the fact made his claim ridiculous. ”I've been humming it ever since.”
”I can't help that. I still stick to it that I wrote it.”
”You aren't George Bevan!”
”I am!”
”But--” Miss Plummer's voice almost failed here--”But I've been dancing to your music for years! I've got about fifty of your records on the Victrola at home.”
George blushed. However successful a man may be he can never get used to Fame at close range.
”Why, that tricky thing--you know, in the second act--is the darlingest thing I ever heard. I'm mad about it.”
”Do you mean the one that goes lumty-lumty-tum, tumty-tumty-tum?”
”No the one that goes ta-rumty-tum-tum, ta-rumty-tum.
You know! The one about Granny dancing the s.h.i.+mmy.”
”I'm not responsible for the words, you know,” urged George hastily. ”Those are wished on me by the lyrist.”
”I think the words are splendid. Although poor popper thinks its improper, Granny's always doing it and n.o.body can stop her! I loved it.” Miss Plummer leaned forward excitedly. She was an impulsive girl. ”Lady Caroline.”
Conversation stopped. Lady Caroline turned.
”Yes, Millie?”
”Did you know that Mr. Bevan was _the_ Mr. Bevan?”