Part 48 (1/2)
”But why?” inquired Edward Henry with bland surprise ”Doesn't she _want_ to be heard--by her gallery-boys?”
Mr Marrier showed an enfeebled smile
”She hasn't been spoken to like that for thirty years,” said he
”But don't you agree with ree_ with you--”
”And doesn't your friend Carlo want his precious hexaree with you,” said Marrier ”The fact is, we've done all we could, but it's no use She's splendid, only--” He paused
”Only you can't make out ten per cent of what she says,” Edward Henry finished for hiot no use for that inthe phrase, ”my theatre”
”That's all very well,” said Marrier ”But what are you going to _do_ about it? I've tried everything _You've_ coivesaoh!”
”Do?” exclaimed Edward Henry ”It's perfectly simple All you have to do is to act God blessfifteen pounds a week, and aren't youYou've proved that hints are no good You'd have known that from your birth up, Marrier, if you'd been born in the Five Towns
Act, o on, she won't”
”Is her understudy in the theatre?”
”Yes It's Miss Cunninghaet?”
”Ten pounds a week”
”What for?”
”Well--partly to understudy, I suppose”
”Let her earn it, then Go on with the rehearsal And let her play the part to-hted, you bet”
”But--”
”Miss Lindop,” Edward Henry interrupted, ”will you please read to Mr
Marrier what I've dictated?” He turned to Marrier ”It's an intervieith myself for one of to-morrow's papers”
Miss Lindop, with tears in her voice if not in her eyes, obeyed the order and, drawing the paper from the machine, read its contents aloud
Mr Marrier started back--not in the figurative but in the literal sense--as he listened
”But you'll never send that out!” he exclaimed
”Why not?”