“Indeed I have no reasons for thinking so. She seems to have everything she can want, beauty, wealth, position, a good husband.” “Then Mr. Falconer is nice?” “He is generally popular, I believe; but I have scarcely seen him.” “Ah!” escaped suddenly from Annie’s lips. She thought those last words significant. She could not bring the conversation round to Colonel Richardson now without exciting his suspicions, so she merely asked him not to mention that she had ever known Mrs. Falconer. “I wish to remain _perdu_ to my old friends until I have got on--if I ever do get on,” she added, sadly. “You will get on, Miss Langton. How can you doubt it!” “How can I do anything but doubt it? I have waited so long, and seem no nearer the end.” “But you must be nearer the end.” “Ah--but what end?” She turned away with a little shrug of the shoulders, and his eyes followed her with interest. She was not massive and he found more attraction in her face than in those of all the professional beauties. A few evenings later, as he was leaving the theater when his share of the performance was over, he saw Miss Langton in front of him walking down the quiet street where the stage-door was. A gentleman standing on the opposite pathway crossed over and raised his hat to her. Gerald Gibson saw her start, stop, hesitate, and finally put out her hand. Gerald passed them, but neither noticed him; and he recognized the gentleman as Colonel Richardson, whom he had met at Mrs. Falconer’s. “That was the reason of her interest in Mrs. Falconer then!” thought Gerald. CHAPTER XII. Gerald Gibson had not gone many yards further down the street, after seeing the meeting between Miss Langton and Colonel Richardson, when he was overtaken by a fellow-actor, Aubrey Cooke. “Did you see who little Langton was talking to?” “Some friend of hers, I suppose. I didn’t notice.” “It was Frank Richardson, the man there was all that scandal about a few years ago--Lord Berwick’s wife--don’t you remember?” “Well?” “Well, I’m sorry he has got hold of little Langton, that is all.” “You are sorry without cause, then. Miss Langton is a long way above his level. She can’t refuse to speak to him, for he knew her people well years ago.” With unerring certainty Gerald Gibson had jumped to this conclusion. The other looked surprised. “Oh, you know all about it, then? You are the favorite one for whom Miss Prim opens her lips. Well, I really am glad to hear it, for she is the flag I always hold out when old ladies tell me there are no virtuous women on the stage; and, if she were to go I don’t know where on earth I should look for another.” “You are too cynical, Cooke.” “Don’t shy long words at me. If I deserve them it is because I was led away to a meeting of the Society for the Mutual Improvement of the Clerical and Dramatic Professions this afternoon. Capital institution--the parsons looked happy and the pro.’s looked good. But that can’t last. Good-night.”