“No, no! I want Miss Kilburn's unbiassed opinion. Don't you speak, Mrs. Munger! Now haven't we?” Mrs. Brandreth made Annie assent to the superiority of her cottage in detail. She recapitulated the different facts of the architecture and furnishing, from each of which she seemed to acquire personal merit, and she insisted that Percy should show some of them again. “We think it's a little picture,” she concluded, and once more Annie felt obliged to murmur her acquiescence. At last Mrs. Munger said that she must go to lunch, and was going to take Annie with her; Annie said she must lunch at home; and then Mrs. Brandreth pressed them both to stay to lunch with her. “You shall have a cup of tea out of a piece of real Satsuma,” she said; but they resisted. “I don't believe,” she added, apparently relieved by their persistence, and losing a little anxiety of manner, “that Percy's had any chance to consult you on a very important point about your theatricals, Miss Kilburn.” “Oh, that will do some other time, mother,” said Mr. Brandreth. “No, no! Now! And you can have Mrs. Munger's opinion too. You know Miss Sue Northwick is going to be Juliet?” “No!” shouted Mrs. Munger. “I thought she had refused positively. When did she change her mind?” “She's just sent Percy a note. We were talking it over when you came, and Percy was going over to tell you.” “Then it is _sure_ to be a success,” said Mrs. Munger, with a solemnity of triumph. “Yes, but Percy feels that it complicates one point more than ever--” “It's a question that always comes up in amateur dramatics,” said Mr. Brandreth, with reluctance, “and it always will; and of course it's particularly embarrassing in _Romeo and Juliet_. If they don't show any affection--it's very awkward and stiff; and if--” “I never approved of those liberties on the stage,” said Mrs. Brandreth. “I tell Percy that it's my principal objection to it. I can't make it seem nice. But he says that it's essential to the effect. Now _I_ say that they might just incline their heads toward each other without _actually_, you know. But Percy is afraid that it won't do, especially in the parting scene on the balcony--so passionate, you know--it won't do simply to--They must _act_ like lovers. And it's such a great point to get Miss Sue Northwick to take the part, that he mustn't risk losing her by anything that might seem--” “Yes,” said Mrs. Munger, with deep concern. Mr. Brandreth looked very unhappy. “It's an embarrassing point. We can't change the play, and so the difficulty must be met and disposed of at once.” He did not look at either of the ladies, but Mrs. Munger referred the matter to Annie with a glance of impartiality. His mother also turned her eyes upon Annie. “Percy thought that you must have seen so much of amateur dramatics in Europe that you could tell him just how to do.” “Perhaps you could consult Miss Northwick herself,” said Annie dryly, after a moment of indignation, and another of amusement.