"Didn't I tell you, _hush_!" Marbridge interrupted, mock-impatient. "Not another word. Remember what I told you about how I felt that day I saw you act, out in Chicago. The time's coming when I'm going to be powerful' glad you gave me this chance to give you a lift, Miss Thursday. And then"--he paused in the act of opening the door, and took Joan's hand, subjecting it to a firm, friendly pressure before continuing--"and then, perhaps, I'll be coming round and begging favours of you." For an instant Joan's eyes endured, without a tremor, the quick searching probe of the man's. She nodded quietly, saying in a grave voice: "I guess you won't have to beg very hard--not for anything I could ever do for you, Mr. Marbridge." His smile was as spontaneous and bright as a child's. "It's a bargain!" he declared spiritedly. "And you can bet your life I won't forget my end of it!... Good afternoon, Miss Thursday. Remember--Friday at three-thirty...." XXXIII As one result of her interview with Marbridge, Joan returned to her quarters in a state of thoughtfulness which was responsible not only for her forgetting the appointment with Matthias and the risk she ran of encountering Quard at every corner, but also for her unquestioning acceptance of Hattie's absence from the flat in the face of her expressed determination not to go out that afternoon. Hattie, however, was nothing loath to explain her change of mind when she blew in cheerfully shortly before dinner-time. "Hello!" she exclaimed, tossing her hat one way and her parasol another. "Did you miss me?" Joan looked up blankly from the depths of her musing. "No," she said dully. "Why?" "Well, you went off half-peeved because I wouldn't go trapesing with you--and then I went out after all." "Oh--I'd forgotten," Joan admitted without much interest. "Well, I didn't mean to go out, but Billy Emerson sent me a tip and ... I bet you can't guess who I've seen." Joan shook her head. "Arlington!" "Arlington!" Joan exclaimed. "Well, and why not?" "Nothing--only I thought you weren't looking for anything in musical shows." "No more am I, and it wasn't a musical show I went to see him about. Billy sent me a card of introduction with the tip, and Arlington saw me and--well, I guess it's just about settled. I'm to understudy Nella Cardrow in 'Mrs. Mixer.' Arlington wouldn't promise, but told me to come in Saturday morning, and the understanding is he'll have contracts ready to sign then. I do believe my luck's turned at last!" "But," Joan argued, perplexed, "I don't understand.... Of course, it's fine to get the job, and all that--and I'm awf'ly glad for you, Hattie--but you act as excited as if it was the title rôle you expected to play." "Maybe I do," Hattie retorted. "That's what an understudy's for, isn't it--to play the star part in case of an emergency?" "Yes, but--" "Anyhow, I don't mind telling you that's what I'm looking forward to." "You mean you think Mrs. Cardrow--?"