'And she's only an amateur. But she won't be an amateur long.' 'But a girl like Milly can't be clever enough----' 'It depends on what you call clever. She's got the gift of making the audience hug itself. You'll see.' 'See Milly on the stage?' Leonora asked uneasily. 'I hope not.' 'Why, my dear lady? Isn't she built for it? Doesn't she enjoy it? Isn't she at home there? What's the matter with the stage anyhow?' 'Her father would never hear of such a thing,' said Leonora. Towards the close of the opera she had seen John, in morning attire, propped against a side-wall and peering at the stage and his daughter with a bewildered, bored, unsympathetic air. 'Ah!' Twemlow ejaculated grimly. A moment later, as he was putting her cloak over her shoulders, he said in a different, kinder, more soothing tone: 'I guess I know just how you feel.' She looked at him, raising her eyebrows, and smiling with melancholy amusement. In the corridor, Stanway came hurrying up to them, obviously excited. 'Oh, you're here, Nora!' he burst out. 'I've been hunting for you everywhere. I've just been told that a messenger came for Uncle Meshach a the interval to say that Aunt Hannah was ill. Do you know anything about it?' 'No,' she said. 'Uncle only told me that aunt wasn't equal to coming. I wondered where uncle had got to.' 'Well,' Stanway continued, 'you'd better go to Church Street at once, and see after things.' Leonora seemed to hesitate. 'As quick as you can,' he said with irritation and increasing excitement. 'Don't waste a moment. It may be serious. I'll drive the girls home, and then I'll come and fetch you.' 'If Mrs. Stanway cares, I will walk down with her,' said Arthur Twemlow. 'Yes, do, Twemlow, there's a good chap,' he welcomed the idea. And with that he wafted them impulsively into the street. Then Stanway stood waiting by his equipage for Ethel and Milly. He spoke to no one, but examined the harness critically, and put some curt question to Carpenter about the breeching. It was a chilly night, and the glare of the lamps showed that Prince steamed a little under his rug. Ten minutes elapsed before Ethel came. 'Here we are, father,' she said with pleasant satisfaction. 'Where's mother?' 'I should think so!' he returned. 'The horse taking cold, and me waiting and waiting. Your mother's had to go to Aunt Hannah's. What's become of Milly?' He was losing his temper.