Eliphalet smiled. “Of course you are not. But then you are not a student of human nature, and by profession I am. Good night, again.” But Henry Churchill disregarded Mr. Cardomay’s advice, and wrote a letter to Mary urging her to abandon a profession in which she was doomed to failure, and accept his hand in marriage. This foolishly-constructed affair fired her determination to show him, at all costs, that she could succeed, and moreover to say that she never wished to see or hear from him again. Both letters, in a fit of emotional confidence, she showed to Flora, who, being a meddlesome little busybody, decided that it was merely a lovers’ quarrel, and determined to act as intermediary and secretly keep the unhappy young man informed as to his sweetheart’s doings. Now it was just at this critical time that Sydney Lennox (he who was reputed to have ticked off Dot Boucicault before a West End company) chanced to cast a favouring eye upon the cherry-lipped Eunice. Sydney Lennox was attracting a good deal of attention in the company, for it was common knowledge that in a few weeks’ time he was taking out a tour of his own. The younger members would haunt his exits in the hope of a chance word with him, and many there were who besought him to give them work. Then one night, during one of his waits, Eunice boldly bearded the lion and asked if he couldn’t find her a part to play. Mr. Lennox blew a cloud of cigarette-smoke towards the ceiling and watched it disappear. “Can you act, then?” he demanded. “Oh, I’m certain I could if I had the chance.” “And you want me to back the chance you can, eh?” It was not a pretty speech, but Mr. Lennox was like that. “Nothing doing, my dear,” he finished up. “I’m sorry,” said Eunice, and turned sadly away. Something in the cut of her retreating little figure made an appeal to Sydney Lennox, for he called out: “Here! Come back a minute.” She turned expectantly, and he allowed his eyes to wander over her. Certainly she was pretty, very pretty. Quite an asset on a summer tour. “Got any people?” “No; I’m an orphan.” “On your own, then?” “Yes; and I’m awfully keen to get on.” Mr. Lennox rubbed his chin. “Find things pretty dull, don’t you?” “I’m bored to tears with being in the crowd. I’d give anything to get out of it and play a part.” “You would? I see—I see. Right! Well, come and talk to me again.” He touched her shoulder with a light, familiar touch, and walked towards his entrance. A week later Flora noticed a great excitement in her companion’s manner. “What’s the matter, Euny?” she asked. “I—I’m to play second lead in Mr. Lennox’s tour.” “Euny!” “Yes. Isn’t it splendid?” But Flora made no answer for a moment; then she said very slowly, “Is it splendid?” “Of course. Why not?” “I’d like to know the terms that got you that shop.” Then Eunice burst out with: “You told me yourself it was the only way to get a start. I shouldn’t be the first, and——” But Flora interrupted.