It seemed to him that in all he heard of her, in everything she did, she kept robbing him still further of all that was dear to him in Sister Anne. For five minutes, conscious of the foot-lights, Miss Flagg maintained upon her lovely face a fixed and intent expression, and then slowly and unobtrusively drew back to a seat in the rear of the box. In the' darkest recesses she found Holworthy, shut off from a view of the stage by a barrier of women's hats. “Your friend Mr. Ward,” she began abruptly, in a whisper, “is the rudest, most ill-bred person I ever met. When I talked to him the other day I thought he was nice. He was nice, But he has behaved abominably--like a boor--like a sulky child. Has he no sense of humor? Because I played a joke on him, is that any reason why he should hurt me?” “Hurt you?” exclaimed little Holworthy in amazement. “Don't be ridiculous! How could he hurt you? Why should you care how rude he is? Ward's a clever fellow, but he fancies himself. He's conceited. He's too good-looking; and a lot of silly women have made such a fuss over him. So when one of them laughs at him he can't understand it. That's the trouble. I could see that when I was telling him.” “Telling him!” repeated Miss Flagg--“Telling him what?” “About what a funny story you made of it,” explained Holworthy. “About his having the nerve to ask you to feed the monkeys and to lunch with him.” Miss Flagg interrupted with a gasping intake of her breath. “Oh!” she said softly. “So-so you told him that, did you? And--what else did you tell him?” “Only what you told us--that he said 'the day could not begin too soon'; that he said he wouldn't let you be a manicure and wash the hands of men who weren't fit to wash the streets you walked on.” There was a pause. “Did I tell you he said that?” breathed Anita Flagg. “You know you did,” said Holworthy. There was another pause. “I must have been mad!” said the girl. There was a longer pause and Holworthy shifted uneasily. “I'm afraid you are angry,” he ventured. “Angry!” exclaimed Miss Flagg. “I should say I was angry, but not with you. I'm very much pleased with you. At the end of the act I'm going to let you take me out into the lobby.”