When, one night, Betty took her with Ughtred to the theatre, it was to see a play written by an American, played by American actors, produced by an American manager. They had even engaged in theatrical enterprise, it seemed, their actors played before London audiences, London actors played in American theatres, vibrating almost yearly between the two continents and reaping rich harvests. Hearing rumours of this in the past, Lady Anstruthers had scarcely believed it entirely true. Now the practical reality was brought before her. The French, who were only separated from the English metropolis by a mere few miles of Channel, did not exchange their actors year after year in increasing numbers, making a mere friendly barter of each other's territory, as though each land was common ground and not divided by leagues of ocean travel. “It seems so wonderful,” Lady Anstruthers argued. “I have always felt as if they hated each other.” “They did once--but how could it last between those of the same blood--of the same tongue? If we were really aliens we might be a menace. But we are of their own.” Betty leaned forward on the edge of the box, looking out over the crowded house, filled with almost as many Americans as English faces. She smiled, reflecting. “We were children put out to nurse and breathe new air in the country, and now we are coming home, vigorous, and full-grown.” She studied the audience for some minutes, and, as her glance wandered over the stalls, it took in more than one marked variety of type. Suddenly it fell on a face she delightedly recognised. It was that of the nice, speculative-eyed Westerner they had seen enjoying himself in Bond Street. “Rosy,” she said, “there is the Western man we love. Near the end of the fourth row.” Lady Anstruthers looked for him with eagerness. “Oh, I see him! Next to the big one with the reddish hair.” Betty turned her attention to the man in question, whom she had not chanced to notice. She uttered an exclamation of surprise and interest. “The big man with the red hair. How lovely that they should chance to sit side by side--the big one is Lord Mount Dunstan!”