“I haven’t any objections to killing snakes. In my opinion that’s what the horrid beasts were created for, but this particular snake is probably very valuable—he belongs to the profession and everything.” “Please don’t jest about it, Terry; it may be a matter of life and death. If I hear that Professor Pendragon is worse instead of better tomorrow, I will be sure. Then we must do something before it is too late. You must promise to help me.” She laid her hand on his arm and looked up at him with such genuine fear and entreaty in her eyes that for a moment he understood and sympathized with all of her beliefs. “Of course I’ll help,” he promised, “but now I’d best go, and you must go to bed and try not to dream of snakes.” CHAPTER VIII Ruth waited impatiently for the noon hour, so that she might ask Nels what news he had of Professor Pendragon, but when she finally met him he had not seen nor heard from the Professor since the day they all had tea together. On Sunday morning Dorothy was to go to him to begin his portrait and Ruth was to accompany her. Until then she probably would get no news. In the afternoon when she returned to the house she found Gloria there before her, having returned early from the motion picture studios. Terry was there too, reading the last of his new comedy which was now completed. Gloria was enthusiastic about it and Billie Irwin, who had been quite depressed for over a fortnight, was now as cheery as if the contract was already signed, for Gloria had picked out a part that must certainly be given to Billie if she, herself, was to play the lead. They all talked as if the production of the play was assured, and as if no one but the author would have a word to say about how it should be cast, a thing that seemed quite logical to Ruth until Terry himself explained that he would have very little to say about it, except as to Gloria, and she would be given the leading rôle when the play was produced, not so much because Terry wanted her, as because she was the only well-known actress who could possibly fit it. To hear the others talking one would think that the play was going into rehearsals tomorrow with all the parts distributed among Gloria’s friends. Even Ben Stark begged Terry to try and hold out one of the parts until he saw how his road tour was coming out, and they were all discussing how the various parts ought to be dressed. Terry had no opportunity to talk to Ruth alone, but they exchanged significant glances when George appeared with tea, looking so correct and conventional that it was difficult to believe that they had seen him the night before burning incense and kneeling to a snake. “Any news?” Terry whispered, and Ruth could only shake her head. When George had left the room Terry ventured to speak of him: “What’s all this that George is telling me about going up to the Peyton-Russells’ with you to amuse the guests with vaudeville magic?” he asked.