ld be lovely to have you come, but you would spend far too much
money. You really mean it all?"

"Absolutely," he answered. "I insist upon it."

She leaned towards him with dancing eyes. After all, she was very
much of a child. The prospect of a new gown, now that she permitted
herself to think of it, was enthralling.

"I might get a coat and skirt," she remarked thoughtfully, "and a
simple white dress. A black hat would do for both of them, then."

"Don't you study your brother too much," Laverick declared. "His
stock is going up all the time."

"Tell me your favorite color," she begged confidentially.

"I can't conceive your looking nicer than you do in black," he
replied.

She made a wry face.

"I suppose it must be black," she murmured doubtfully. "It is much
more economical than anything--"

She broke off to bow to a stout, red-faced man who, after a rude
stare, had greeted her with a patronizing nod. Laverick frowned.

"Who is that fellow?" he asked.

"Mr. Heepman, our stage-manager," Zoe answered, a little timidly.

"Is there any particular reason why he should behave like a boor?"
Laverick continued, raising his voice a little.

She caught at his arm in terror. The man was sitting at the next
table.

"Don't, please!" she implored. "He might hear you. He is just
behind there."

Laverick half turned in his chair. She guessed what he was about
to say, and went on rapidly.

"He has been so foolish," she whispered. "He has asked me so often
to go out with him. And he could get me sent away, if he wanted,
any time. He almost threatened it, the last time I refused. Now
that he has seen me with you, he will be worse than ever."

Laverick's face darkened, and there was a peculiar flash in his eyes.
The man was certainly looking at them in a rude manner.

"There are so many of the girls who would only be too pleased to go
with him," Zoe continued, in a terrified undertone. "I can't think
why he bothers me."

"I can," Laverick muttered. "Let's forget about the brute."

But the dinner was already spoiled for Zoe, so Laverick paid the
bill a few minutes later, and walked across to the stage-door of the
theatre with her. Her little hand, when she gave it to him at
parting, was quite cold.

"I'm as nervous as I can be," she confessed. "Mr. Heepman will be
watching all the night for something to find fault with me about."

"Don't you let him bully you," Laverick begged.

"I won