that. You are a
bear!"

"A moment ago I was a dear."

"Oh, well, I'm fond of all sorts of animals."

"Then I advise your future husband to keep you away from zoos."

"Oh, Staff! But wouldn't you want me to come to see you once in a
while?"

He jerked up one hand with the gesture of a man touched in a
fencing-bout. "You win," he laughed. "I should've known better...."

But she made her regard tender consolation for his discomfiture. "You
haven't told me about the play--our play--_my_ play?"

"It's finished."

"Not really, Staff?" She clasped her hands in a charmingly impulsive
way. He nodded, smiling. "Is it good?"

"You'll have to tell me that--you and Max."

"Oh--Max! He's got to like what I like. When will you read it to me?"

"Whenever you wish."

"This afternoon?"

"If you like."

"Oh, good! Now I'm off for my nap--only I know I shan't sleep, I'm so
excited. Bring the 'script to me at two--say, half-past. Come to my
sitting-room; we can be alone and quiet, and after you've finished we
can have tea together and talk and--talk our silly heads off. You
darling!"

She gave him a parting glance calculated to turn any man's head, and
swung off to her rooms, the very spirit of grace incarnate in her young
and vigorous body.

Staff watched her with a kindling eye, then shook his head as one who
doubts--as if doubting his own worthiness--and went off to his own
stateroom to run over the type-script of his fourth act: being
fortunate in having chosen a ship which carried a typist, together with
almost every other imaginable convenience and alleged luxury of life
ashore.

Punctual to the minute, manuscript under his arm, he knocked at the door
of the sitting-room of the _suite de luxe_ occupied by the actress. Her
maid admitted him and after a moment or two Alison herself came out of
her stateroom, in a wonderful Parisian tea-gown cunningly designed to
render her even more bewilderingly bewitching than ever. Staff thought
her so, beyond any question, and as unquestionably was his thought
mirrored in his eyes as he rose and stood waiting for her greeting--very
nearly a-tremble, if the truth's to be told.

Her colour deepened as she came toward him and then, pausing at arm's
length, before he could lift a hand, stretched forth both her own and
caught him by the shoulders. "My dear!" she said softly; and her eyes
were bright and melting. "My dear, dear boy! It's so sweet to see you."
She came a step near