Page:Lynch Williams--the married life of the Frederic Carrolls.djvu/212

 all, you know—except once to speak of portraits—since you met her in the studio that day. You remember?"

It appeared that Molly remembered. "But neither have you, Fred."

There was another pause. (Hold the picture. Count five.) Each was waiting for the other. She had her reasons for making him take the cue. She was stage manager as well as leading lady in this play. She had constructed some such scene as this for days, not to speak of long nights; but comedy is delicate work and she had waited. She was still waiting.

"By the by, Molly, you and I don't look at these things in the stupid way of some people, I hope."

She had found out what she wanted—not all, but enough. She took her cue now, and her answer surprised him, but her matter-of-fact manner surprised him more. "Of course not," said Molly blithely. "A man should feel that he can have all the friends he wants—even though he does happen to be married." Then, laughing to {{c|{{sm|190}}