Page:The Plutocrat (1927).pdf/384

 Ibsen matinée. That's often done by an actress, even when"

"I'm afraid I'd better run, Mr. Ogle," Olivia broke in nervously. "You'll forgive me; I'm afraid there's something important I ought to be doing."

He followed more slowly as she sped lightly away through the darkness; and then, descending to his room, he found he had added one more to his list of troubles. Isabella Clarkson was the wife of Lehren, the manager of "The Pastoral Scene"; and the playwright wished that her husband held a tighter rein upon her. How could she play well in the evenings after doing special matinées? Besides, she should have been satisfied to be known as the "Anna Struger" of "The Pastoral Scene." If she wanted to do "Hedda Gabler" later, after three or four years, no one could find fault with her for it; but just now adding an Ibsen rôle might diversify interest; and people who saw her as "Hedda" might not care to see her as "Anna." What was the matter with Joe Lehren, that he could never show any firmness or intelligence with Isabella? And, indignantly, as he dressed, Ogle went so far as to picture himself returned to New York and saying to Isabella: "See here! You sit down in that chair and listen to me.