Page:The Tragic Muse (London & New York, Macmillan & Co., 1890), Volume 3.djvu/150

142 much too clever for me," Mrs. Rooth put in. "But there's one way you can encourage Mr. Sherringham—there's one way you can help him; and perhaps it won't make it any worse for a gentleman of your good-nature that it will help me at the same time. Can't I look to you, dear Mr. Dormer, to see that he does come to the theatre to-night—that he doesn't feel himself obliged to stay away?"

"What danger is there of his staying away?" Nick asked.

"If he's bent on sacrifices, that's a very good one to begin with," Miriam observed.

"That's the mad, bad way she talks to him—she has forbidden the dear unhappy gentleman the house!" her mother cried. "She brought it up to him just now, at the door, before Miss Dormer: such very odd form! She pretends to impose her commands upon him."

"Oh, he'll be there—we're going to dine together," said Nick. And when Miriam asked him what that had to do with it he went on: "Why, we've arranged it; I'm going, and he won't let me go alone."

"You're going? I sent you no places," Miriam objected.

"Yes, but I've got one. Why didn't you, after all I've done for you?"

She hesitated a moment. "Because I'm so good. No matter," she added: "if Mr. Sherringham comes I won't act."

"Won't you act for me?"

"She'll act like an angel," Mrs. Rooth protested. "She might do, she might be anything in the world; but she won't take common pains."