“But why should you go?” she cried, distressfully. “How perfectly⁠—ah, don’t go,” she exclaimed, then in desperate haste added: “It would be absolutely foolish.”

“ Shall I stay?” he urged. “Do you tell me to stay?”

“Of course I do,” she answered. “It would break up the play⁠—your going. It would spoil my part. You play opposite me, you know. Please stay.”

“Shall I stay,” he asked, “for the sake of your part? There is no one else you would rather have?” He was smiling straight into her eyes, and she guessed what he meant.

She smiled back at him, and the spirit of daring never more awake in her, replied, as she caught his eye: