‘I wish I could,’ said Kendal, pacing up and down, his gray hair falling forward over his brow.  There was a pause, and then Kendal walked energetically up to his friend and laid his hand on his shoulder.

’You oughtn’t to let her have that play, Wallace; I’m quite clear on that.  You know how much I like her.  She’s all you say, and more; but art is art, and acting is acting.  I, at any rate, take these things seriously, and you do too.  We rejoice in it for her sake; but, after all, when one comes to think of it, this popularity of hers is enough to make one despair.  Sometimes I think it will throw back the popular dramatic taste for years.  At any rate, I am clear that if a man has got hold of a fine work of art, as you have in that play, he has a duty to it and to the public.  You are bound to see it brought out under the best possible conditions, and we all know that Miss Bretherton’s acting, capped with Hawes’s, would kill it, from the artistic point of view.’

‘Perfectly true, perfectly true,’ said Wallace.  ’Well, would you have me tell her so?’

’You must get out of it somehow.  Tell her that the part is one you feel won’t suit her—­won’t do her justice.’

’Much good that would do!  She thinks the part just made for her—­costumes and all.’

’Well, then, say you haven’t finished your revision, and you must have time for more work at it; that will postpone the thing, and she will hear of something else which will put it out of her head.’

‘There are all sorts of reasons against that,’ said Wallace; ’it’s hardly worth while going through them.  In the first place, she wouldn’t believe me; in the second, she won’t forget it, whatever happens, and it would only put the difficulty off a few weeks at most.  I feel so stupid about the whole thing.  I like her too much.  I’m so afraid of saying anything to hurt her, that I can’t finesse.  All my wits desert me.  I say, Kendal!’

‘Well?’

Wallace hesitated, and glanced up at his friend with his most winning expression.

’Do you think you could earn my eternal gratitude and manage the thing for me?  You know we’re going to Oxford next Sunday, and I suppose we shall go to Nuneham, and there will be opportunities for walks, and so on.  Could you possibly take it in hand?  She has an immense respect for you intellectually.  If you tell her that you’re sure the part won’t suit her, that she won’t do herself justice in it; if you could lead the conversation on to it and try to put her out of love for the scheme without seeming to have a commission from me in any way, I should be indeed everlastingly obliged!  You wouldn’t make a mess of it, as I should be sure to do.  You’d keep your head cool.’

‘Well!’ said Kendal, laughing, balancing himself on the table facing Wallace.  ’That’s a tempting prospect!  But if I don’t help you out you’ll give in, I know; you’re the softest of men, and I don’t want you to give in.’