Mr. Francis Clare had hitherto remained modestly in the background.  He now came forward with a face expressive of speechless amazement.

“Yes,” continued Magdalen, answering his blank look of inquiry with perfect composure.  “You are to act.  Miss Marrable and I have a turn for business, and we settled it all in five minutes.  There are two parts in the play left to be filled.  One is Lucy, the waiting-maid; which is the character I have undertaken—­with papa’s permission,” she added, slyly pinching her father’s arm; “and he won’t say No, will he?  First, because he’s a darling; secondly, because I love him, and he loves me; thirdly, because there is never any difference of opinion between us (is there?); fourthly, because I give him a kiss, which naturally stops his mouth and settles the whole question.  Dear me, I’m wandering.  Where was I just now?  Oh yes! explaining myself to Frank—­”

“I beg your pardon,” began Frank, attempting, at this point, to enter his protest.

“The second character in the play,” pursued Magdalen, without taking the smallest notice of the protest, “is Falkland—­a jealous lover, with a fine flow of language.  Miss Marrable and I discussed Falkland privately on the window-seat while the rest were talking.  She is a delightful girl—­so impulsive, so sensible, so entirely unaffected.  She confided in me.  She said:  ’One of our miseries is that we can’t find a gentleman who will grapple with the hideous difficulties of Falkland.’  Of course I soothed her.  Of course I said:  ’I’ve got the gentleman, and he shall grapple immediately.’—­’Oh heavens! who is he?’—­’Mr. Francis Clare.’—­’And where is he?’—­’In the house at this moment.’—­’Will you be so very charming, Miss Vanstone, as to fetch him?’—­’I’ll fetch him, Miss Marrable, with the greatest pleasure.’  I left the window-seat—­I rushed into the morning-room—­I smelled cigars—­I followed the smell—­and here I am.”

“It’s a compliment, I know, to be asked to act,” said Frank, in great embarrassment.  “But I hope you and Miss Marrable will excuse me—­”

“Certainly not.  Miss Marrable and I are both remarkable for the firmness of our characters.  When we say Mr. So-and-So is positively to act the part of Falkland, we positively mean it.  Come in and be introduced.”

“But I never tried to act.  I don’t know how.”

“Not of the slightest consequence.  If you don’t know how, come to me and I’ll teach you.”

“You!” exclaimed Mr. Vanstone.  “What do you know about it?”

“Pray, papa, be serious!  I have the strongest internal conviction that I could act every character in the play—­Falkland included.  Don’t let me have to speak a second time, Frank.  Come and be introduced.”