Perhaps at that very moment Ford was making up his mind to announce
the last six nights of _Divorce_. At a quarter to twelve he heard Rose's
foot on the stairs. He opened the door.
'How did the piece go to-night?'
'Pretty well.'
'Only pretty well? Won't you come in for a few minutes?... So the piece
didn't go very well to-night?'
'Oh yes, it did. I've seen it go better; but----'
'Did you get a call?'
'Yes, after the second act.'
'Not after the third?'
'No. That act never goes well. Harding came behind; I was speaking to him,
and he said something which struck me as being very true. Ford, he said,
plays the part a great deal too seriously. When the piece was first
produced, it was played more good-humouredly by indifferent actors, who let
the thing run without trying to bring out every point. Ford makes it as
hard as nails. I think those were his exact words.'
Hubert did not answer. At the end of a long silence he said,--
'Did you hear anything about the last night's?'
'No,' she said; 'I heard nothing of that.'
'Ford appeared quite satisfied then?'
'Yes, quite,' she answered, with difficulty; for his eyes were fixed on
her, and she felt he knew she was not telling the truth.
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