'
'No, I'm not. I always knew she had genius, and they have found it out; but
I must say they have taken their time about it.'
'How wonderful! she has succeeded!'
'Yes, _she_ has succeeded!'
'And she is really the girl you intended to play Lady Hayward?'
'Yes; and I hope she will play the part one of these days.'
'Of course, she is just the woman for it. What a splendid success she has
had! All London is talking about her.'
'And I remember when Ford refused to cast her for the adventuress in
_Divorce_. If he had, there is no doubt she would have carried the piece
through. Life is but a bundle of chances; she has succeeded, whatever that
may mean.'
'But you will let her have the part of Lady Hayward?'
'Yes, of course--that is to say, if----'
'Why "if"?'
'My thoughts are with you, dear; literature seems to have passed out of
sight.'
'But you must not sacrifice your talent in worship of me. I shall not allow
you. For my sake, if not for hers, you must finish that play. I want you to
be famous. I should be for ever miserable if my love proved a upas-tree.'
'A upas-tree! It will be you who will help me; it will be your presence
that will help me to write my play. I was always vaguely conscious that you
were a necessary element in my life; but I did not wake up to any knowledge
of it until that day--do you remember?--when you came into my study to ask
me what fish I'd like for dinner, and I begged of you to allow me to read
to you that second act.
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