“I've no doubt I shall,” said Annie. “Did you make the adaptation yourself, Mr. Brandreth?”
“Well, yes, I did,” Mr. Brandreth modestly admitted. “It's been a good deal of work, but it's been a pleasure too. You know how that is, Miss Kilburn, in your charities.”
“_Don't_ speak of my charities, Mr. Brandreth. I'm not a charitable person.”
“You won't get people to believe _that_” said Mr. Brandreth. “Everybody knows how much good you do. But, as I was saying, my idea was to give a notion of the whole play in a series of passages or tableaux. Some of my friends think I've succeeded so well in telling the story, don't you know, without a change of scene, that they're urging me to publish my arrangement for the use of out-of-door theatricals.”
“I should think it would be a very good idea,” said Annie. “I suppose Mr. Chapley would do it?”
“Well, I don't know--I don't know,” Mr. Brandreth answered, with a note of trouble in his voice. “I'm afraid not,” he added sadly. “Miss Kilburn, I've been put in a very unfair position by Miss Northwick's changing her mind about Juliet, after the part had been offered to Miss Chapley. I've been made the means of a seeming slight to Miss Chapley, when, if it hadn't been for the cause, I'd rather have thrown up the whole affair. She gave up the part instantly when she heard that Miss Northwick wished to change her mind, but all the same I know--.”
He stopped, and Annie said encouragingly: “Yes, I see. But perhaps she doesn't really care.”
“That's what she said,” returned Mr. Brandreth ruefully. “But I don't know. I have never spoken of it with her since I went to tell her about it, after I got Miss Northwick's note.”
“Well, Mr. Brandreth, I think you've really been victimised; and I don't believe the Social Union will ever be worth what it's costing.”
“I was sure you would appreciate--would understand;” and Mr. Brandreth pressed her hand gratefully in leave-taking.
She heard him talking with some one at the gate, whose sharp, “All right, my son!” identified Putney.
“Oh, you're _both_ here!” she rejoiced, at sight of Mrs. Putney too.
“I can send Ellen home,” suggested Putney.
“Oh _no_, indeed!” said Annie, with single-mindedness at which she laughed with Mrs. Putney. “Only it seemed too good to have you both,” she explained, kissing Mrs. Putney. “I'm _so_ glad to see you!”