“I never approved of those liberties on the stage,” said Mrs. Brandreth. “I tell Percy that it's my principal objection to it. I can't make it seem nice. But he says that it's essential to the effect. Now _I_ say that they might just incline their heads toward each other without _actually_, you know. But Percy is afraid that it won't do, especially in the parting scene on the balcony--so passionate, you know--it won't do simply to--They must _act_ like lovers. And it's such a great point to get Miss Sue Northwick to take the part, that he mustn't risk losing her by anything that might seem--”
“Yes,” said Mrs. Munger, with deep concern.
Mr. Brandreth looked very unhappy. “It's an embarrassing point. We can't change the play, and so the difficulty must be met and disposed of at once.”
He did not look at either of the ladies, but Mrs. Munger referred the matter to Annie with a glance of impartiality. His mother also turned her eyes upon Annie. “Percy thought that you must have seen so much of amateur dramatics in Europe that you could tell him just how to do.”
“Perhaps you could consult Miss Northwick herself,” said Annie dryly, after a moment of indignation, and another of amusement.
“I thought of that,” said Mrs. Brandreth; “but as Percy's to be Romeo--You see he wishes the play to be a success artistically; but if it's to succeed socially, he must have Miss Northwick, and she might resign at the first suggestion of--”
“Bessie Chapley would certainly have been better. She's so outspoken you could have put the case right to her,” said Mrs. Munger.
“But we shall find out a way. Why, you can settle it at rehearsal!”
“Perhaps at rehearsal,” said Mr. Brandreth, with a pensive absence of mind.
Mrs. Munger crushed his hand and his mother's in her leathern grasp, and took Annie away with her. “It isn't lunch-time yet,” she explained, when they were out of earshot, “but I saw she was simply killing you, and so I made the excuse. She has no mercy. There's time enough for you to make your calls before lunch, and then you can come home with me.”
Annie suggested that this would not do after refusing Mrs. Brandreth.
“Why, it would never have done to _accept_!” Mrs. Munger cried. “They didn't dream of it!” At the next place she said: “This is the Clevingers'. _They're_ some of our all-the-year-round people too.” She opened the door without ringing, and let herself noisily in. “This is the way we run in, without ceremony, everywhere. It's quite one family. That's the charm of the place. We expect to take each other as we find them.”