She began to question him, in a timid sort of way, about his
experiences--whether stage-fright was difficult to get over--whether he
thought that the immediate and enthusiastic approbation of the public
was a beneficial stimulant--whether the continuous excitement of the
emotional nature tended to render it callous, or, on the other hand,
more sensitive and sympathetic--and so forth. Was she dimly looking
forward to the conquest of a new domain, where the young ladies of the
rectory and the vicarage might be induced fearfully to follow her? But
Lionel did not linger long in that drawing-room. He got Maurice Mangan
away as soon as he could; they slipped out unobserved--especially as
there were plenty of new-comers now arriving. When they had passed down
through the back garden to the gate, the one lit a cigarette, and the
other a pipe; and together they wended their way towards Kensington
Road and Piccadilly.
"Why," said Mangan, "I shall have quite a favorable report to carry down
to Winstead. I did not see you treated with any of that unwholesome
adulation I have heard so much of!"
"I am almost a stranger in the house now," Lionel said, briefly.
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