_Rose._
Lose what?
_Tom._
The opportunity--her opportunity, _my_ opportunity, _your_ opportunity,
Rose.
_Rose._
[_Coming to him._] _My_ opportunity, Tom?
_Tom._
[_Pointing to the manuscript._] My play--my comedy--my youngest born!
Jenny has a theatre--could have one--has five hundred towards it, put
down by a man who believes in my comedy, God bless him!--the only fellow
who has ever believed----?
_Rose._
Oh, Tom! [_turning to Imogen_] oh, Imogen!
_Imogen._
My dear, five hundred! we want another five, at least.
_Rose._
Another five!
_Imogen._
Or eight.
_Tom._
And you are to play the part of Dora. Isn't she, Jenny--I mean, wasn't
she?
_Imogen._
Certainly. Just the sort of simple little Miss you _could_ play
now, Rose. And we thought that old Mr. Morfew would help us in the
speculation. Speculation! it's a dead certainty!
_Tom._
_Dead_ certainty? poor Morfew!
_Imogen._
And here we are, stuck fast----!
_Tom._
[_Sitting upon the dress-basket dejectedly._] And they'll expect me to
rehearse that dragon to-morrow with enthusiasm.
_Rose._
[_Putting her arm around his shoulder._] Never mind, Tom.
_Tom._
No, I won't----[_Taking her hand._] Oh,
_Rose._
[_Looking up at her._]Oh, Dora----!
[_Sir William, divested of his theatrical trappings, comes from behind
the curtain._]
_Imogen._
Oh! Tom. [_Rising._] Eh?
_Rose._
[_Retreating_]. Sir William Gower, Tom----
_Sir William._
[_To Tom._] I had no wish to be disturbed, sir, and I withdrew [_bowing
to Imogen_] when that lady entered the room. I have been a party, it
appears, to a consultation upon a matter of business. [_To Tom._] Do I
understand, sir, that you have been defeated in some project which would
have served the interests of Miss Trelawny.
_Tom._
Y--y--yes, sir.
_Sir William._