"How shall I ever catch up with you, Barbara Garratry?"
"I make unconscionable demands on your time and patience. I ask myself what possible right I have to do it, assure myself I have none, and go right on imposing on you."
"I'm glad to help--if I do. I told you I liked a fight."
"Just at this moment peace seems the only good gift desirable to me."
"All right. Be quiet and I'll talk. I'll tell you the story of a play I'm going to do. It's called The Governor."
"Yes, you suggested it to me, but you're not the hero."
She outlined the situation and set the characters up before him. Her hero was to be a young ardent reform candidate for governor, visioning big things which he could do with his power of office. The party leaders let him talk--they winked and said the reform stuff was popular with the people just now, but when they got him to Albany they'd teach him a new song. The chief contributor to his campaign fund was to be a corporation which wanted the governor's veto to a bill infringing their absolutism. They convinced the young enthusiast of their absolute sympathy with his aims, as well as their own integrity of purpose, and then he is elected and goes to Albany.
She was interrupted by the waiter with the lunch. She directed him to serve them.
"Never mind the lunch--go on with 'The Governor'!" commanded Trent.
"That's enough for this session. Come and eat your brief repast--time is nearly up."
"But what are you going to have him do when he finds out the corporation is rotten?"
While he ate his lunch he plied her with questions and objections. When he had finished, he hesitated at the door.
"Let's talk about the play to-night. I'll come after you. For this relief much thanks; it was both mental and physical."
This play, introduced as a soporific by Bob, proved a real bond. Trent became deeply interested in it, talked it, thought about it, contended fiercely over points. When Bob remarked that it was, after all, her play, and she would do with it as she saw fit, he always defended himself gravely.
He debated the necessity of the love story. It took time which might be used for preachment.
"Oh, you mere man," she exploded, "you can't go on disregarding women in this way. We're here, we've got to be admitted and considered."