Dan had been obliged to refuse--more harshly than was agreeable--to take Marian to see a French farce that had been widely advertised by its indecency.

Her cool announcement that she had read it in French did not seem to Harwood to make an educational matter of it; but he was obliged finally to compromise with her on another play.

Her mother was quite comfortable, she averred; there was no reason why she should not go to the theatre, and she forced the issue by getting the tickets herself.
That evening when they reached their seats Dan observed that Allen Thatcher sat immediately in front of them.

He turned and nodded to Dan, and his eyes took in Marian.

In a moment she murmured an inquiry as to who the young man was; and Harwood was aware thereafter that Marian divided her attention between Allen and the stage.