Page:Bambi (1914).djvu/347

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BAMBI
321

Bambi offered her hand to the manager with a solemn face, but the laugh twinkled in her eyes.

“How do you do, Mrs. Jocelyn? I understand that you had a great deal to do with this play?”

“I did,” she admitted. “Without me this play would have been nothing.”

“This leaves you no ground to stand on, Mr. Jocelyn,” he laughed.

The members of the company arrived and were presented to the authors. Bambi kept them all laughing until Mr. Frohman called order. They sat in state around the big table.

“I propose that Mrs. Jocelyn read us the play,” Mr. Frohman said.

“Oh, shall I? It is really Jarvis—”

“If you please,” said Mr. Frohman, indicating a chair.

So Bambi began, with a smile at Jarvis, and another at the audience. They all felt in a good humour. The play was so peculiarly hers, the intimate quality which had made the book “go” had been wonderfully retained, so that spontaneous laughter marked her progress through the comedy. It was all so true and universal, the characters so well drawn, the denouement so happy! At the climax