I should like it better than anything--is to be an actress--to
go on the stage. But, of course, I should like to take a high position,
and I thought--if you thought I could"--here Gwendolen became a little
more nervous--"it would be better for me to be a singer--to study
singing also."

Klesmer put down his hat upon the piano, and folded his arms as if to
concentrate himself.

"I know," Gwendolen resumed, turning from pale to pink and back
again--"I know that my method of singing is very defective; but I have
been ill taught. I could be better taught; I could study. And you will
understand my wish:--to sing and act too, like Grisi, is a much higher
position. Naturally, I should wish to take as high rank as I can. And I
can rely on your judgment. I am sure you will tell me the truth."

Gwendolen somehow had the conviction that now she made this serious
appeal the truth would be favorable.

Still Klesmer did not speak. He drew off his gloves quickly, tossed
them into his hat, rested his hands on his hips, and walked to the
other end of the room. He was filled with compassion for this girl: he
wanted to put a guard on his speech. When he turned again, he looked at
her with a mild frown of inquiry, and said with gentle though quick
utterance, "You have never seen anything, I think, of artists and their
lives?--I mean of musicians, actors, artists of that kind?"

"Oh, no," said Gwendolen, not perturbed by a reference to this obvious
fact in the history of a young lady hitherto well provided for.

"You are--pardon me," said Klesmer, again pausing near the piano--"in
coming to a conclusion on such a matter as this, everything must be
taken into consideration--you are perhaps twenty?"

"I am twenty-one," said Gwendolen, a slight fear rising in her. "Do you
think I am too old?"

Klesmer pouted his under lip and shook his long fingers upward in a
manner totally enigmatic.

"Many persons begin later than others," said Gwendolen, betrayed by her
habitual consciousness of having valuable information to bestow.

Klesmer took no notice, but said with more studied gentleness than
ever, "You have probably not thought of an artistic career until now:
you did not entertain the notion, the longing--what shall I say?--you
did not wish yourself an actress, or anything of that sort, till the
present trouble?"

"Not exactly: but I was fond of acting. I have acted; you saw me, if
you remember--you saw me here in charades, and as He