hey're to be at the Astrarium and why not I? Because you're my
friend, perhaps. Such a friend! When it would have been so easy for you to
give me that pleasure. But no one will ever do anything to please me! Yes,
strangers, gentlemen in the front boxes; but not friends like you! You
always bore me a grudge for marrying Trampy.... And who knows what people
say of me behind my back!... that I cut my turn ... that I do less than I
might. You know what I can do, damn it! But it's work I want, do you hear,
work! I'm not what you think!... One of those ... not I! I'd rather chew
glass than take any of that!"

And Lily spoke with nervous movements of the shoulder and fiery glances
and she forced Jimmy to lower his eyes and she told him what she thought
of him straight out, told him all her heaped-up, rankling spite, told him
all she had at heart, in words round and solid enough to build a tower of
Babel on!

"And I would have given my life, yes, given my life to perform here!
However, it's done now, isn't it? And it can't be undone," said Lily, more
calmly, and two tears sprang to her eyelids.... Then, while Jimmy, plunged
in his own thoughts, watched her without speaking and listened to her like
a judge, "You've nothing to say to me, eh?" she continued, closing her
trunk with a thump of the fist. "Nor I either. Then help me to carry down
my hamper: you haven't helped me to get into the Astrarium; at least you
can help me to get out of it. No? You refuse? And you so generous!" she
said, with a scornful laugh. "Well, then, help me take it on my shoulders.
No? Not even that? Then I must try by myself ... and never mind if I do
get crushed! _That's_ all I care for my life now!" added Lily, snapping
her fingers.

"But, Lily," said Jimmy, taking up the hamper. "You're going out of your
sense; you know that ..."

Jimmy could find nothing to say. He was pained to the bottom of his heart
... for the grief which he was causing her. The tone of feverish banter
which Lily was adopting upset him more than her anger had done. He felt
himself filled with pity for that poor little creature standing at bay.

With a turn of the hip, Jimmy jerked to his shoulder the great basket
trunk which contained all Lily's fortune. It was not very heavy: tights,
spangled skirts, faded flowers. And, in the passage down-stairs, the
astounded stage-doorkeeper saw the famous bill-topper submissively
carrying the trunk of the bicyclist, who walked in front