and then I might sign a fancy name.

MADAME NERISSE. That would be quite easy, and I don't think the
Directors would mind. They might say it was a fresh name to make itself
known and liked.

THERESE. We'll try and manage it.

MADAME NERISSE. We shall have to fight against some jealousy. The
Directors have protegees. The wife of one of them has been waiting to
get an innings for more than two months. There are so many girls and
women who write nowadays.

THERESE. Yes; but generally speaking their work is not worth much, I
think.

MADAME NERISSE. Oh, I don't know that. There are a great many who have
real talent. People don't realize what a lot of girls there are who have
talent. But, still, if I'm not able to take an article every week, you
may rely upon me to take one as often as I possibly can. Oh, I shall
make myself some enemies for your sake.

THERESE [_in consternation_] Enemies? How do you mean enemies?

MADAME NERISSE. My dear, it alters everything if you become a
professional. Let me see if I can explain. We have our regular
contributors. The editor makes them understand that they must expect to
run the gantlet of the occasional competition of society women; because,
if these women are allowed to write, it interests them and their
families in the paper, and it's an excellent advertisement for us.
That'll explain to you, by the way, why we sometimes publish articles
not quite up to our standard. But if it's a matter of regular,
professional work, we have to be more careful. We have to respect
established rights and consider people who've been with us a long time.
There is only a limited space in each number, and a lot of people have
to live out of that.

THERESE [_who has gone quite white_] Yes, I see.

MADAME NERISSE [_who sees Therese's emotion_] How sorry I am for you! If
you only knew how I feel for you! Don't look so unhappy. [_Therese makes
a gesture of despair_] You're not an ordinary girl, Therese, and it
shall never be said that I didn't do all I could for you. Listen. I told
you just now that I had some big projects in my mind. You shall know
what they are. My husband and I are going to start an important weekly
feminist paper on absolutely new lines. It's going to leave everything
that's been done up to now miles behind. My husband shall explain his
ideas to you himself. It'll be advanced and superior and all that, and
at the same time most practical. Even to think of it has been a touch of