She found relief from her embarrassment in the cigarette.
"You can laugh at me now," she said. "I shan't mind. In
fact, I didn't mind, though I thought I did. If I had, I'd
not have let you see me cry."

"Don't think I'm discouraged," said Brent. "The reverse. You
showed that you have nerve a very different matter from
impudence. Impudence fails when it's most needed. Nerve
makes one hang on, regardless. In such a panic as yours was,
the average girl would have funked absolutely. You stuck it
out. Now, you and I will try _Lola's_ first entrance. No,
don't throw away your cigarette. _Lola_ might well come in
smoking a cigarette." She did better. What Burlingham had
once thoroughly drilled into her now stood her in good stead,
and Brent's sympathy and enthusiasm gave her the stimulating
sense that he and she were working together. They spent the
afternoon on the one thing--_Lola_ coming on, singing her gay
song, her halt at sight of _Santuzza_ and _Turiddu_, her look at
_Santuzza_, at _Turiddu_, her greeting for each. They tried it
twenty different ways. They discussed what would have been in
the minds of all three. They built up "business" for _Lola_, and
for the two others to increase the significance of _Lola's_ actions.

"As I've already told you," said he, "anyone with a voice and
a movable body can learn to act. There's no question about
your becoming a good actress. But it'll be some time before
I can tell whether you can be what I hope--an actress who
shows no sign that she's acting."

Susan showed the alarm she felt. "I'm afraid you'll find at
the end that you've been wasting your time," said she.

"Put it straight out of your head," replied he. "I never
waste time. To live is to learn. Already you've given me a
new play--don't forget that. In a month I'll have it ready for
us to use. Besides, in teaching you I teach myself. Hungry?"

"No--that is, yes. I hadn't thought of it, but I'm starved."

"This sort of thing gives one an appetite like a field hand."
He accompanied her to the door of the rear dressing-room on
the floor below. "Go down to the reception room when you're
ready," said he, as he left her to go on to his own suite to
change his clothes. "I'll be there."

The maid came immediately, drew a bath for her, afterward
helped her to dress. It was Susan's first experience with a
maid, her first realization how much time and trouble one
saves oneself if free from