no one, not even
Clelie, for nearly a week. Then--she went to work--and worked
like a reincarnation of Brent.

She inquired for Sperry, found that he and Rod had separated
as they no longer needed each other; she went into a sort of
partnership with Sperry for the production of Brent's
plays--he, an excellent coach as well as stage director,
helping her to finish her formal education for the stage. She
played with success half a dozen of the already produced Brent
plays. At the beginning of her second season she appeared
in what has become her most famous part--_Roxy_ in Brent's last
play, "The Scandal." With the opening night her career of
triumph began. Even the critics--therefore, not unnaturally,
suspicious of an actress who was so beautiful, so beautifully
dressed, so well supported, and so well outfitted with
actor-proof plays even the critics conceded her ability. She
was worthy of the great character Brent had created--the
wayward, many-sided, ever gay _Roxy Grandon_.

When, at the first night of "The Scandal," the audience
lingered, cheering Brent's picture thrown upon a drop,
cheering Susan, calling her out again and again, refusing to
leave the theater until it was announced that she could answer
no more calls, as she had gone home--when she was thus finally
and firmly established in her own right--she said to Sperry:

"Will you see to it that every sketch of me that appears
tomorrow says that I am the natural daughter of Lorella Lenox?"

Sperry's Punch-like face reddened.

"I've been ashamed of that fact," she went on. "It has made
me ashamed to be alive in the bottom of my heart."

"Absurd," said Sperry.

"Exactly," replied Susan. "Absurd. Even stronger than my
shame about it has been my shame that I could be so small as
to feel ashamed of it. Now--tonight" she was still in her
dressing-room. As she paused they heard the faint faraway
thunders of the applause of the lingering audience--"Listen!"
she cried. "I am ashamed no longer. Sperry, _Ich bin ein Ich!_"

"I should say," laughed he. "All you have to say is 'Susan
Lenox' and you answer all questions."

"At last I'm proud of it," she went on. "I've justified
myself. I've justified my mother. I am proud of her, and she
would be proud of me. So see that it's done, Sperry."

"Sure," said he. "You're right."

He took her hand and kissed it. She laughed, patted him on the
shoulder, kissed him on both cheeks in friendly,