lm voice, "You live at
Mrs. Sowinska's, mademoiselle?"

"Not yet," answered Janina, "I have already rented the room, but
they have to renovate it. In the meanwhile, I am living at the
hotel."

"Kaczkowska and Halt told me that you play the piano very well."

"A little bit."

"I wanted to ask you, if you would not teach my Yadzia? . . . She is
a very bright girl and has a good ear for music."

"With real pleasure. My knowledge is rather limited, but I can teach
your daughter the rudiments of music. . . . Only, I don't know
whether I will have enough time. . . ."

"Oh, certainly! And as to your fee, we shall include that in your
salary."

"Very well. . . . Is your daughter already started?"

"Excellently. You can convince yourself immediately. . . . Nurse,
bring Yadzia here!" called Cabinska.

They passed into the next room in which stood the director's bed, a
few packs and baskets, and an old rattle-box of a piano.

Janina heard Yadzia play and agreed that she would give her lessons
regularly between two and three o'clock in the afternoon, when her
parents were not at home.

"When are you to make your first appearance at the theater?" asked
Cabinska.

"To-day, in the Gypsy Baron."

"Have you a costume?"

"Miss Falkowska promised to loan me one."

"Come with me. . . . Perhaps I'll find something for you. . . ."

They went into the room where the children slept with the nurse.
Cabinska pulled out of a package a fairly well-preserved costume and
gave it to Janina.

"You see, mademoiselle, we furnish the costumes, but since the
members of the company prefer to have their own, because ours, of
course, cannot be so very elegant, ours often lie here unused. . . .
I will loan you this one."

"I also will have my own."

"That is best."

They took leave of each other very cordially and the nurse carried
Janina's costume after her to the hotel.

With such passionate eagerness did Janina anticipate her first
appearance on the stage, that she arrived at the theater when there
was hardly anyone as yet behind the scenes. The chorus girls
assembled slowly and dressed even more slowly. Conversation,
laughter, subdued whisperings went on as usual, but she heard
nothing, so preoccupied was she with her dressing.

They all began to help her, laughing because she did not even have
powder or rouge.

"What, you never powdered yourself?" they chorused.

"No . . . What for? . . ." she answered simply.

"We'll