m out imploringly.

"Oh! I thought you had given it up."

"Foolish child! I never give anything up. Ask Brown."

It was true; that woman never gave up her own will to any one. The
possibility of sacrifice or willing concession could not enter her mind.

"But I cannot, I cannot! Oh, mother! think how little I have seen of
crowds. To sing before one would _kill_ me!"

"Mother!" repeated Olympia, "how often must I tell you that I hate the
word!--an American vulgarism!"

"Forgive me, mamma; it was only because I was so frightened at the idea
of singing in public. But I know that you did not mean it."

The poor girl made a pitiful attempt at disbelief, and tried to win
acquiescence with a timid smile.

"I not only mean it, but will have no more evasion or protest. When we
left New York, you were dying to get on the stage."

"Oh, that was before I knew--before I dreamed--"

"Before you knew--before you dreamed what?"

"That it made one so--so--"

"Well, speak out!"

"So unhappy. Indeed, indeed, I cannot say what I mean; only, I would
rather die than put rouge on my face, and--oh, forgive me! I did not
mean to make you look so angry!"

But Olympia was angry. The prima donna of a company does not usually
bear much opposition, even in trifles, and here Olympia had great
interests at stake.

Through the young girl before her she intended to run a second career,
and thus crowd the enjoyment of two lives into one.

"This all comes of Brown," she said. "He would have you kept quiet, and
out of the world, pretending that society would distract attention from
your practice; but it was all an artful plan to keep you to himself. I
have not been so busy as not to understand that, let me tell him."

Caroline started up in bed, almost as much excited as the actress.

There was plenty of good honest character in the girl; and, if she
appeared timid, it was from delicacy, not weakness.

"You wrong Mr. Brown. There is not a selfish feeling in his heart. What
he does, is always done for my good."

"Yes; I suppose it is for your good when he drinks too much!"

There was a sneer on Olympia's lip, an evil spirit in her eye, which
destroyed all its beauty; but even this did not make the girl shrink;
she only put out both her hands, and turned her head away.

"Oh! how can you?" she cried. "I never saw him in my life when he was
not in all respects a gentleman."

"But I have! I have!"

"Ah, madam, it is cruel to say thi