gs said, that
took away all the freshness, made one stale and unfit. A little
distraction--always, of course, with musical people, people who talked
and thought and did music--that sort of distraction was quite as much a
part of her education as the singing lessons. Mrs. Brindley, certainly
a sensible and serious woman if ever there was one--Mrs. Brindley
believed so, and it must be so.

After that illness and before she began to go about, she had fallen
into several fits of hideous blues, had been in despair as to the
future. As soon as she saw something of people--always the valuable,
musical sort of people--her spirits improved. And when she got a few
new dresses--very simple and inexpensive, but stylish and charming--and
the hats, too, were successful--as soon as she was freshly arrayed she
was singing better and was talking hopefully of the career again. Yes,
it was really necessary that she live as she had always been used to
living.

When Stanley came back her account was drawn up to the last cent of the
proportionate amount. In fact, it might have been a few dollars--a
hundred or so--overdrawn. She was not sure. Still, that was a small
matter. During the summer she would spend less, and by fall she would
be far ahead again--and ready to buy fall clothes. One day he said:

"You must be needing more money."

"No indeed," cried she. "I've been living within the hundred a
week--or nearly. I'm afraid I'm frightfully extravagant, and--"

"Extravagant?" laughed he. "You are afraid to borrow! Why, three or
four nights of singing will pay back all you've borrowed."

"I suppose I WILL make a lot of money," said she. "They all tell me so.
But it doesn't seem real to me." She hastily added: "I don't mean the
career. That seems real enough. I can hardly wait to begin at the
roles. I mean the money part. You see, I never earned any money and
never really had any money of my own."

"Well, you'll have plenty of it in two or three years," said Stanley,
confidently. "And you mustn't try to live like girls who've been
brought up to hardship. It isn't necessary, and it would only unfit
you for your work."

"I think that's true," said she. "But I've enough--more than enough."
She gave him a nervous, shy, almost agonized look. "Please don't try
to put me under any heavier obligations than I have to be."

"Please don't talk nonsense about obligation," retorted he. "Let's get
away from this subject.