d have learned how to hold on."

"No trouble about holding on to this," said Mildred carelessly.

"Please don't talk that way, child," pleaded Agnes, almost tearful.
"It's frightful to me, who've had experience, to hear you invite a
fall-down."

Mildred disdainfully fluttered the typewritten copy of the musical
comedy. "This is child's play," said she. "The lines are beneath
contempt. As for the songs, you never heard such slop."

"The stars in those pieces get four and five hundred, and more, a
week," said Mrs. Belloc. "Believe me, those managers don't pay out any
such sums for child's play. You look out. You're going at this wrong."

"I shan't care if I do fail," said Mildred.

"Do you mean that?" demanded Mrs. Belloc.

"No, I don't," said Mildred. "Oh, I don't know what I mean."

"I guess you're just talking," said Mrs. Belloc after a reflective
silence. "I guess a girl who goes and gets a good job, first crack out
of the box, must have a streak of shrewdness."

"I hope so," said Mildred doubtfully.

"I guess you'll work hard, all right. After you went out this morning,
I took that paper down to Miss Blond. She's crazy about it. She wants
to make a copy of it. I told her I'd ask you."

"Certainly," said Mildred. "She says she'll return it the same day."

"Tell her she can keep it as long as she likes."

Mrs. Belloc eyed her gravely, started to speak, checked herself.
Instead, she said, "No, I shan't do that. I'll have it back in your
room by this evening. You might change your mind, and want to use it."

"Very well," said Mildred, pointedly uninterested and ignoring Mrs.
Belloc's delicate but distinct emphasis upon "might."

Mrs. Belloc kept a suspicious eye upon her--an eye that was not easily
deceived. The more she thought about Mildred's state of depression and
disdain the more tolerant she became. That mood was the natural and
necessary result of the girl's bringing up and mode of life. The
important thing--and the wonderful thing--was her being able to
overcome it. After a week of rehearsal she said: "I'm making the best
of it. But I don't like it, and never shall."

"I should hope not," replied Mrs. Belloc. "You're going to the top.
I'd hate to see you contented at the bottom. Aren't you learning a
good deal that'll be useful later on?"

"That's why I'm reconciled to it," said she. "The stage director, Mr.
Ransdell, is teaching me everything--even how to sing. He knows h