"Passably so," agreed Mr. DeVere. "Well, our living problem is solved
for us, anyway. Now I must study my new part. It is to be a sort of
society drama, and will be put on in a few days. Mr. Pertell gave me
some instructions. I shall have to unlearn many things that are
traditional with those who have played all their parts in a real
theatre. It is like teaching an old dog new tricks, but I dare say I
shall master them."

"You're not really old, Daddy!" said Alice, slipping her arms about
him, and nestling her cheek against his.

"There--there!" he returned, indulgently, "don't try to flatter your
old father. You are just like your dear mother. Run along now, I
must take up this new work. What a relief not to have to declaim my
lines! I shall only move my lips, and who knows but, in time, my
voice may come back?"

"I hope it will," answered Ruth, with a sigh. Somehow she could not
quite bring herself to like her father in moving picture roles. Alice
was entirely different.

"But, even if it does come back," said the younger girl, "you may
like this new work so well, Dad, that you'll keep at it."

"Perhaps," he assented. "Here, Ruth, take care of this money--my
first moving picture salary," and he handed her the bills.

As he went to his room with the typewritten sheets of his new part,
Alice whispered to her sister:

"Hurray! Now we can have a real dinner. I'll go and buy out a
delicatessen store."

The meal was a great success--not only from a gastronomic standpoint,
but because of the jollity--real or assumed--of Mr. DeVere. He went
over the lines of his new part, telling the girls how at certain
places he was to "register," or denote, different emotions.
"Register" is the word used in moving picture scenarios to indicate
the showing of fear, hate, revenge or other emotion. All this must be
done by facial expression or gestures, for of course no talking
comes from the moving pictures--except in the latest kind, with a
phonographic arrangement, and with that sort we are not dealing.

"Oh, I'm sure it will be fine!" cried Alice. "Can we go and see you
act for the camera, Daddy?"

"Yes, I guess so," he replied. "Would you like it, Ruth?"

"I believe I should!" she exclaimed, with more interest than she had
before shown. "It sounds interesting."

"Maybe we'll act ourselves, some day," added Alice.

"Oh, no!" protested her sister. "But let's sit down. The meal is
spoiling. Oh!" she cried, with a hasty gla