y pink cheek.

"Oh, my angel, what a voice, what a voice!" cried madame. "Entrancing!
marvellous! It's simply perfect in tone and quality, and correct
practice would increase its range. And when you put on a little more
flesh (here, even Elsie Moss groaned silently) you'll get volume, too.
Stop everything, child, and cultivate it. It's worth millions."

Elsie flushed. She couldn't help being pleased by the extravagant
praise, but she couldn't bear to be advised to give up the dramatic
stage.

The older singer turned to Miss Pritchard. "My dear Miss Pritchard,
why do you let this charming child waste her time learning to do
vaudeville stunts that any limber-jointed, pretty-faced chit could do,
with a glorious voice like that?"

"It seemed wonderful to me, and Charley Graham confirmed me in the
belief," Miss Pritchard owned, "and Elsie herself confesses that people
have always advised her to study singing rather than acting."

"Only because they thought it was more respectable," protested Elsie,
pouting.

"But, foolish child, wouldn't you far and away rather be a singer--a
famous singer?" demanded madame. "You'd get into grand opera, you
know. You'd be lovely as Juliet or Butterfly even now."

"I'd rather be an actress," pleaded the girl so sweetly deprecating
that Madame Valentini hardly wondered that Julia Pritchard should give
her her way.

So long as she remained at Miss Peacock's, madame devoted much time,
very happily, to Elsie's musical education. She made the girl sing for
her every day, giving her assistance that was really invaluable. She
took her to the opera twice a week, where she was a wonderful
companion, calling attention to fine points that all but a connoisseur
must have missed, and discussing all sorts of pertinent musical topics
between the acts. And she rejoiced with Miss Pritchard because of
Elsie's obvious enjoyment.

Meantime, Miss Pritchard found occasion to speak to Elsie on the
subject of Mr. Bliss's letter. She handed it to her; the girl read it
quietly and passed it back without speaking, yet meeting her eyes
frankly.

"I confess, Elsie, I can't conceive how you should want so large a sum
at this time," Miss Pritchard began. "I trust you so thoroughly that I
believe it must be for something worth while--at least you think it is,
child. And I feel that you so trust me that you will explain to me if
you can. In any event, I have decided to give it to you out of my own