''
``Sentiment has nothing to do with it,'' rejoined she.
``Do you think I could get a place on the stage?''
``Oh, you'd have to study a while, I suppose.''
``But I can't afford that. If I could afford to study,
I'd have my voice trained.''
Baird's face lighted up with enthusiasm. ``The very
thing!'' he cried. ``You've got a voice, a grand-opera
voice. I've heard lots of people say so, and it sounded
that way to me. You must cultivate your voice.''
Mildred laughed. ``Don't talk nonsense. Even I
know that's nonsense. The lessons alone would cost
thousands of dollars. And how could I live for the
four or five years?''
``You didn't let me finish,'' said Baird. ``I was
going to say that when you get to New York you must
go and have your voice passed on--by some impartial
person. If that person says it's worth cultivating, why,
I'm willing to back you--as a business proposition.
I can afford to take the risk. So, you see, it's all
perfectly simple.''
He had spoken rapidly, with a covert suggestion of
fear lest she would rebuke him sharply for what she
might regard as an impertinent offer.
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