And I'm sorry.
But I--''
``Be honest,'' interrupted he. ``Haven't I made it
plain that I was fascinated by you?''
She could not deny it.
``Haven't I been showing you that I was willing to
do everything I could for you?''
``I thought you were concerned only about the
success of the piece.''
``The piece be jiggered,'' said he. ``You don't
imagine YOU are necessary to its success, do you? You,
a raw, untrained girl. Don't your good sense tell you
I could find a dozen who would do, let us say, ALMOST
as well?''
``I understand that,'' murmured she.
``Perhaps you do, but I doubt it,'' rejoined he.
``Vanity's a fast growing weed. However, I rather
expected that you would remain sane and reasonably
humble until you'd had a real success. But it seems
not. Now tell me, why should I give my time and my
talent to training you--to putting you in the way of
quick and big success?''
She was silent.
``What did you count on giving me in return? Your
thanks?''
She colored, hung her head.
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