``It's hard lines--devilish hard lines,'' he went on
sympathetically. ``But what can I do?''
``What can I do?'' said Mildred.
``Do as all people do who succeed--meet the conditions.''
``I'm not prepared to go as far as that, at least not
yet,'' said she with bitter sarcasm. ``Perhaps when
I'm actually starving and in rags--''
``A very distressing future,'' interrupted Crossley.
``But--I didn't make the world. Don't berate me.
Be sensible--and be honest, Miss Gower, and tell me--
how could I possibly protect you and continue to give
successful shows? If you can suggest any feasible way,
I'll take it.''
``No, there isn't any way,'' replied she, rising to go.
He rose to escort her to the hall door. ``Personally,
the Ransdell sort of thing is--distasteful to me. Perhaps
if I were not so busy I might be forced by my own
giddy misconduct to take less high ground. I've
observed that the best that can be said for human nature
at its best is that it is as well behaved as its real
temptations permit.
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