''
``You approve of it?''
``If you will follow that for two years, faithfully,
you will be securely great, and then you will follow it
all your singing life--and it will be long. But
remember, dear young lady, I said IF you follow it, and
I said faithfully. I do not believe you can.''
``Why not?'' said Mildred.
``Because that means self-denial, colossal self-denial.
You love things to eat--yes?''
Mildred nodded.
``We all do,'' said Moldini. ``And we hate routine,
and we like foolish, aimless little pleasures of all kinds.''
``And it will be two years before I can try grand
opera--can make my living?'' said Mildred slowly.
``I did not say that. I said, before you would be
great. No, you can sing, I think, in--wait.''
Moldini flung rapidly through an enormous mass of
music on a large table. ``Ah, here!'' he cried, and he
showed her a manuscript of scales. ``Those two papers.
It does not look much? Well, I have made it
up, myself. And when you can sing those two papers
perfectly, you will be a greater singer than any that
ever lived.
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