''
``It is not to be doubted.''
``How well, do you think?''
``You mean how many dollars a night well? You
mean as well as this great singer or that? I do not
know. And you are not to compare yourself with anyone
but yourself. You will sing as well as Mildred
Gower at her best.''
For some reason her blood went tingling through her
veins. If she had dared she would have kissed him.
X
THAT same afternoon Donald Keith, arrived at the
top of Mrs. Belloc's steps, met Mildred coming out.
Seeing their greeting, one would have thought they had
seen each other but a few minutes before or were casual
acquaintances. Said she:
``I'm going for a walk.''
``Let's take the taxi,'' said he.
There it stood invitingly at the curb. She felt tired.
She disliked walking. She wished to sit beside him and
be whirled away--out of the noisy part of the city, up
where the air was clean and where there were no crowds.
But she had begun the regimen of Lucia Rivi. She
hesitated. What matter if she began now or put off
beginning until after this one last drive?
``No, we will walk,'' said she.
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