the price she paid-第43章

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　eyes　could　be　so　keen。　　Said　he：　　‘‘You　were　studying　for　grand　opera？''

‘‘Yes。''

‘‘Why　do　you　drop　it　and　take　up　this？''

‘‘No　money；''　replied　she。　　‘‘I've　got　to　make　my　living　at　once。''

‘‘Well；　let's　see。　　Come　with　me；　please。''

They　went　out　by　a　door　into　the　hall；　went　back　to　the　rear　of　the　building；　in　at　an　iron　door；　down　a　flight　of　steep　iron　skeleton　steps　dimly　lighted。　Mildred　had　often　been　behind　the　scenes　in　her　amateur　theatrical　days；　but　even　if　she　had　not；　she　would　have　known　where　she　was。　　Crossley　called；　‘‘Moldini！　Moldini！''

The　name　was　caught　up　by　other　voices　and　repeated　again　and　again；　more　and　more　remotely。　　A　moment；　and　a　small　dark　man　with　a　superabundance　of　greasy　dark　hair　appeared。　　‘‘Miss　Gower；''　said　Crossley；　‘‘this　is　Signor　Moldini。　　He　will　play　your　accompaniments。''　　Then　to　the　little　Italian；　‘‘Piano　on　the　stage？''

‘‘Yes；　sir。''

To　Mildred　with　a　smile；　‘‘Will　you　try？''

She　bent　her　head。　　She　had　no　voicenot　for　song；　not　for　speech；　not　even　for　a　monosyllable。

Crossley　took　Moldini　aside　where　Mildred　could　not　hear。　　‘‘Mollie；''　said　he；　‘‘this　girl　crept　up　on　me；　and　I've　got　to　give　her　a　trial。　　As　you　see；　she's　a　lady；　and　you　know　what　they　are。''

‘‘Punk；''　said　Moldini。

Crossley　nodded。　　‘‘She　seems　a　nice　sort；　so　I　want　to　let　her　down　easy。　　I'll　sit　back　in　the　house；　in　the　dark。　　Run　her　through　that　‘Batti　Batti'　thing　she's　got　with　her。　　If　she's　plainly　on　the　fritz；　I'll　light　a　cigarette。　　If　I　don't　light　up；　try　the　other　song　she　has。　　If　I　still　don't　light　up　make　her　go　through　that　‘Ah；　were　you　here；　love；'　from　the　piece。　　But　if　I　light　up；　it　means　that　I'm　going　to　light　out；　and　that　you're　to　get　rid　of　hertell　her　we'll　let　her　know　if　she'll　leave　her　address。　　You　understand？''

‘‘Perfectly。''

Far　from　being　thrilled　and　inspired；　her　surroundings　made　her　sick　at　heartthe　chill；　the　dampness；　the　bare　walls；　the　dim；　dreary　lights；　the　coarsely…　painted　flats　　At　last　she　was　on　the　threshold　of　her　chosen　profession。　　What　a　profession　for　such　a　person　as　she　had　always　been！　　She　stood　beside　Moldini；　seated　at　the　piano。　　She　gazed　at　the　darkness；　somewhere　in　whose　depths　Crossley　was　hidden。　　After　several　false　starts　she　sang　the　‘‘Batti　Batti''　through；　sang　it　atrociouslynot　like　a　poor　professional；　but　like　a　pretentious　amateur；　a　reversion　to　a　manner　of　singing　she　had　once　had；　but　had　long　since　got　rid　of。　She　paused　at　the　end；　appalled　by　the　silence；　by　the　awfulness　of　her　own　performance。

From　the　darkness　a　slight　click。　　If　she　had　known！　for；　it　was　Crossley's　match…safe。

The　sound；　slight　yet　so　clear；　startled　her；　roused　her。　　She　called　out：　　‘‘Mr。　Crossley；　won't　you　please　be　patient　enough　to　let　me　try　that　again？''

A　brief　hesitation；　then：　　‘‘Certainly。''

Once　more　she　began。　　But　this　time　there　was　no　hesitation。　　From　first　to　last　she　did　it　as　Jennings　had　coached　her；　did　it　with　all　the　beauty　and　energy　of　her　really　lovely　voice。　　As　she　ended；　Moldini　said　in　a　quiet　but　intense　undertone：　　‘‘Bravo！　　Bravo！　Fresh　as　a　bird　on　a　bright　spring　morning。''　　And　from　the　darkness　came：　　‘‘Ahthat's　better；　Miss　Gower。　　That　was　professional　work。　　Now　for　the　other。''

Thus　encouraged　and　with　her　voice　well　warmed；　she　could　not　but　make　a　success　of　the　song　that　was　nearer　to　what　would　be　expected　of　her　in　musical　comedy。　Crossley　called　out：　　‘‘Now；　the　sight　singing；　Moldini。　I　don't　expect　you　to　do　this　well；　Miss　Gower。　　I　simply　wish　to　get　an　idea　of　how　you'd　do　a　piece　we　have　in　rehearsal。''

‘‘You'll　have　no　trouble　with　this；''　said　Moldini；　as　he　opened　the　comedy　song　upon　the　rack　with　a　contemptuous　whirl。　　‘‘It's　the　easy　showy　stuff　that　suits　the　tired　business　man　and　his　laced…in　wife。　　Go　at　it　and　yell。''

Mildred　glanced　through　it。　　There　was　a　subtle　something　in　the　atmosphere　now　that　put　her　at　her　ease。　　She　read　the　words　aloud；　laughing　at　their　silly　sentimentality；　she　and　Moldini　and　Crossley　making　jokes　about　it。　　Soon　she　said：　　‘‘I'm　ready。''

She　sang　it　well。　　She　asked　them　to　let　her　try　it　again。　　And　the　second　time；　with　the　words　in　her　mind　and　the　simple　melody；　she　was　able　to　put　expression　into　it　and　to　indicate；　with　restraint；　the　action。　　Crossley　came　down　the　aisle。

‘‘What　do　you　think；　Mollie？''　he　said　to　Moldini。

‘‘We　might　test　her　at　a　few　rehearsals。''

Crossley　meekly　accepted　the　salutary　check　on　his　enthusiasm。　　‘‘Do　you　wish　to　try；　Miss　Gower？''

Mildred　was　silent。　　She　knew　now　the　sort　of　piece　in　which　she　was　to　appear。　　She　had　seen　a　few　of　them；　those　cheap　and　vulgar　farces　with　their　thin　music；　their　more　than　dubious…looking　people。　　What　a　come…down！　　What　a　degradation！　　It　was　as　bad　in　its　way　as　being　the　wife　of　General　Siddall。　　And　she　was　to　do　this；　in　preference　to　marrying　Stanley　Baird。

‘‘You　will　be　paid；　of　course；　during　rehearsal；　that　is；　as　long　as　we　are　taking　your　time。　　Fifty　dollars　a　week　is　about　as　much　as　we　can　afford。''　　Crossley　was　watching　her　shrewdly；　was　advancing　these　remarks　in　response　to　the　hesitation　he　saw　so　plainly。　‘‘Of　course　it　isn't　grand　opera；''　he　went　on。　　‘‘In　fact；　it's　pretty　lowalmost　as　low　as　the　public　taste。　You　see；　we　aren't　subsidized　by　millionaires　who　want　people　to　think　they're　artistic；　so　we　have　to　hustle　to　separate　the　public　from　its　money。　　But　if　you　make　a　hit；　you　can　earn　enough　to　put　you　into　grand　opera　in　fine　style。''

‘‘I　never　heard　of　anyone's　graduating　from　here　into　grand　opera；''　said　Mildred。

‘‘Because　our　stars　make　so　much　money　and　make　it　so　easily。　　It'll　be　your　own　fault　if　you　don't。''

‘‘Can't　I　come　to　just　one　rehearsalto　see　whether　I　cancan　do　it？''　pleaded　Mildred。

Crossley；　made　the　more　eager　and　the　more　superstitious　by　this　unprecedented　reluctance；　shook　his　head。

‘‘No。　　You　must　agree　to　stay　as　long　as　we　want　you；''　said　he。　　‘‘We　can't　allow　ourselves　to　be　trifled　with。''

‘‘Very　well；''　said　Mildred　resignedly。　　‘‘I　will　rehearse　as　long　as　you　want　me。''

‘‘And　will　stay　for　the　run　of　the　piece；　if　we　want　that？''　said　Crossley。　　‘‘You　to　get　a　hundred　a　week　if　you　are　put　in　the　cast。　　More；　of　course；　if　you　make　a　hit。''

‘‘You　mean　I'm　to　sign　a　contract？''　cried　Mildred　in　dismay。

‘‘Exactly；''　said　Crossley。　　A　truly　amazing　performance。　　Moldini　was　not　astonished；　however；　for　he　had　heard　the　songs；　and　he　knew　Crossley's　difficulties　through　Estelle　Howard's　flight。　　Also；　he　knew　Crossley　never　so　‘‘weak　and　soft''　that　he　trifled　with　unlikely　candidates　for　his　productions。　　Crossley　had　got　up　because　he　knew　what　to　do　and　when　to　do　it。

Mildred　acquiesced。　　Before　she　was　free　to　go　into　the　street　again；　she　had　signed　a　paper　that　bound　her　to　rehearse　for　three　weeks　at　fifty　dollars　a　week　and　to　stay　on　at　a　hundred　dollars　a　week　for　forty　weeks　or　the　run　of　‘‘The　Full　Moon；''　if　Crossley　so　desired；　if　he　did　not；　she　was　free　at　the　end　of　the　rehearsals。　A　shrewdly　one…sided　contract。　　But　Crossley　told　himself　he　would　correct　it；　if　she　should　by　some　remote　chance　be　good　enough　for　the　part　and　should　make　a　hit　in　it。　　This　was　no　mere　salve　to　conscience；　by　the　way。　　Crossley　would　not　be　foolish　enough　to　give　a　successful　star　just　cause　for　disliking　and　distrusting　him　and　at　the　earliest　opportunity　leaving　him　to　make　money　for　some　rival　manager。

Mrs。　Belloc　had　not　gone　out；　had　been　waiting　in　a　fever　of　anxiety。　　When　Mildred　came　into　her　sitting…　room　with　a　gloomy　face　and　dropped　to　a　chair　as　if　her　last　hope　had　abandoned　her；　it　was　all　Agnes　Belloc　could　do　to　restrain　her　tears。　　Said　she：

‘‘Don't　be　foolish；　my　dear。　　You　couldn't　expect　anything　to　come　of　your　first　attempt。''

‘‘That　isn't　it；''　said　Mildred。　　‘‘I　think　I'll　give　it　updo　something　else。　　Grand　opera's　bad　enough。　There　were　a　lot　of　things　about　it　that　I　was　fighting　my　distaste　for。''

‘‘I　know；''　said　Agnes。　　‘‘And　you'd　better　fight　them　hard。　　They're　unworthy　of　you。''

‘‘Butmusical　comedy！　　It'sfrightful！''

‘‘It's　an　honest　way　of　making　a　living；　and　that's　more　than　can　be　said　ofof　some　things。　　I　suppose　you're　afraid　you'll　have　to　wear　tightsor　some　nonsense　like　that。''

‘‘No；　no。　　It's　doing　it　at　all。　　Such　rotten　music　and　what　a　loathsome　mess！''

Mrs。　Belloc's　eyes　flashed。　　‘‘I'm　losing　all　patience！''　she　cried。　　‘‘I　know　you've　been　brought　up　like　a　fool　and　always　surrounded　by　fools。　　I　suppose　you'd　rather　sell　yourself　to　some　man。　　Do　you　know　what's　the　matter　with　you；　at　bottom？　　Why；　you're　lazy　and　you're　a　coward。　　Too　lazy　to　work。　　And　afraid　of　what　a　lot　of　cheap　women'll　saywomen　earning　their　board　and　clothes　in　about　the　lowest　way　such　a　thing　can　be　done。　　Haven't　you　got　any　self…　respect？''

Mildred　rose。　　‘‘Mrs。　Belloc；''　she　said　angrily；　‘‘I　can't　permit　even　you　to　say　such　things　to　me。''

‘‘The　shoe　seems　to　fit；''　retorted　Mrs。　Belloc。　　‘‘I　never　yet　saw　a　lady；　a　real；　silk…and…diamonds；　sit…in…　the…parlor　lady；　who　had　any　self…respect。　　If　I　had　my　way　they　wouldn't　get　a　mouthful　to　eat　till　they　had　earned　it。　　That'd　be　a　sure　cure　for　the　lady　disease。　　I'm　ashamed　of　you；　Miss　Stevens！　　And　you're　ashamed　of　yourself。''

‘‘Yes；　I　am；''　said　Mildred；　with　a　sudden　change　of　mood。

‘‘The　best　thing　you　can　do　is　to　rest　till　lunch…time。　Then　start　out　after　lunch　and　hunt　a　job。　　I'll　go　with　you。''

‘‘But　I've　got　a　job；''　said　Mildred。　　‘‘That's　what's　the　matter。''

Agnes　Belloc's　jaw　dropped　and　her　rather　heavy　eyebrows　shot　up　toward　the　low　sweeping　line　of　her　auburn　hair。　　She　made　such　a　ludicrous　face　that　Mildred　laughed　outright。　　Said　she：

‘‘It's　quite　time。　　Fifty　a　week；　for　three　weeks　of　rehearsal。　　No　doubt　_I_　can　go　on　if　I　like。　　Nothing　could　be　easier。''

‘‘Crossley？''

‘‘Yes。　　He　was　very　niceheard　me　sing　three　piecesand　it　was　all　settled。　　I'm　to　begin　to…morrow。''

The　color　rose　in　Agnes　Belloc's　face　until　she　looked　apoplectic。　　She　abruptly　retreated　to　her　bedroom。　After　a　few　minutes　she　came　back；　her　normal　complexion　restored。　　‘‘I　couldn't　trust　myself　to　speak；''　said　she。　　‘‘That　was　the　worst　case　of　ingratitude　I　ever　met　up　with。　　You；　getting　a　place　at　fifty　dollars　a　weekand　on　your　first　trialand　you　come　in　looking　as　if　you'd　lost　your　money　and　your　reputation。　　What　kind　of　a　girl　are　you；　anyway？''

‘‘I　don't　know；''　said　Mildred。　　‘‘I　wish　I　did。''

‘‘Well；　I'm　sorry　you　got　it　so　easy。　　Now　you'll　have　a　false　notion　from　the　start。　　It's　always　better　to　have　a　hard　time　getting　things。　　Then　you　appreciate　them；　and　have　learned　how　to　hold　on。''

‘‘No　trouble　about　holding　on　to　this；''　said　Mildred　carelessly。

‘‘Please　don't　talk　that　way；　child；''　pleaded　Agnes；　almost　tearful。　　‘‘It's　frightful　to　me；　who've　had　experience；　to　hear　you　invite　a　fall…down。''

Mildred　disdainfully　fluttered　the　typewritten　copy　of　the　musical　comedy。　　‘‘This　is　child's　play；''　said　she。　‘‘The　lines　are　beneath　contempt。　　As　for　the　songs；　you　never　heard　such　slop。''

‘‘The　stars　in　those　pieces　get　four　and　five　hundred；　and