the price she paid-第53节

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‘‘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　more；　a　week；''　said　Mrs。　Belloc。　　‘‘Believe　me；　those　managers　don't　pay　out　any　such　sums　for　child's　play。　　You　look　out。　　You're　going　at　this　wrong。''

‘‘I　shan't　care　if　I　do　fail；''　said　Mildred。

‘‘Do　you　mean　that？''　demanded　Mrs。　Belloc。

‘‘No；　I　don't；''　said　Mildred。　　‘‘Oh；　I　don't　know　what　I　mean。''

‘‘I　guess　you're　just　talking；''　said　Mrs。　Belloc　after　a　reflective　silence。　　‘‘I　guess　a　girl　who　goes　and　gets　a　good　job；　first　crack　out　of　the　box；　must　have　a　streak　of　shrewdness。''

‘‘I　hope　so；''　said　Mildred　doubtfully。

‘‘I　guess　you'll　work　hard；　all　right。　　After　you　went　out　this　morning；　I　took　that　paper　down　to　Miss　Blond。　　She's　crazy　about　it。　　She　wants　to　make　a　copy　of　it。　　I　told　her　I'd　ask　you。''

‘‘Certainly；''　said　Mildred。　‘‘She　says　she'll　return　it　the　same　day。''

‘‘Tell　her　she　can　keep　it　as　long　as　she　likes。''

Mrs。　Belloc　eyed　her　gravely；　started　to　speak；　checked　herself。　　Instead；　she　said；　‘‘No；　I　shan't　do　that。　　I'll　have　it　back　in　your　room　by　this　evening。　You　might　change　your　mind；　and　want　to　use　it。''

‘‘Very　well；''　said　Mildred；　pointedly　uninterested　and　ignoring　Mrs。　Belloc's　delicate　but　distinct　emphasis　upon　‘‘might。''

Mrs。　Belloc　kept　a　suspicious　eye　upon　heran　eye　that　was　not　easily　deceived。　　The　more　she　thought　about　Mildred's　state　of　depression　and　disdain　the　more　tolerant　she　became。　　That　mood　was　the　natural　and　necessary　result　of　the　girl's　bringing　up　and　mode　of　life。　　The　important　thingand　the　wonderful　thing　was　her　being　able　to　overcome　it。　　After　a　week　of　rehearsal　she　said：　　‘‘I'm　making　the　best　of　it。　　But　I　don't　like　it；　and　never　shall。''

‘‘I　should　hope　not；''　replied　Mrs。　Belloc。　　‘‘You're　going　to　the　top。　　I'd　hate　to　see　you　contented　at　the　bottom。　　Aren't　you　learning　a　good　deal　that'll　be　useful　later　on？''

‘‘That's　why　I'm　reconciled　to　it；''　said　she。　　‘‘The　stage　director；　Mr。　Ransdell；　is　teaching　me　everything　even　how　to　sing。　　He　knows　his　business。''

Ransdell　not　only　knew；　but　also　took　endless　pains　with　her。　　He　was　a　tall；　thin；　dark　man；　strikingly　handsome　in　the　distinguished　way。　　So　distinguished　looking　was　he　that　to　meet　him　was　to　wonder　why　he　had　not　made　a　great　name　for　himself。　　An　extraordinary　mind　he　certainly　had；　and　an　insight　into　the　reasons　for　things　that　is　given　only　to　genius。　　He　had　failed　as　a　composer；　failed　as　a　playwright；　failed　as　a　singer；　failed　as　an　actor。　　He　had　been　forced　to　take　up　the　profession　of　putting　on　dramatic　and　musical　plays；　a　profession　that　required　vast　knowledge　and　high　talents　and　paid　for　them　in　niggardly　fashion　both　in　money　and　in　fame。　　Crossley　owed　to　him　more　than　to　any　other　single　element　the　series　of　successes　that　had　made　him　rich；　yet　the　ten　thousand　a　year　Crossley　paid　him　was　regarded　as　evidence　of　Crossley's　lavish　generosity　and　was　so。　　It　would　have　been　difficult　to　say　why　a　man　so　splendidly　endowed　by　nature　and　so　tireless　in　improving　himself　was　thus　unsuccessful。　　Probably　he　lacked　judgment；　indeed；　that　lack　must　have　been　the　cause。　　He　could　judge　for　Crossley；　but　not　for　himself；　not　when　he　had　the　feeling　of　ultimate　responsibility。

Mildred　had　anticipated　the　most　repulsive　associations　men　and　women　of　low　origin　and　of　vulgar　tastes　and　of　vulgarly　loose　lives。　　She　found　herself　surrounded　by　simple；　pleasant　people；　undoubtedly　erratic　for　the　most　part　in　all　their　habits；　but　without　viciousness。　　And　they　were　hard　workers；　all。　　Ransdell　for　Crossleytolerated　no　nonsense。　　His　people　could　live　as　they　pleased；　away　from　the　theater；　but　there　they　must　be　prompt　and　fit。　　The　discipline　was　as　severe　as　that　of　a　monastery。　　She　saw　many　signs　that　all　sorts　of　things　of　the　sort　with　which　she　wished　to　have　no　contact　were　going　on　about　her；　but　as　she　held　slightlybut　not　at　all　haughtilyaloof；　she　would　have　had　to　go　out　of　her　way　to　see　enough　to　scandalize　her。　　She　soon　suspected　that　she　was　being　treated　with　extraordinary