"They can't conceive how a mere girl can be so rich and powerful. How
could they realize the reckless outpouring of gold which flows from
those who seek pleasure to those who give it."
She grew instantly graver. "They would despise me if they knew. I don't
like being a mere toy of the public--a pleasure-giver and nothing else.
Of course there are different ways of pleasing. That is why I couldn't
do _Alessandra_. Tell me of your brother. I liked what you wrote of him.
He is our direct opposite, isn't he? Does he talk as well as you
reported, or were you polishing him a little?"
"No, Walt has a remarkable taste in words. He has always been the
literary member of our family, but is too lazy to write. He is content
to grow fat in his little round of daily duties."
"I wonder if we haven't lost something by becoming enslaved to the
great city! Our pleasures are more intense, but they _do_ wear us out.
Think of you and me to-morrow night--our anxiety fairly cancelling our
pleasure--and then think of your brother going leisurely home to his
wife, his babies, and his books. I don't know--sometimes when I think of
growing old in a flat or a hotel I am appalled. I hate to keep mother
here. Sometimes I think of giving it all up for a year or two and going
back to the country, just to see how it would affect me. I don't want to
get artificial and slangy with no interests but the stage, like so many
good actresses I know. It's such a horribly egotistic business--"
"There are others," he said.
"Writers are bad enough, but actors and opera-singers are infinitely
worse. Mother has helped me." She put her soft palm on her mother's
wrinkled hand. "Nothing can spoil mother; nothing can take away the home
atmosphere--not even the hotel. Well, now I must go to our final
rehearsal. I will not see you again till the close of the second act.
You must be in your place to-night," she said, with tender warning. "I
want to see your face whenever I look for it."
"I am done with running away," he answered, as he slowly released her
hand. "I shall pray for your success--not my own."
"Fortunately my success is yours."
"In the deepest sense that is true," he answered.