ers to get rid of it anyhow. They were not far short of inviting
soldiers from the barracks. There had never been more than two hundred
seats paid for of an evening; it meant flat bankruptcy. And she was the
only one who had received anything: why? How? Then it must have been some
admirer, but who? Not the architect, surely, that josser! Who then? And
why had Jimmy engaged the Bambinis, when she asked him to? He did
everything to please her. He was letting her top the bill: why? She made a
heap of guesses, without getting at the exact truth ... Jimmy ... Jimmy
... that man, with his coldness, interested her. While so many others were
prowling around her, he alone seemed indifferent. She would have liked to
see him in love with her ... to make him suffer a little in his turn! All
the beauty-shows which Lily had seen, all the exhibitions of painted Hours
had not spoiled her good taste: Jimmy pleased her, with that strong face
of his. What an endless pity that she had married Trampy! She gave a
scornful pout when she thought of it: she married to Trampy! Married to
that soaker: she, a woman made for a man, a creature of flesh and blood,
who admired fine muscles, rough sport and virile smackings! Gee, if she
had been a man, it seemed to her that she would have enjoyed spoiling a
little Lily: outside working hours, of course! And, if a little Lily had
asked her, "Do you love me, yes or no?" she would never have answered no.
To-day, she would have bitten off her own tongue rather than put that
question to Jimmy! And yet Jimmy had a dignity about him that pleased her.
She could see into the game of the others. The architect, for instance,
would give her just a smile in passing, a pleasant word, as one performs a
social duty, between two pieces of business. A little amusement, no more:
that was all she was to him ... and to all of them. Jimmy seemed
different. But, still, if he loved her, why hadn't he the courage to tell
her so? And, besides, when all was said, she was sick and tired of men!
Some of them ran after you like dogs; others, damn it, were icicles! A
girl could have Marjutti's figure, Thea's arms, Nancy's legs, Lillian's or
Laurence's face ... and still they would not be satisfied! And thereupon
Lily pursed her brows, asked herself how and why and went to sleep like a
baby.

And the rehearsals continued every day, without respite. Lily became
terrible the nearer she drew to success: her indomitable spirit mounted to