age to get along without taking to that.

MADEMOISELLE DE MEURIOT. But, Therese, have you really been blind to all
that's been going on here? Haven't you constantly seen unfortunate
women, as well brought up and as well educated as yourself, coming
hunting for work? Don't you remember that advertisement of the girl that
Caroline Legrand was interested in? That advertisement has been
appearing in the paper for the last three months. I'll read it to you.
[_Caroline Legrand takes up a number of "Women Free" and passes it to
Mademoiselle de Meuriot_] Here it is. [_Reading_] "A young lady of
distinguished appearance, who has taken a high certificate for teaching.
Good musician. Drawing, English, shorthand, etc." I know that girl. She
told me all about her life. D'you know what she's offered? She asked two
francs an hour for teaching the piano. They laughed in her face, because
for that they could get a girl who'd taken first prize at the
Conservatoire. They gave her seventy-five centimes. Deduct from that
seventy-five centimes the price of the journey in that underground, the
wear and tear of clothes, the time lost in going and coming, and then
what do you think is left?

CAROLINE LEGRAND. Let's be just. She got answers from doubtful places
abroad, letters from old satyrs, and invitations to pose for the
"movies."

MADEMOISELLE DE MEURIOT. What's left then? The stage. It's quite natural
you should think of the stage.

THERESE. If one must.

CAROLINE LEGRAND. If one must! You'd condescend to it, wouldn't you? You
poor child!

MADEMOISELLE DE MEURIOT. You can't get into the Conservatoire after
twenty-one. Are you under that? No. Are you a genius? No. Well then?

CAROLINE LEGRAND. Have you a rich lover who will back you?

MADEMOISELLE DE MEURIOT. No. Then you'll get nothing at all in the
theatres except by making friends with half a dozen men or selling
yourself to one.

THERESE. I'll go into a shop. At any rate, when it shuts I shall be
free.

CAROLINE LEGRAND. You think they're longing for you, don't you? You
forget you'd have to know things for that one doesn't learn by taking a
degree; things like shorthand and typewriting. Do you know there are
twenty thousand women in Paris who want to get into shops and offices
and can't find places?

MADAME CHANTEUIL. I know exactly what's going to become of _me_.

CAROLINE LEGRAND. Now you're going to say something silly.

MADAME CHANTEUIL. You think so, you've guessed