t old wretched habit of hers, of acting first and then
thinking afterwards. Like a flash of lightning it had but this instant
occurred to her that more than anything she would like to see inside a
theatrical manager's office. It would be like placing the tips of
one's toes on the promised land. Of course, Polly knew perfectly well
that she was being reckless, only she would not allow herself time to
consider this point of view. She would simply slip in with these other
girls and pretend that she would like a position should she be forced
into it. As she had had no experience, there could be no possibility
of her getting an engagement. Ten minutes afterwards she would slip
out again and return to school.

With a dozen or more other girls, Polly was the next moment ushered
into a room that was quite dark and had only a few chairs in it. There
they were told to wait until the manager could be free to speak to
them. So Polly crowded herself into the farthest, darkest corner and
immediately her heart began to thump and her knees to shake, while she
wished herself a thousand miles away.

What would her mother say to this latest of her escapades; and Mollie
and Betty? What would Miss Adams, for that matter, think of her? She
was an actress herself; but of course Polly never imagined that she had
started her career in any such humble fashion.

Coming partially to her senses, Polly started hurriedly toward the
closed door. There was no reason in the world for her remaining in
this room unless she wished it. But just as she turned the knob the
manager entered from the hall. And Polly's curiosity got the better of
her again. She would stay just half a minute longer and see what
happened.

CHAPTER V

THE WAY OF THE WILFUL

When Polly O'Neill came out into the street again, she did not know
whether she was walking on the sidewalk, in the air, or at the bottom
of the sea. But because of a certain thrilling excitement she felt
that she must have wings and because of a heavy weight inside her that
she must be in the depth of the sea.

For Polly had just signed an engagement to act for two weeks in a
Christmas pantomime.

It sounds incredible. And it was possibly as unwise and headstrong a
thing as a girl could well do. And yet Polly had originally no actual
intention or desire to do wrong. Simply she had yielded to a sudden
impulse, to an intense curiosity. But now things were different; for
Polly wa