to dress, without disguising, a
distinctly ugly idea. "I've heard that, too. I don't know whether
there's anything in it or not." She looked admiringly at Mildred, who
that morning was certainly lovely enough to tempt any man. "If there is
anything in it, why, I reckon YOU'D be up against it. That's the worst
of having men at the top in any trade and profession. A woman's got to
get her chance through some man, and if he don't choose to let her have
it, she's likely to fail."

Mildred showed how this depressed her.

"But don't you fret about that till you have to," advised Mrs. Belloc.
"I've a notion that, even if it's true, it may not apply to you. Where
a woman offers for a place that she can fill about as well as a hundred
other women, she's at the man's mercy; but if she knows that she's far
and away the best for the place, I don't think a man's going to stand
in his own light. Let him see that he can make money through YOU,
money he won't make if he don't get you. Then, I don't think you'll
have any trouble."

But Mildred's depression did not decrease. "If my voice could only be
relied on!" she exclaimed. "Isn't it exasperating that I've got a
delicate throat!"

"It's always something," said Mrs. Belloc. "One thing's about as bad
as another, and anything can be overcome."

"No, not in my case," said Mildred. "The peculiar quality of my
voice--what makes it unusual--is due to the delicateness of my throat."

"Maybe so," said Mrs. Belloc.

"Of course, I can always sing--after a fashion," continued Mildred.
"But to be really valuable on the stage you've got to be able always to
sing at your best. So I'm afraid I'm in the class of those who'll suit,
one about as well as another."

"You've got to get out of that class," said Mrs. Belloc. "The men in
that class, and the women, have to do any dirty work the boss sees fit
to give 'em--and not much pay, either. Let me tell you one thing, Miss
Stevens. If you can't get among the few at the top in the singing
game, you must look round for some game where you can hope to be among
the few. No matter WHAT it is. By using your brains and working hard,
there's something you can do better than pretty nearly anybody else can
or will do it. You find that."

The words sank in, sank deep. Mildred, sense of her surroundings lost,
was gazing straight ahead with an expression that gave Mrs. Belloc hope
and even a certain amount of confidence. There was a di