. I'm horribly
disappointed in you."

He drew her to his lap and held her there without any apparent tax upon
his strength. He kissed her, laughingly pushing away the arms with
which she tried to shield her face. Suddenly she found strength to
wrench herself free and stood at a distance from him. She was panting a
little, was pale, was looking at him with cold anger.

"You will please leave this room," said she.

He lit a cigarette, crossed his legs comfortably, and looked at her
with laughing eyes. "Don't do that," he said genially. "Surely my
lessons in acting haven't been in vain. That's too obviously a pose."

She went to the mirror, arranged her hat, and moved toward the door. He
rose and barred the way.

"You are as sensible as you are sweet and lovely," said he. "Why
should you insist on our being bad friends?"

"If you don't stand aside, I'll call out to the watchman."

"I'd never have thought you were dishonest. In fact, I don't believe
it yet. You don't look like one of those ladies who wish to take
everything and give nothing." His tone and manner were most
attractive. Besides, she could not forget all he had done for her--and
all he could do for her. Said she:

"Mr. Ransdell, if I've done anything to cause you to misunderstand, it
was unconscious. And I'm sorry. But I--"

"Be honest," interrupted he. "Haven't I made it plain that I was
fascinated by you?"

She could not deny it.

"Haven't I been showing you that I was willing to do everything I could
for you?"

"I thought you were concerned only about the success of the piece."

"The piece be jiggered," said he. "You don't imagine YOU are necessary
to its success, do you? You, a raw, untrained girl. Don't your good
sense tell you I could find a dozen who would do, let us say, ALMOST as
well?"

"I understand that," murmured she.

"Perhaps you do, but I doubt it," rejoined he. "Vanity's a fast growing
weed. However, I rather expected that you would remain sane and
reasonably humble until you'd had a real success. But it seems not.
Now tell me, why should I give my time and my talent to training
you--to putting you in the way of quick and big success?"

She was silent.

"What did you count on giving me in return? Your thanks?"

She colored, hung her head.

"Wasn't I doing for you something worth while? And what had you to give
in return?" He laughed with gentle mockery. "Really, you should have
been grateful that I