t masters in
Sydney."

"Under masters for what?"

"Elocution and singing."

"I couldn't afford it."

"But I'd bear the expense myself. It would only be returning a trifle of
all you have done for me."

"What nonsense! What would you have her do when she was taught?"

"Go on the stage, of course. With her talent and hair she would cause
quite a sensation."

Now grannie's notions re the stage were very tightly laced. All actors
and actresses, from the lowest circus man up to the most glorious
cantatrice, were people defiled in the sight of God, and utterly outside
the pale of all respectability, when measured with her code of morals.

She turned energetically in her chair, and her keen eyes flashed with
scorn and anger as she spoke.

"Go on the stage! A grand-daughter of mine! Lucy's eldest child! An
actress--a vile, low, brazen hussy! Use the gifts God has given her with
which to do good in showing off to a crowd of vile bad men! I would
rather see her struck dead at my feet this instant! I would rather see
her shear off her hair and enter a convent this very hour. Child, promise
you will never be a bold bad actress."

"I will never be a _bold bad_ actress, grannie," I said, putting great
stress on the adjectives, and bringing out the actress very faintly.

"Yes," she continued, calming down, "I'm sure you have not enough bad in
you. You may he boisterous, and not behave with sufficient propriety
sometimes, but I don't think you are wicked enough to ever make an
actress."

Everard attempted to defend his case.

"Look here, gran, that's a very exploded old notion about the stage being
a low profession. It might have been once, but it is quite the reverse
nowadays. There are, of course, low people on the stage, as there are in
all walks of life. I grant you that; but if people are good they can be
good on the stage as well as anywhere else. On account of a little
prejudice it would be a sin to rob Sybylla of the brilliant career she
might have."

"Career!" exclaimed his foster-mother, catching at the word. "Career!
That is all girls think of now, instead of being good wives and mothers
and attending to their homes and doing what God intended. All they think
of is gadding about and being fast, and ruining themselves body and soul.
And the men are as bad to encourage them," looking severely at Everard.

"There is a great deal of truth in what you say, gran, I admit. You can
apply it to many of our girls,