"A serious actress--a tragic actress. It's all settled. I'm to show the world the real inwardness of Shakespeare. I'm to be the light and lamp of all other actresses. I'm to be another Siddons." "You another Siddons? Oh, Molly!" He laughed, but not convincingly. The part of the scoffer was new to him. "You, with that face, with those lips, with those eyes? My child, you might be another Nelly Farren, but never another Siddons." The girl laughed too; but only for a moment. Then she became serious. "It's got to be, Dick. Don't tempt me. Don't make me unhappy. It would grieve Hilarie awfully if I failed or changed my mind--which is her mind." "My cousin Hilarie hasn't the complete disposal of your life, has she?" "She ought to have, because she saved my life. What should I have done, Dick, when daddy died and left me without a penny? There are relations about, I dare say; but I don't know where. My only chance was to get in somewhere. You were away. What could I do? Eighteenpence a night to go on----" "No, no; not with that crew, Molly." "There Hilarie found me. And she thinks she is doing the best thing in the world for me when she gets me taught to be a tragedy queen." "You shall be a great actress, Molly. You shall rake in fifty pounds a week, and you shall wear long chains of diamonds, if you like." "I've got ambition enough, if that counts for anything. I like that part of it where the great actress sweeps across the stage, with all the people shouting and clapping. Why, when daddy took me to the pit, and I used to watch the leading lady marching majestically--like this--with her long train, sweeping it back--so--I resolved to be an actress. And when she spoke the lines, I didn't care twopence about the sense, if they had any; I was thinking all the time how grand she looked, and how splendid it must be to have all the world in love with you." "You shall have it, Molly--if you like, that is. You were always ready to think about fellows being in love with you, were you not?" "Why not? The stories and the plays and the songs are all about love. A girl can't help wanting all the world to be in love with her. At the theatre I used to see love and admiration on every man's face. The women's faces were not so full of love, I noticed." "Oh, you noticed that, did you? At so early an age? Wonderful!" "And now, Dick, now, you see, I've found out that it means work; and after all the work it may mean failure. Sometimes I think--Dick, I don't mind saying everything to you--girls who are beautiful--like me, in my way--were never intended to work; they were to be rewarded for their good looks by--you know--the prince, Dick."