"Do you know it is hardly believable that such an incompetent judge as the directress should herself assign the roles for all our plays!" she once remarked to Wladek greatly embittered by the fact that she had been ignored in the selection of the cast for an old melodramatic caricature entitled Martin, the Foundling. "It is too bad that you did not ask her for a role for, as you see, the director can do nothing," said Wladek. "Quite true! That's a good idea! I'll try it to-morrow." "Ask her for the role of 'Mary' in Doctor Robin which we are to present next week. Some amateur wishes to join our company and he is to make his debut as 'Garrick.'" "What sort of role is that of 'Mary?'" "A splendid display role! I think that you would act it superbly. I can bring you the play, if you wish." "Good! we can read it together." On the morrow Janina received a solemn promise from Cabinska that she would be given the part. In the afternoon Wladek brought Doctor Robin. This was his first visit to Janina's home, so he took care to appear particularly handsome, elegant, polite, and somewhat absent-minded. He acted love and respect for Janina with the skill of a virtuoso; he was very quiet, as though from an excess of happiness. "For the first time I feel shy and happy!" he said, kissing Janina's hand. "Why shy? You are always so sure of yourself on the stage!" she answered, a bit confused. "Yes, on the stage, where one only plays happiness, but not here . . . where I am really happy." "Happy?" she repeated. Wladek glanced at Janina with such passionate intensity, with such mastery of facial expression, accentuated by a rapturous smile, simulating the ecstasy and transport of love, that had he shown this on the stage he would have been warmly applauded. Janina understood him excellently and something stirred in her as though some new string in her heart had been lightly plucked. Wladek began to read the play. With each of "Mary's" words, Janina's enthusiastic nature burst forth anew. With bated breath, and eyes fixed on Wladek, she listened, not daring to mar, either by word or gesture, the impression that his reading made on her. She feared to dispel the charm that spoke through his eloquent voice and in the velvety softness of his black eyes. When he had finished reading, the girl cried out in rapture: "What a splendid role!" "I am willing to wager that you will make a furore in it," remarked Wladek. "Yes . . . I feel that I could play it fairly well. 'Garrick, that creator of souls, so mighty in Coriolanus!'" she whispered, repeating a remembered line of the play. And Janina's face glowed with such fervor, so radiant did she become with her deep inner joy, that Wladek scarcely recognized her. "You are an enthusiast," he said. "Yes, because I love art! Give all for art and everything is contained in art! . . . that is my motto. Beyond art I see almost nothing," answered Janina suddenly kindling anew with ardor.