With the idea that posing might answer as a stop-gap until she found some other means of support, Jean forthwith visited an agency whose address Amy furnished. She found the proprietor of this enterprise a jerky little man with a disquieting pair of black eyes which thoroughly inventoried her every feature, movement, and detail of dress. "Chorus, front row, show-girl, or church choir?" he demanded briskly. "I thought this was a model agency," Jean said; "I wish to try posing if--" "Right shop. What line, please?" "In costume." "You don't follow me. Fashion-plate, illustrating, lithography, or commercial photography." "I'm not sure," she hesitated, bewildered by this unexpected broadening of the field. "What can I earn?" The little man waved his arms spasmodically. "Might as well ask me what the weather'll be next Fourth of July," he sputtered. "See that horse there?" pointing out of his window at a much-blanketed thoroughbred on its way to the smith's. "How fast can he trot? You don't know! Of course you don't. How much can you earn? I don't know. Of course I don't. You see my point? Same case exactly. Illustrators pay all the way from half a dollar to a dollar and a half an hour. Camera-models make from one dollar to three. And there you are." "I've had no experience." "That's plain enough. Sticks out like a sore thumb. But you don't need any. Fact, you don't. That's the beauty of the business. Appearance and gumption, they're the cards to hold. You've got appearance. A girl has to have the looks, or I don't touch her fee. Fair all round, you see. If a girl's face or get-up is against her, I've no business taking her money. If an illustrator says, 'Send me up a model who looks so and so,' that's just the article he gets. First-class models, first-class illustrators, there's my system." "I need work at once," Jean stated. "What is my chance?" "Prime. You ought to fill the bill for a man who 'phoned not two minutes before you walked through the door. High-class artist, known everywhere, liberal pay. There needn't have been any delay whatever, if you'd thought to bring your father or mother along." Jean's rising spirits dropped dismally at this remark. "My father is dead," she explained. "My mother lives in the country." "Then get her consent in writing. Means time, of course, and time's money, but it can't be helped." "Is it absolutely necessary?" "You'll have to have it to do business with me," replied the agent, beginning to shuffle among his papers. "But my mother knows I am trying to earn a living," she argued. "Besides, I'm nearly of age. I shall be twenty-one next week." "Drop in when you get your letter," directed the little man, inflexibly. "Minor or not, I make it a rule to have parents' consent. Troubles enough in my line without papa and mamma. Good day."