"And you're like a big red rose. Kiss me!" From Christina he learned all about the musical world and musical personalities. He gained an insight into the different forms of music, operatic, symphonic, instrumental. He learned of the different forms of composition, the terminology, the mystery of the vocal cords, the methods of training. He learned of the jealousies within the profession, and what the best musical authorities thought of such and such composers, or singers. He learned how difficult it was to gain a place in the operatic world, how bitterly singers fought each other, how quick the public was to desert a fading star. Christina took it all so unconcernedly that he almost loved her for her courage. She was so wise and so good natured. "You have to give up a lot of things to be a good artist," she said to Eugene one day. "You can't have the ordinary life, and art too." "Just what do you mean, Chrissy?" he asked, petting her hand, for they were alone together. "Why, you can't get married very well and have children, and you can't do much in a social way. Oh, I know they do get married, but sometimes I think it is a mistake. Most of the singers I know don't do so very well tied down by marriage." "Don't you intend to get married?" asked Eugene curiously. "I don't know," she replied, realizing what he was driving at. "I'd want to think about that. A woman artist is in a d---- of a position anyway," using the letter d only to indicate the word "devil." "She has so many things to think about." "For instance?" "Oh, what people think and her family think, and I don't know what all. They ought to get a new sex for artists--like they have for worker bees." Eugene smiled. He knew what she was driving at. But he did not know how long she had been debating the problem of her virginity as conflicting with her love of distinction in art. She was nearly sure she did not want to complicate her art life with marriage. She was almost positive that success on the operatic stage--particularly the great opportunity for the beginner abroad--was complicated with some liaison. Some escaped, but it was not many. She was wondering in her own mind whether she owed it to current morality to remain absolutely pure. It was assumed generally that girls should remain virtuous and marry, but this did not necessarily apply to her--should it apply to the artistic temperament? Her mother and her family troubled her. She was virtuous, but youth and desire had given her some bitter moments. And here was Eugene to emphasize it. "It is a difficult problem," he said sympathetically, wondering what she would eventually do. He felt keenly that her attitude in regard to marriage affected his relationship to her. Was she wedded to her art at the expense of love? "It's a big problem," she said and went to the piano to sing.