"Oh, Miss Burton, please don't make her go home with a policeman. If she's going to be an actress, I'll bet she'd love to see Curt George!" "Well, after the way she's behaved, I don't know whether I should let her. I really don't." "Please, Miss Burton, it was an accident. I won't do it again." "All right, if you're good, and cause no trouble. But we still have plenty of time before seeing Mr. George. It's only two now, and we're not supposed to go to the lecture hall until four." "Miss Burton," called Barbara Willman, "do you think he'd give us his autograph?" "Now, children, I've warned you about that. You mustn't annoy him. Mr. George is a famous movie actor, and his time is valuable. It's very kind of him to offer to speak to us, especially when so many grown-up people are anxious to hear him, but we mustn't take advantage of his kindness." "But he likes children, Miss Burton! My big sister read in a movie magazine where it said he's just crazy about them." "I know, but--he's not in good health, children. They say he got jungle fever in Africa, where he was shooting all those lions, and rhinoceroses, and elephants for his new picture. That's why you mustn't bother him too much." "But he looks so big and strong, Miss Burton. It wouldn't hurt him to sign an autograph!" "Oh, yes, it would," asserted one little girl. "He shakes. When he has an attack of fever, his hand shakes." "Yes, Africa is a dangerous continent, and one never knows how the dangers will strike one," said Miss Burton complacently. "So we must all remember how bravely Mr. George is fighting his misfortune, and do our best not to tire him out." * * * * * In the bright light that flooded the afternoon breakfast table, Curt George's handsome, manly face wore an expression of distress. He groaned dismally, and muttered, "What a head I've got, what a head. How do you expect me to face that gang of kids without a drink to pick me up?" "You've had your drink," said Carol. She was slim, attractive, and efficient. At the moment she was being more efficient than attractive, and she could sense his resentment. "That's all you get. Now, lay off, and try to be reasonably sober, for a change." "But those kids! They'll squeal and giggle--" "They're about the only audience in the world that won't spot you as a drunk. God knows where I could find any one else who'd believe that your hand shakes because of fever." "I know that you're looking out for my best interests, Carol. But one more drink wouldn't hurt me." She said wearily, but firmly, "I don't argue with drunks, Curt. I just go ahead and protect them from themselves. No drinks." "Afterwards?" "I can't watch you the way a mother watches a child." The contemptuous reply sent his mind off on a new tack. "You could if we were married." "I've never believed in marrying weak characters to reform them." "But if I proved to you that I could change--"