"She shouldn't be like that. Perhaps, Carolyn, you and Doris can do something together. And perhaps, too, Mr. George will be pleased to see that your teacher also has talent." "You, Miss Burton?" Miss Burton coughed modestly. "Yes, children, I never told you, but I was once ambitious to be an actress too. I studied dramatics, and really, I was quite good at it. I was told that if I persevered I might actually be famous. Just think, your teacher might actually have been a famous actress! However, in my day, there were many coarse people on the stage, and the life of the theater was not attractive--but perhaps we'd better not speak of that. At any rate, I know the principles of the dramatic art very well." * * * * * "God knows what I'll have to go through," said Curt. "And I don't see how I can take it sober." "I don't see how they can take you drunk," replied Carol. "Why go through with it at all? Why not call the whole thing quits?" "Because people are depending on you. You always want to call quits whenever you run into something you don't like. You may as well call quits to your contract if that's the way you feel." "And to your ten per cent, darling." "You think I'd mind that. I work for my ten per cent, Curt, sweetheart. I work too damn hard for that ten per cent." "You can marry me and take it easy. Honest, Carol, if you treated me better, if you showed me I meant something to you, I'd give up drinking." She made a face. "Don't talk nonsense. Take your outfit, and let's get ready to go. Unless you want to change here, and walk around dressed as a lion hunter." "Why not? I've walked around dressed as worse. A drunk." "Drunks don't attract attention. They're too ordinary." "But a drunken lion hunter--that's something special." He went into the next room and began to change. "Carol," he called. "Do you like me?" "At times." "Would you say that you liked me very much?" "When you're sober. Rarely." "Love me?" "Once in a blue moon." "What would I have to do for you to want to marry me?" "Amount to something." "I like that. Don't you think I amount to something now? Women swoon at the sight of my face on the screen, and come to life again at the sound of my voice." "The women who swoon at you will swoon at anybody. Besides, I don't consider that making nitwits swoon is a useful occupation for a real man." "How can I be useful, Carol? No one ever taught me how." "Some people manage without being taught." "I suppose I could think how if I had a drink inside me." "Then you'll have to do without thinking." He came into the room again, powerful, manly, determined-looking. There was an expression in his eye which indicated courage without end, a courage that would enable him to brave the wrath of man, beast, or devil. "How do I look?" "Your noble self, of course. A poor woman's edition of Rudolph Valentino."