"I'll see," was all he would promise. "I must look over the parts, and then--well, little coaching wouldn't do you any harm, I guess," he added with a smile. "It would make them all the better," declared the manager. "Oh, Ruth! I believe he's going to let us go in!" whispered Alice in delight. "Won't you like it?" "Yes, dear! It's more exciting than I imagined. And I think you did splendidly!" "Not half as well as you, Ruth. You are a born actress!" "And you're a born ingenue!" "Oh, aren't we silly to compliment each other this way!" laughed Alice. "But, really, Ruth, I just love it; don't you?" "Yes, dear. Oh, I wonder what sort of parts we'll get. I'd like something romantic." "And I want something funny--with laughs in it," declared Alice. "Oh, say, Ruth," and her voice went to a whisper, "do you really think I'm an ingenue--like Miss Dixon?" "I think you're--better!" responded Ruth, kissing her sister, and stroking her soft hair. The work in the film studio was over for the day and the actors and actresses were getting ready to go home. From the time Ruth and Alice had taken the emergency parts Russ had observed Miss Pennington and Miss Dixon casting sharp looks at them. "Jealous!" mused Russ. And his diagnosis was confirmed a little later, when, as the two former vaudeville performers passed Ruth and Alice, Miss Pennington, with a sharp glance at the latter, murmured loudly enough to be heard: "Humph! It takes more than one performance in a little part to make a movie actress! Some folks think they are mighty smart, coming in over the heads of others!" "That's what I say, too!" added Miss Dixon. "It was a shame the way they took the parts away from Ruby and Maude!" CHAPTER XVI THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS For a moment Ruth and Alice looked at each other with eyes that showed the pain they felt. Ruth turned pale at hearing the unkind words, but Alice blushed a rosy red, and started to say something. "Don't," advised Mrs. Maguire, coming up beside them, and evidently guessing her intention. "It would only make matters worse to reply to them, my dear." "But--but----" began Alice. "Hush!" begged Ruth. "Oh, how could they say it--as if we _wanted_ to displace those girls." "I'm just going to tell them what I think!" exclaimed Alice, and there was a hint of real anger in her voice. But she had no chance, for Miss Pennington and Miss Dixon, as though satisfied with what they had done, swept out to the elevator. "Don't mind them, my dears," said motherly Mrs. Maguire. "It's only professional jealousy, anyhow; and you'll see plenty of that if you stay in this business long enough." "Then I'm not going to stay!" cried Alice. "I'm not used to having such things said of me." Mrs. Maguire laughed genially. She was standing with Ruth and Alice, who were waiting for their father to join them. Most of the other performers had now gone.