And he rang off that she might have no chance on impulse to do herself mischief with her generous thoughtfulness for him. She felt rather mean, but not nearly so mean as she would have felt had she let the opportunity go by with no generous word said. "And no doubt my aversion for that little wretch," thought she, "makes me think him more terrible than he is. After all, what can he do? Watch me--and discover nothing, because there'll be nothing to discover." Jennings came exactly at three--came with the air of a man who wastes no one's time and lets no one waste his time. He was a youngish man of forty or thereabouts, with a long sharp nose, a large tight mouth, and eyes that seemed to be looking restlessly about for money. That they had not looked in vain seemed to be indicated by such facts as that he came in a private brougham and that he was most carefully dressed, apparently with the aid of a valet. "Miss Stevens," he said with an abrupt bow, before Mildred had a chance to speak, "you have come to New York to take singing lessons--to prepare yourself for the stage. And you wish a comfortable place to live and to work." He extended his gloved hand, shook hers frigidly, dropped it. "We shall get on--IF you work, but only if you work. I do not waste myself upon triflers." He drew a card from his pocket. "If you will go to see the lady whose name and address are written on this card, I think you will find the quarters you are looking for." "Thank you," said Mildred. "Come to me--my address is on the card, also--at half-past ten on Saturday. We will then lay out your work." "If you find I have a voice worth while," Mildred ventured. "That, of course," said Mr. Jennings curtly. "Until half-past ten on Saturday, good day." Again he gave the abrupt foreign bow and, while Mildred was still struggling with her surprise and confusion, she saw him, through the window, driving rapidly away. Mrs. Belloc came drifting through the room; she had the habit of looking about whenever there were new visitors, and in her it was not irritating because her interest was innocent and sympathetic. Said Mildred: "Did you see that man, Mrs. Belloc?" "What an extraordinary nose he had," replied she. "Yes, I noticed that," said Mildred. "But it was the only thing I did notice. He is a singing teacher--Mr. Jennings." "Eugene Jennings?" "Yes, Eugene." "He's the best known singing teacher in New York. He gets fifteen dollars a half-hour." "Then I simply can't take from him!" exclaimed Mildred, before she thought. "That's frightful!"