The telephone rang a second time. "Joe Gilday," said Winona presently, covering the mouthpiece with her hand. "Say I'm in," said Doré hastily, in a half whisper. "Now go back and say I'm out!" "What's wrong?" said Winona, opening her eyes. "Needs disciplining." "He knows you're here--says he must speak to you," said the emissary, reappearing. "Tell him I am, and won't," said Doré mercilessly. Snyder, with a sudden recognition of the clock, rose, and going to a trunk, pounced on a sailor hat, slapping it on her head without looking in the mirror. She came and planted herself before Doré, who had watched her, laughing. "Beating it up to Blainey's," she said. The voice was low, but with a slur that accused ordinary antecedents. "Say, he's dipped on you; got a fat part salted away--if you ever turn up! Why don't you see him?" "I will--I will." "Look here. You're not going to let everything slip this season, too, are you?" "How do I know what I'll do to-morrow?" said Doré, laughing. "Aren't you ever going to settle down?" "Yes, indeed; in a year!" "It's a real fat part; you're crazy to lose the chance!" "Tell Blainey to be patient; I'm going to be serious--soon!" "See him!" "I will--I will!" "When?" "To-morrow--perhaps." She took Snyder by the shoulders, readjusting the hat. "Aren't you ashamed to treat yourself this way! You can be real pretty, if you want to." "When I want to, I am," said Snyder, shrugging her shoulders, but opposing no resistance to the rearrangement of her costume. "Snyder, you _do_ it on purpose!" said Doré, vexed at the hang of the skirt, which resisted her efforts. Winona reentered. She had heard the conversation with one ear, while extending comfort to the frantic Gilday in disgrace. Snyder, with the entrée to Blainey, manager for the Lipswitch and Berger Circuit, aroused her respect with her envy. "Snyder, what do you do all the time?" she said in a conciliatory tone. "Meaning what?" "You never go out--never amuse yourself!" "I amuse myself much more than you!" "What!" exclaimed Winona. "Much more. I work!" Saying which, she flung into her jacket like a schoolboy, and went out without further adieus. "Pleasant creature!" said Winona acidly. "It's you who are wrong," said Doré warmly. "Why patronize her?" "There _is_ a difference between us, I think," said Winona coldly. "Really, Dodo, I don't understand how you can--" "Let Snyder alone," said Doré, with a flash of anger. "No harm comes from being decent to some one who's down. Don't be so hard--you never know what may happen to you!" Seeing the flush on Winona's face, she softened her tone and, her habitual good humor returning, added: "If you knew her struggle--There! Let's drop it!"