"Oh one's always well enough when one's made up; one's always exactly the same." That served as an example of the good taste with which a star of the drama could receive homage that was wanting in originality. Miriam determined on the spot that this should be the way _she_ would ever receive it. The grace of her new acquaintance was the greater as the becoming bloom to which she alluded as artificial was the result of a science so consummate that it had none of the grossness of a mask. The perception of all this was exciting to our young aspirant, and her excitement relieved itself in the inquiry, which struck her as rude as soon as she had uttered it: "You acted for 'me'? How did you know? What am I to you?" "Monsieur Sherringham has told me about you. He says we're nothing beside you--that you're to be the great star of the future. I'm proud that you've seen me." "That of course is what I tell every one," Peter acknowledged a trifle awkwardly to Miriam. "I can believe it when I see you. _Je vous ai bien observee_," the actress continued in her sweet conciliatory tone. Miriam looked from one of her interlocutors to the other as if there were joy for her in this report of Sherringham's remarks--joy accompanied and partly mitigated, however, by a quicker vision of what might have passed between a secretary of embassy and a creature so exquisite as Mademoiselle Voisin. "Ah you're wonderful people--a most interesting impression!" she yearningly sighed. "I was looking for you; he had prepared me. We're such old friends!" said the actress in a tone courteously exempt from intention: upon which Sherringham, again taking her hand, raised it to his lips with a tenderness which her whole appearance seemed to bespeak for her, a sort of practical consideration and carefulness of touch, as if she were an object precious and frail, an instrument for producing rare sounds, to be handled, like a legendary violin, with a recognition of its value. "Your dressing-room is so pretty--show her your dressing-room," he went on. "Willingly, if she'll come up. _Vous savez que c'est une montee."_ "It's a shame to inflict it on _you_," Miriam objected. "_Comment donc?_ If it will interest you in the least!" They exchanged civilities, almost caresses, trying which could have the nicest manner to the other. It was the actress's manner that struck Miriam most; it denoted such a training, so much taste, expressed such a ripe conception of urbanity.