"Poor boy," she said, holding his right hand in hers, "I am afraid you don't feel well, or that you have been worrying," and she looked him straight in the eyes. A smile of beatitude spread over Edward's face under the influence of her gaze, and he answered: "To tell the truth, Nellie, I have been a little anxious about my future, but I guess it will be all right." "Of course it will be all right," she said, and inviting him to be seated, she asked him if he would not like to become an actor. "An actor?" he repeated, "I be an actor? I never thought of it, and then, how could I become an actor in the States when I can hardly speak English correctly?" "That part of it is all right, Ed. I have a friend, who is now writing a new play, and there will be a Frenchman in it, and you would be just the man to take that role." "Well, but I have never done any acting; in fact, I know absolutely nothing about it," he said. "There is a beginning to everything. Your voice is good. You are tall and handsome,'' she added smilingly. "Oh, bosh! Nellie, you are making fun of me. I know I was not born to be an actor, and never will be one." "Won't you try for my sake?" she asked him pleadingly. "For your sake, Nellie, I would do anything, but please don't ask me to make a fool of myself." "No, no, nothing of the kind, Edward. You can take lessons in elocution, and later try the role I spoke about." "Take lessons in elocution? Dear, it takes money and time to do these things, and while I have the time I lack the other. "I will loan you the money, Edward, and later, when you make lots of it, you will pay it back to me. Can I tell my friend, the author, that I have his man for the role of the Frenchman?" "I don't know, Nellie; I must have time to think it over," answered Edward, who was too surprised to grasp the full meaning of this proposition. "All right, you will let me know to-morrow, won't you, Ed? and please take my advice and accept this chance to become an actor. I feel that you would succeed on the stage--truly, I do, Ed." After talking over this new scheme, Edward left Nellie, and went to his boardinghouse, where he wanted to consult with his friend Ben. The Russian saw no reason why Edward should not follow Nellie's advice, and he strongly encouraged him to do so; but to Edward, there were many points to consider. What would his parents say? What would Marie Louise think of him, if she learned that he wanted to become an actor? Had she not in her last letters begged of him to be good and true to his promises? He had not answered that part in which she also complained of the chilliness of his late letters. Another point that he felt keenly, was the eventual necessity to accept pecuniary help from Nellie; of course, he reasoned that it was to be paid back, but his sensitive nature made him realize that even then it would leave him under moral obligations to her, and his spirit of independence revolted strongly. But what was he to do?