stars are picking on the vaudeville stage, nowadays,
that isn't to be sneezed at. But Billy says
you've made two or three appearances already on
the sacred boards themselves--one of them a
subscription performance--and that you created
no end of a sensation.''

``Nonsense! I'm merely a student at the Opera
School here,'' scowled Arkwright.

``Oh, yes, Billy said you were that, but she also
said you wouldn't be, long. That you'd already
had one good offer--I'm not speaking of marriage--
and that you were going abroad next
summer, and that they were all insufferably
proud of you.''

``Nonsense!'' scowled Arkwright, again, coloring
like a girl. ``That is only some of--of Mrs.
Henshaw's kind flattery.''

Calderwell jerked the cigar from between his
lips, and sat suddenly forward in his chair.

``Arkwright, tell me about them. How are
they making it go?''

Arkwright frowned.

``Who? Make what go?'' he asked.