the piano, wondering what she should select to sing.
"Ah! you also play, miss? … " he queried in great surprise.
"Yes," she answered, and began playing the introduction to some song, without seeing the signs that Sowinska was making to her.
"Please sing something for me," he said, "I want to hear only your voice. … Or perhaps you could sing some solo part?"
"Mr. Director … I feel that I have a calling for the drama, or even for the comedy, but never for the opera."
"But we are not talking about the opera … "
"About what, then?"
"About this … the operetta!" he cried, striking his knee. "Sing, Miss! … I have only a little time and I am burning up with this heat."
She began to sing a song of Tosti's. The director listened, but at the same time gazed at Sowinska and pointed to his parched lips.
When Janina had ended, he cried, "Very well … we will accept you … I must hurry out, for I'm roasting."
"Perhaps you will have a drink of something with us, Mr.
Director? … " she queried timidly, understanding the signs that
Sowinska gave her.
He pretended to excuse himself, but in the end remained.
Sowinska ordered the waiter to bring half a bottle of cognac, three beers and some sandwiches, and, having drained her own glass, she hastily left them, saying that she had forgotten something in the dressing-room.
"Halt" shoved his chair nearer to Janina's.
"Hm! … you have a voice, miss … a very nice voice … " he said and laid his big red paw upon her knee, while with the other he began to pour some brandy into his beer.
She moved back a little, disgusted.
"You can put on a bold front on the stage. … I will help you … " he added, draining his glass at one gulp.
"If you will be so kind, Mr. Director … " Janina said, drawing away from him.
"I will see to it … I will take care of you!"
And suddenly he took her about the waist and drew her to him.
Janina shoved him back with such force that he fell sprawling upon the table, and then ran to the door, ready to cry out.
"Whew! … wait a minute … you're a fool! … stay! … I wanted to take care of you, help you, but since you're such a blooming fool, go and hang yourself! … "
He drank the rest of his cognac and left.
On the veranda sat Cabinski with the stage-manager.
"Has she any kind of a voice?" he inquired of "Halt," for he had seen Janina entering the room. "A soprano?"
"Ho, ho! something unheard of … almost an alto!"
Janina sat for about an hour in that room, unable to control the indignation and rage that shook her. There were lucid moments when she would spring up as though ready to rush out and away from those people, but immediately she would sink down again with a moan.
"Where will I go?" she asked herself, and then added with a sudden determination. "No, I will stay! … I will bear all, if it is necessary … I must! … I must!"
Janina became set in her stubborn determination. She collected within herself all her powers for impending battle with misfortune, with obstacles, with the whole evil and hostile world and for a moment, she saw herself on some dizzying height where was fame and the intoxication of triumph.
Presently Sowinska came in.
"Thank you, for your advice … and for leaving me with a pig! … " the girl exclaimed, half weeping.
"I was in a hurry … he did not eat you, did he? … He's a good man. … "
"Then leave your daughter alone with that good man!" retorted Janina harshly. "My daughter is not an actress," answered Sowinska.
"Oh! … It doesn't matter … It's only a lesson for me," she whispered, turning away.
She met Cabinski and, approaching him, asked, "Will you accept me,
Mr. Director?"
"You may consider yourself engaged," he answered. "As for your salary we shall speak of that another day."
"What am I to play? … I should like to take the part of Clara in
The Iron Master."
Cabinski glanced at her sharply and covered his mouth with his hand so as not to burst out laughing.
"Just a moment … just a moment … you must first acquaint yourself with the stage. In the meanwhile, you will appear with the chorus. Halt told me that you know how to play the piano and read notes. To-morrow I will give you some scores of the operettas we play and you can learn the chorus parts."
Janina went to the dressing-room and had scarcely opened the door, when someone pushed her back, slammed the door in her face and called out angrily: "Upstairs with you! that is where the chorus girls belong!"
She set her teeth and went upstairs.
The dressing-room of the chorus was a long, narrow and low apartment. Rows of unshaded gaslights burned above long bare, board tables extending along the walls on three sides of the room. The walls were covered with unbeveled and unpainted boards which were scribbled all over with names, dates jokes and caricatures, done in charcoal or rouge paint. On the bare wall hung a whole string of dresses and costumes.
About twenty women sat undressed before mirrors of various shapes, and before each one there burned candles.
Janina spying an unoccupied chair, near the door, sat down and began to look about her.
"I beg your pardon, but that is my seat!" called a stout brunette.
Janina stood aside.
"Did you come to see someone? … " asked the same chorus-girl, rubbing her face with vaseline before applying powder.
"No. I came to the dressing-room. I am one of the company," answered
Janina rather loudly.
"Oh, you are?"
A few heads raised themselves above the tables and a few pairs of eyes were centered upon Janina.
Janina told the brunette her name.
"Girls! … this new one calls herself Orlowska. Get acquainted with her!" called the brunette.
A few of those sitting nearest her stretched out their hands in greeting and then proceeded with their make-up.
"Louise,
