Virginia Tracy

“ Renton's heart smote him to think how largely from this point of view the world must present itself to a successful actress.
"He's afraid to ask," said Jane. "But what he wants is for you to play a little sketch of his at the Standish benefit. He's awfully clever and a modern of the moderns, and his work 's everything that you love and believe in. ”

“ There was a refreshing sense of balance in that young man's gay worldliness which made Renton smile at him past the intensity of Jane's appeal as Danny put forth his hand and gathered her clenched fingers into a chivalrous squeeze.
"Trot out your bomb, Jane Rogers," said the boy. "We 'll draw lots."
"All I can think of is this: it would be something if we could get her, just in the least little thing, to defy him once. It might lead to a big quarrel. There's always the chance of his going too far and opening her eyes. Even her dear head must have reared a little higher lately ”

“ Then it began to speak to his exultation, and tell him that even to those others she was not merely an illustrious fad; it was not in the minds of her intimates alone that to-night Andromeda defied her monster. Most of all the brethren of her working world, from whom she had been held apart so long, leaned to her in utter welcome, with hands eager to do her honor. ”

“ He was staggered, but he was electrified.
"Would—would she play it?" he gasped.
"She 'll do anything to help people. We can tell her it's a great kindness. That's the whole point—that you 're young and," said Jane, weightily, "obscure. We can tell her that it's your one chance at a great audience. If we can bring about a quarrel with Hinney, and at the same time a fresh triumph—" They all glared forward, palpitating.
People were dancing that evening in the ball-room of the hotel, and Miss Bayard came out to her little group on the dark veranda. Mr. Hinney discouraged her dancing ”

“ You know what that is, Evva. Won't you give him one?"
Miss Bayard looked slowly from Renton to Jane.
"At the Standish Memorial performance? Yes, they have been speaking to me about that."
"Well, Mr. Renton, although he came all the way from New York for the purpose, does n't like to speak to you because he was a witness of that agreeable scene out here this afternoon."
Again the actress slowly turned her eyes to Renton, and in a voice of ravishing gentleness she uttered the words:
"Mr. Hinney is always careful that I shall not overwork." And then: "Oh," she cried, "but that was wrong! ”

“ Renton expostulated with the fervor of a lover. "She could n't fail us now!"
"She's found herself, you think? Very likely. All the same, I'm glad it's not my nightmare. I'm glad it 's not D. Folliot who would have to step forth and say, 'Ladies and gentlemen, a little red-headed rat has gnawed his way into our cheese, and owing to an organic weakness of character, our goddess refuses—"
Danny was interrupted by their arrival at the hotel and their passage into Jane's strenuous and sterner keeping. Would Renton have some tea? No one could see Evva ”

“ So as to make a precedent for the other, bigger benefit later on." She turned to Renton. "The big one's not for charity, you may be sure. It's for a memorial to John Standish; they want to build an arch or something, Hinney's made himself such an outsider that he has n't heard of it at all; there's an example of his ignorant touch on her career! Well, when the advertising begins, I want Evelyn Bayard's name to be in the announcements. There's to be a wood pageant, and all these society women around here are crazy to go on as dryads. Not that I want her to do anything with them, of course ”

“ A great director was to produce the wood pageant, a great dramatist was to make the opening address.
"We 'll have the two most artistic managers in America. Well, do you suppose that when they see Evelyn here, without Hinney, they won't jump at one more try for her? And she, who knows nobody and never meets her equals equally, when she comes into the wings with them and sees what they think of her—pray, pray that it goes to her sweet head!"
Presently Renton looked down at the cold print where Miss Bayard's name was followed by the words "assisted by Mr. ”

“ But I would n't let on I was insulted, and I would n't be broken off. And here I am. He thinks I 've got it in for him for the rotten things he 's done to me. But he's off. The only things I got against him are the things he's done to Evelyn. ”