I haven't had a chance to ask you yet; and--I think you said Mary Jane was going to study for Grand Opera." Arkwright laughed and shrugged his shoulders.
"She is; but, as I told Calderwell, she's quite likely to bring up in vaudeville." "Calderwell! Do you mean--Hugh Calderwell ?" Billy's cheeks showed a deeper color.
The man gave an embarrassed little laugh.

He had not meant to let that name slip out just yet.
"Yes." He hesitated, then plunged on recklessly.

"We tramped half over Europe together last summer." "Did you ?" Billy left her seat at the piano for one nearer the fire.
"But this isn't telling me about your own plans," she hurried on a little precipitately.

"You've studied before, of course.

Your voice shows that." "Oh, yes; I've studied singing several years, and I've had a year or two of church work, besides a little concert practice of a mild sort." "Have you begun here, yet ?" "Y-yes, I've had my voice tried." Billy sat erect with eager interest.
"They liked it, of course ?" Arkwright laughed.
"I'm not saying that." "No, but I am," declared Billy, with conviction.