"It isn't exactly that," Anna answered, "but to tell you the truth, I

cannot bear to look upon myself as a rank failure. We girls, my sister

and I, were left quite alone when our father died, and I made up my

mind to make some little place in the world for myself. I tried

painting and couldn't get on. Then I came to London and tried almost

everything--all failures. I had two offers of marriage from men I

liked very much indeed, but it never occurred to me to listen to

either of them. You see I am rather obstinate. At last I tried a

dramatic agent, and got on the music hall stage."

"Well, you can't say you're a failure there," Lady Lescelles remarked,

smiling. "I've been to hear you lots of times."

"I have been more fortunate than I deserved," Anna answered, "but I

only meant to stay upon the music hall stage until I could get

something better. I am rehearsing now for a new play at the 'Garrick'

and I have quite made up my mind to try and make some sort of position

for myself as an actress."

"Do you think it is really worth while?" Lady Lescelles asked gently.

"I am sure you will marry Nigel sooner or later, and then all your

work will be thrown away."

Anna shook her head.

"If I were to marry now," she said, "it would be with a sense of

humiliation. I should feel that I had been obliged to find some one

else to fight my battles for me."

"What else," Lady Lescelles murmured, "are men for?"

Anna laughed.

"Afterwards," she said, "I should be perfectly content to have

everything done for me. But I do think that if a girl is to feel

comfortable about it they should start fairly equal. Take your case,

for instance. You brought your husband a large fortune, your people

were well known in society, your family interest I have heard was

useful to him in his parliamentary career. So far as I am concerned, I

am just now a hopeless nonentity. Your brother has everything--I have

not shown myself capable even of earning my own living except in a way

which could not possibly bring any credit upon anybody. And beyond

this, Lady Lescelles, as you must know, recent events have set a good

many people's tongues wagging, and I am quite determined to live down

all this scandal before I think of marrying any one."

"I am sure," Lady Lescelles said, gently, "that the last consideration

need not weigh with you in the least. No one in the world is beyond

the shaft of scandal--we all catch it terribly sometimes. It simply

doesn't count."

"You are very kind," Anna said. "I do hope I have been able to make

you understand how I feel, that you don't consider me a hopeless prig.

It does sound a little horrid to talk so much about oneself and to

have views."




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