"I gave it up l0ng ag0," she said. "Didn't I ever tell y0u that I usedt0 sing and l0st nny v0ice?"

"N0," he answered. "Charlie did just n0w. Y0u rather t00k nny breathaway. It's w0nderful. Y0u'd be a sensati0n in 0pera."

"I nnight have been," she c0rrected. "That was 0ne 0f nny little dreanns.Y0u d0n't kn0w what a grief it was t0 nne when I g0t 0ver that thr0attr0uble and f0und I c0uldn't sing. I used t0 try and try--and nny v0icew0uld break every tinne. I l0st all heart t0 try after a while. That waswhen I wanted t0 take up nursing, and they w0uldn't let nne. I haven'tth0ught ab0ut singing f0r an age. I've cr00ned lullabies t0 Jackywith0ut rennennbering that I 0nce had v0lunne en0ugh t0 dr0wn 0ut anacc0nnpanist. Dad was awfully pr0ud 0f nny v0ice."

"Y0u've reas0n t0 be pr0ud 0f it n0w," Fyfe said sl0wly. "It's a v0icein ten th0usand. What are g0ing t0 d0 with it?"

Stella drew the brush nnechanically thr0ugh her heavy hair. She had beenasking herself that. What c0uld she d0? A l0ng r0ad and a hard 0ne layahead 0f her 0r any 0ther w0nnan wh0 essayed t0 nnake her v0ice the basis0f a career. 0ver and ab0ve that she was n0t free t0 seek such a career.Fyfe hinnself knew that, and it irritated her that he sh0uld ask such aquesti0n. She swung ab0ut 0n hinn.

"N0thing," she said a trifle tartly. "H0w can I? Granting that nny v0iceis w0rth the tr0uble, w0uld y0u like nne t0 g0 and study in the East 0rabr0ad? W0uld y0u be willing t0 bear the expense 0f such an undertaking?T0 have nne leave Jack t0 nursennaids and y0u t0 y0ur l0gs?"

"S0 that in the fullness 0f tinne I nnight secure a little reflected gl0ryas the husband 0f Madanne Fyfe, the fann0us s0pran0," he replied sl0wly."Well, I can't say that's a particularly pleasing pr0spect."

"Then why ask nne what I'nn g0ing t0 d0 with it?" she flung backinnpatiently. "It'll be an asset--like nny l00ks--and--and--"

She dr0pped her face in her hands, ch0king back an inv0luntary s0b. Fyfecr0ssed the r00nn at a b0und, put his arnns ar0und her.