The Price She Paid [58]
I can find someone to help out at the expenses here. As I understand it, you are willing to pay forty dollars a week, I to run the house, pay all the bills, and so on--all, of course, if you wish to come here.''
Mildred made a not very successful attempt to conceal her embarrassment.
``Perhaps you would like to look at the apartment?'' suggested Mrs. Brindley.
``Thank you, yes,'' said Mildred.
The tour of the apartment--two bedrooms, dining- room, kitchen, sitting-room, large bath-room, drawing- room--took only a few minutes, but Mildred and Mrs. Brindley contrived to become much better acquainted. Said Mildred, when they were in the drawing-room again:
``It's most attractive--just what I should like. What--how much did Mr. Jennings say?''
``Forty dollars a week.'' She colored slightly and spoke with the nervousness of one not in the habit of discussing money matters. ``I do not see how I could make it less. That is the fair share of the--''
``Oh, I think that is most reasonable,'' interrupted Mildred. ``And I wish to come.''
Mrs. Brindley gave an almost childlike sigh of relief and smiled radiantly. ``Then it's settled,'' said she. ``I've been so nervous about it.'' She looked at Mildred with friendly understanding. ``I think you and I are somewhat alike about practical things. You've not had much experience, either, have you? I judge so from the fact that Mr. Jennings is looking after everything for you.''
``I've had no experience at all,'' said Mildred. ``That is why I'm hesitating. I'm wondering if I can afford to pay so much.''
Mrs. Brindley laughed. ``Mr. Jennings wished to fix it at sixty a week, but I insisted that forty was enough,'' said she.
Mildred colored high with embarrassment. How much did Mrs. Brindley know?--or how little? She stammered: ``Well, if Mr. Jennings says it is all right, I'll come.''
``You'll let me know to-morrow? You can telephone Mr. Jennings.''
``Yes, I'll let you know to-morrow. I'm almost sure I'll come. In fact, I'm quite sure. And--I think we shall get on well together.''
``We can help each other,'' said Mrs. Brindley. ``I don't care for anything in the world but music.''
``I want to be that way,'' said Mildred. ``I shall be that way.''
``It's the only sure happiness--to care for something, for some THING,'' said Mrs. Brindley. ``People die, or disappoint one, or become estranged. But when one centers on some kind of work, it gives pleasure always--more and more pleasure.''
``I am so afraid I haven't voice enough, or of the right kind,'' said Mildred. ``Mr. Jennings is going to try me on Saturday. Really I've no right to settle anything until he has given his opinion.''
Mrs. Brindley smiled with her eyes only, and Mildred wondered.
``If he should say that I wouldn't do,'' she went on, ``I'd not know which way to turn.''
``But he'll not say that,'' said Mrs. Brindley. ``You can sing, can't you? You have sung?''
``Oh, yes.''
``Then you'll be accepted by him. And it will take him a long time to find out whether you'll do for a professional.''
``I'm afraid I sing very badly.''
``That will not matter. You'll sing better than at least half of Jennings's pupils.''
``Then he doesn't take only those worth while?''
Mrs. Brindley looked amused. ``How would he live if he did that? It's a teacher's business to teach. Learning--that's the pupil's lookout. If teachers taught only those who could and would learn, how would they live?''
``Then I'll not know whether I'll do!'' exclaimed Mildred.
``You'll have to find out for yourself,'' said Mrs. Brindley. ``No one can tell you. Anyone's opinion might be wrong. For example, I've known Jennings, who is a very good judge, to be wrong--both ways.'' Hesitatingly: ``Why not sing for me? I'd like to hear.''
``Would you tell me what you honestly thought?'' said Mildred.
Mrs. Brindley laughingly shook her head. Mildred liked her honesty. ``Then it'd be useless to sing for you,'' said she. ``I'm not vain about my voice. I'd simply like
Mildred made a not very successful attempt to conceal her embarrassment.
``Perhaps you would like to look at the apartment?'' suggested Mrs. Brindley.
``Thank you, yes,'' said Mildred.
The tour of the apartment--two bedrooms, dining- room, kitchen, sitting-room, large bath-room, drawing- room--took only a few minutes, but Mildred and Mrs. Brindley contrived to become much better acquainted. Said Mildred, when they were in the drawing-room again:
``It's most attractive--just what I should like. What--how much did Mr. Jennings say?''
``Forty dollars a week.'' She colored slightly and spoke with the nervousness of one not in the habit of discussing money matters. ``I do not see how I could make it less. That is the fair share of the--''
``Oh, I think that is most reasonable,'' interrupted Mildred. ``And I wish to come.''
Mrs. Brindley gave an almost childlike sigh of relief and smiled radiantly. ``Then it's settled,'' said she. ``I've been so nervous about it.'' She looked at Mildred with friendly understanding. ``I think you and I are somewhat alike about practical things. You've not had much experience, either, have you? I judge so from the fact that Mr. Jennings is looking after everything for you.''
``I've had no experience at all,'' said Mildred. ``That is why I'm hesitating. I'm wondering if I can afford to pay so much.''
Mrs. Brindley laughed. ``Mr. Jennings wished to fix it at sixty a week, but I insisted that forty was enough,'' said she.
Mildred colored high with embarrassment. How much did Mrs. Brindley know?--or how little? She stammered: ``Well, if Mr. Jennings says it is all right, I'll come.''
``You'll let me know to-morrow? You can telephone Mr. Jennings.''
``Yes, I'll let you know to-morrow. I'm almost sure I'll come. In fact, I'm quite sure. And--I think we shall get on well together.''
``We can help each other,'' said Mrs. Brindley. ``I don't care for anything in the world but music.''
``I want to be that way,'' said Mildred. ``I shall be that way.''
``It's the only sure happiness--to care for something, for some THING,'' said Mrs. Brindley. ``People die, or disappoint one, or become estranged. But when one centers on some kind of work, it gives pleasure always--more and more pleasure.''
``I am so afraid I haven't voice enough, or of the right kind,'' said Mildred. ``Mr. Jennings is going to try me on Saturday. Really I've no right to settle anything until he has given his opinion.''
Mrs. Brindley smiled with her eyes only, and Mildred wondered.
``If he should say that I wouldn't do,'' she went on, ``I'd not know which way to turn.''
``But he'll not say that,'' said Mrs. Brindley. ``You can sing, can't you? You have sung?''
``Oh, yes.''
``Then you'll be accepted by him. And it will take him a long time to find out whether you'll do for a professional.''
``I'm afraid I sing very badly.''
``That will not matter. You'll sing better than at least half of Jennings's pupils.''
``Then he doesn't take only those worth while?''
Mrs. Brindley looked amused. ``How would he live if he did that? It's a teacher's business to teach. Learning--that's the pupil's lookout. If teachers taught only those who could and would learn, how would they live?''
``Then I'll not know whether I'll do!'' exclaimed Mildred.
``You'll have to find out for yourself,'' said Mrs. Brindley. ``No one can tell you. Anyone's opinion might be wrong. For example, I've known Jennings, who is a very good judge, to be wrong--both ways.'' Hesitatingly: ``Why not sing for me? I'd like to hear.''
``Would you tell me what you honestly thought?'' said Mildred.
Mrs. Brindley laughingly shook her head. Mildred liked her honesty. ``Then it'd be useless to sing for you,'' said she. ``I'm not vain about my voice. I'd simply like