The Monticellonian., 1919-03-21
By RUPERT HUGHES

He finished the phrase by the deed The office routine went on and Daphne might have been the chair she sat in. for all the attention he paid her She felt rather ungallantlY ignored Still, she had asked to be treated on business basis. He was taking her at her word.
 Before the contracts were ready MT. Patterson appeared. He was one of Rehen's stage managers, worried, emotional little man. worn to shredS with his task of stimulating and cor reeting the emotions by which others earned their wages and fame.
 Reben introduced him to Daphne and explained her new office Batter son seemed none too well pleased with the news that Daphne WAS ignorant of stage work to the last degree. He had found 1t hard enough to make the experienced actors read their lines as they must be read and keep on read ing them so. To teAeh this dramatic infant how to walk and talk was an unweleome labor.
 He took Daphne into his office and pulled out set of parts When she stumbled over them he east his eyes heavenward in his swift impatienee. He explained them with a vinegary gentleness. He talked 10 her of the canons of interpretation. He walked through her scenes and spoke her lines for her again and again and yet again. But somehow he could not teach her.
 He tried everything but beating her. He flattered her, wheedied her, parodied satirized, rebuked her. and occasionally he cursed her She did not rebel even against his profanity, because she had no confidence In her self to support her resistance. She felt that she was far worse than he said she was when he said she WAS worst. She used all her funds of res olution in keeping from throwing down the part and running away in tears. She had none left for asserting her right to politeness.
 Once Daphne was out ill the street again and released from the ordeal of pleasing Patterson, youth and ambi- tion brought hope back again. Broad way at twilight was athrob with en- thusiasm and she caught zest from the crowds She was going home to study, carrying her little set of textbooks like q schoolgirl. But she felt the wings of conquest Hedging at her ankles or the wheel of fortune splal.ing under her toes.
 Her very first effort had succeeded She was q woman with salary. She would be no longer parasite on any man. She had career and business as well as the best of them.
 Her mother was at home alone Leila had gone from that tea party to another to which Mrs. Kip was not invited. Daphne's mother greeted her with relief. She told her news with a gush of enthusiasm. It left Mrs. Kip cold, very cold
 She was pious, church going wom- an, Mrs. Kip. She had always looked upon the theater as q training school for the still lower regions. She went to plays occasionally, but usually with feeling of dissipation and worldli- ness. Besides it was one thing to see plays and another to act them.
 Daphne tried to reason her mother out of her backwoods prejudices, but she only frightened her the more. Mrs. Kip retired to her room to write an urgent telegram 10 her husband de- manding that he come on at once and rescue his child. She always called on him in an emergency and he always responded
 Leila came home eventually full of gossip and triumph. Her Dutilh gown had made a tremendous success; the other women wanted to murder her
 Mrs. Kip broke in on her chronicles with the dismal announcement of Daphne's new insanity. Leila was al most as bitter in opposition as Mrs. Kip had been. but from quite another motive Leila had aristocratic i'm pulses and looked forward to social splendors. She would gain no help from the fact that her husbands sister was theatrical struggler.
 Daphne escaped an odious battle with her by referring to the need of close study, and retreated into her own room, locking her mother out.
 She stayed there, repeating her lines over and over and trying to remember