position, and I thought - if you thought I could,« -
here Gwendolen became a little more nervous, - »it would be better for me to be
a singer - to study singing also.«
    Klesmer put down his hat on the piano, and folded his arms as if to
concentrate himself.
    »I know,« Gwendolen resumed, turning from pale to pink and back again - »I
know that my method of singing is very defective; but I have been ill taught. I
could be better taught; I could study. And you will understand my wish: - to
sing and act too, like Grisi, is a much higher position. Naturally, I should
wish to take as high a rank as I can. And I can rely on your judgment. I am sure
you will tell me the truth.«
    Gwendolen somehow had the conviction that now she made this serious appeal
the truth would be favourable.
    Still Klesmer did not speak. He drew off his gloves quickly, tossed them
into his hat, rested his hands on his hips, and walked to the other end of the
room. He was filled with compassion for this girl: he wanted to put a guard on
his speech. When he turned again, he looked at her with a mild frown of inquiry,
and said with gentle though quick utterance, »You have never seen anything, I
think, of artists and their lives? - I mean of musicians, actors, artists of
that kind?«
    »Oh no,« said Gwendolen, not perturbed by a reference to this obvious fact
in the history of a young lady hitherto well provided for.
    »You are, - pardon me,« said Klesmer, again pausing near the piano - »in
coming to a conclusion on such a matter as this, everything must be taken into
consideration, - you are perhaps twenty?«
    »I am twenty-one,« said Gwendolen, a slight fear rising in her. »Do you
think I am too old?«
    Klesmer pouted his under lip and shook his long fingers upward in a manner
totally enigmatic.
    »Many persons begin later than others,« said Gwendolen, betrayed by her
habitual consciousness of having valuable information to bestow.
    Klesmer took no notice, but said with more studied gentleness than ever,
»You have probably not thought of an artistic career until now: you did not
entertain the notion, the longing - what shall I say? - you did not wish
yourself an actress, or anything of that sort, till the present trouble?«
    »Not exactly;