"Before you knew—before you dreamed what?"
"That it made one so—so—"
"Well, speak out!"
"So unhappy. Indeed, indeed, I cannot say what I mean; only, I would rather die than put rouge on my face, and—oh, forgive me! I did not mean to make you look so angry!"
But Olympia was angry. The prima donna of a company does not usually bear much opposition, even in trifles, and here Olympia had great interests at stake.
Through the young girl before her she intended to run a second career, and thus crowd the enjoyment of two lives into one.
"This all comes of Brown," she said. "He would have you kept quiet, and out of the world, pretending that society would distract attention from your practice; but it was all an artful plan to keep you to himself. I have not been so busy as not to understand that, let me tell him."
Caroline started up in bed, almost as much excited as the actress.
There was plenty of good honest character in the girl; and, if she appeared timid, it was from delicacy, not weakness.
"You wrong Mr. Brown. There is not a selfish feeling in his heart. What he does, is always done for my good."