shrugged—"what are you to do? Thousands of girls go queer because they're forced to by starvation—"
"Nonsense!" cried Athalie hotly, "that is all stage twaddle and exaggerated sentimentalism! I don't believe that one girl in a thousand is forced into a dishonourable life!"
"Then why do girls go queer?"
"Because they want to; that's why! When they don't want to they don't!"
Catharine, very wide-eyed, said solemnly: "But think of all the white slaves—"
"They'd be that if they had been born to millions!" retorted Athalie. "Ignorance and aptitude, that is white slavery. It's absolutely nothing else. And in cases where the ignorance is absent, the aptitude is there. If a girl has an aptitude for becoming some man's mistress she'll probably do it whether she's ignorant or educated."
Doris, who had taken to chewing-gum furtively and in private, discreetly rolled a morsel under her tongue.
"All I know is that your salary is advanced and you're given a part at the Egyptian Garden if you stand in with Lewenbein or go to supper with Shemsky. Of course," she added, "there are theatres where you don't have to be horrid in order to succeed."
"Then," said Athalie drily, "you'd better find work in those theatres."
Doris glanced sideways at Catharine, who silently returned her glance as though an understanding and sympathy existed between them not suspected or shared in by Athalie.