next month. Good night. Miss Caroline, and prepare yourself for working under a very hard taskmaster indeed.'
'At the Opera Studio, do you mean?'
'No—here,' he replied, and waved her away.
There was no one to whom she could report these developments at home, for Jeremy was of course in Birmingham, and Aunt Hilda ostentatiously avoided any reference to what she obviously regarded as some strange temporary
delusions on Caroline's part.
Conversation therefore centred on minor domestic happenings, in which Caroline could, from long practice, display a remarkable degree of interest. Reflections on her own fortunes were, as usual, reserved for the time when she was alone in her own room.
The long talk with Sir Oscar had put fresh light and colour into the whole scheme for her projected training. So much so that even the thought of Jeremy and Lucille together in Birmingham could not detract from the excitement of having such detailed plans laid down. He had not made anything sound easy, but he had somehow made everything seem possible.
She did not know that this was part of the famous Warrender technique for getting the best out of everyone he handled. She only knew that he had fixed her attention so firmly on the attainable future that it was difficult to linger too sadly over the unsatisfactory present.
Caroline was glad that he had almost agreed to her competing in the Carruthers Contest, for only thus could she see any way of eventually repaying Mrs Van KroU for her incredible generosity.
At the office the following day Kennedy Marshall displayed as much interest as could be expected from a busy agent with three major problems on his plate—and no more. Having established the salient fact that Oscar Warrender agreed to what he had himself proposed, he said,
'Well, start combing the agencies for someone with whom you can divide the office work. I will myself attend to the other details over the weekend when I have more time. No, don't thank
me. We've been through that already and have agreed that I'm a kind, imderstanding fellow. Now get me the Nicholas Brenner file.' Which she did.
It was later than usual when Caroline finally reached home, to find Jeremy alone and waiting for her. By great good fortune Aunt Hilda had gone in next door to have a cosy—^not to say boastful—chat with her neighbour, and Jeremy began his tale at once.
'I haven't told Mother more than half of it,' he explained. *You know what moimtains she builds out of the most modest molehills. But I sang for the French agent, Pierre Carrie, and he was really impressed. He seems pretty sure he can get me some modest but useful work in provincial France, and possibly in Belgium too.'
*Oh, Jerry!' She gave him a congratulatory hug and vmhesitatingly posQ)oned any account of her own affairs during the last twenty-four hours.
*But that isn't all,' he went on exultantly. 'He strongly hinted that some time in the future Lucille and I might do some sort of joint recital tour together.'
*With Lucille Duparc! But she's an established artist. Almost an international one, in fact.'
*Yes, I know. That's why I'm so excited.'
*But—does she like the idea?'
'Of course she does. Though naturally I should have to get myself better known—^put myself on the map, so to speak. We all agreed about that. It would be vital that I established myself to some extent in the public eye without, of course, aspiring to her standard. There's quite an art in being a successful assisting artist, Lucille says, and I see exactly what she means.'
'Ye-es,' agreed Caroline, trying not to sound too doubtful—and failing. 'When you say you would have to establish yourself to some extent in the public eye, what do you mean exactly? It isn't easy.'
'Oh, there are ways and ways, if you know the ropes,' he assured her. 'It was Lucille herself, bless her, who came up with a splendid idea. There's going to be a very big voice contest in about six months' times. Big prizes—or
'At the Opera Studio, do you mean?'
'No—here,' he replied, and waved her away.
There was no one to whom she could report these developments at home, for Jeremy was of course in Birmingham, and Aunt Hilda ostentatiously avoided any reference to what she obviously regarded as some strange temporary
delusions on Caroline's part.
Conversation therefore centred on minor domestic happenings, in which Caroline could, from long practice, display a remarkable degree of interest. Reflections on her own fortunes were, as usual, reserved for the time when she was alone in her own room.
The long talk with Sir Oscar had put fresh light and colour into the whole scheme for her projected training. So much so that even the thought of Jeremy and Lucille together in Birmingham could not detract from the excitement of having such detailed plans laid down. He had not made anything sound easy, but he had somehow made everything seem possible.
She did not know that this was part of the famous Warrender technique for getting the best out of everyone he handled. She only knew that he had fixed her attention so firmly on the attainable future that it was difficult to linger too sadly over the unsatisfactory present.
Caroline was glad that he had almost agreed to her competing in the Carruthers Contest, for only thus could she see any way of eventually repaying Mrs Van KroU for her incredible generosity.
At the office the following day Kennedy Marshall displayed as much interest as could be expected from a busy agent with three major problems on his plate—and no more. Having established the salient fact that Oscar Warrender agreed to what he had himself proposed, he said,
'Well, start combing the agencies for someone with whom you can divide the office work. I will myself attend to the other details over the weekend when I have more time. No, don't thank
me. We've been through that already and have agreed that I'm a kind, imderstanding fellow. Now get me the Nicholas Brenner file.' Which she did.
It was later than usual when Caroline finally reached home, to find Jeremy alone and waiting for her. By great good fortune Aunt Hilda had gone in next door to have a cosy—^not to say boastful—chat with her neighbour, and Jeremy began his tale at once.
'I haven't told Mother more than half of it,' he explained. *You know what moimtains she builds out of the most modest molehills. But I sang for the French agent, Pierre Carrie, and he was really impressed. He seems pretty sure he can get me some modest but useful work in provincial France, and possibly in Belgium too.'
*Oh, Jerry!' She gave him a congratulatory hug and vmhesitatingly posQ)oned any account of her own affairs during the last twenty-four hours.
*But that isn't all,' he went on exultantly. 'He strongly hinted that some time in the future Lucille and I might do some sort of joint recital tour together.'
*With Lucille Duparc! But she's an established artist. Almost an international one, in fact.'
*Yes, I know. That's why I'm so excited.'
*But—does she like the idea?'
'Of course she does. Though naturally I should have to get myself better known—^put myself on the map, so to speak. We all agreed about that. It would be vital that I established myself to some extent in the public eye without, of course, aspiring to her standard. There's quite an art in being a successful assisting artist, Lucille says, and I see exactly what she means.'
'Ye-es,' agreed Caroline, trying not to sound too doubtful—and failing. 'When you say you would have to establish yourself to some extent in the public eye, what do you mean exactly? It isn't easy.'
'Oh, there are ways and ways, if you know the ropes,' he assured her. 'It was Lucille herself, bless her, who came up with a splendid idea. There's going to be a very big voice contest in about six months' times. Big prizes—or
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