"I've heard you." "Yes, but I mean a great singer." "On the stage ?" inquired Patty.
"Yes, or in concerts; I don't care where, but I mean to sing wonderfully; to sing as I feel I could sing, if I had the opportunity." "You mean a musical education and foreign study and all those things ?" said Patty.
"Yes," said Nan.
"But after all that you might fail," said Marian, remembering her own experiences.
"Yes, I might, and probably I should.

It's only a dream, you know, but we were talking about ambitions, and that's mine." "And can't you accomplish it ?" "I don't see how I can; my parents are very much opposed to it.

They hate anything like a public career, and they think I sing quite well enough now without further instructions." "I think so, too," said Patty.

"I'd rather hear you sing those quaint little songs of yours than to hear the most elaborate trills and frills that any prima donna ever accomplished." "Your opinion is worth a great deal to me, Patty, as a friend, but technically, I can't value it so highly." "Of course, I don't know much about music," said Patty, quite unabashed; "but papa thinks so too.

He said your voice is the sweetest voice he ever heard." "Did he ?" said Nan.
"What is your ambition, Patty ?" said Marian, after a moment's pause.