But he told you only a very small portion of the truth.

In my case it was rather the imperative necessity of an amateur to earn her own living--a deliberate choice between the professional stage and starvation." "Without ambition ?" She hesitated slightly, yet there was a depth of respect slumbering within those gray eyes gazing so directly into her darker ones, together with a strength she felt.
"Without very much at first, I fear," she confessed, as though admitting it rather to herself alone, "yet I acknowledge it has since grown upon me, until I have determined to succeed." His eyes brightened, the admiration in them unconcealed, his lips speaking impulsively.
"And what is more, Miss Norvell, you 'll make it." "Do you truly believe so ?" She had already forgotten that the man before her was a mere stage hand, and her cheeks burned eagerly to the undoubted sincerity of his utterance.

"No one else has ever said that to me--only the audiences have appeared to care and appreciate.
Albrecht and all those others have scarcely offered me a word of encouragement." "Albrecht and the others are asses," ejaculated Winston, with sudden indignation.

"They imagine they are actors because they prance and bellow on a stage, and they sneer at any one who is not in their class.
But I can tell you this, Miss Norvell, the manager considers you a treasure; he said as much to me." She stood before him, the glare of the stage glinting in her hair, her hands clasped, her dark eyes eagerly reading his face as though these unexpected words of appreciation had yielded her renewed courage, like a glass of wine.
"Really, is that true?
Oh, I am so glad.

I thought, perhaps, they were only making fun of me out in front, although I have always tried so hard to do my very best.