to sell. There's not one chance in a thousand--a hundred thousand!

_Will._ But Peggy--

_Peggy._ Listen to me. You go off in the park and dream of
plays--but I have to stay at home and face the landlady and the
grocer. I tell you I can't stand it! Honest to God, I'll have to go
back to the stage and keep this family going.

_Will (in distress)._ Peggy!

_Peggy._ I know! But I'm at the end of my rope. The landlady was
here--the grocer has shut down on us. We can't get any more bread,
any more meat--all our credit's gone!

_Will._ Gee! It's tough!

_Peggy._ I've held out eight years, and we never dreamed it would
last that long. You said one year--three years--then surely Dad
would relent and take us back, or give us some money. But Dad
doesn't relent--Dad's going to die and leave his money to a Home for
Cats! I tell you, dear, I've got to go back to the stage and earn a
living.

_Will (radiantly)._ You might play the heroine of my play.

_Peggy._ Yes--a star the first night! Isn't that like a husband and
a poet! I assure you, Will, it'll be an agency for me, and a part
with three lines, at thirty a week--