Free On wings of song by Mary Burchell Page A

sacrifice.'
    'Thank you,' she said earnestly.
    'Don't thank me, thank your Maker,' Warrender told her drily. 'He gave you the voice. It's up to you to develop it.' Then, as she got up to go, he added, 'I'm not usually in favour of contests or competitions—they tend to be a gamble, and not a particularly healthy one. But there's no denying that a useful money prize would help. We'll consider that later.'
    Then he dismissed her, courteously but firmly.
    Caroline made her way home divided between extravagant hopes and a sense of realism which verged on despair. And once she reached home, of course, there would be no one with whom she could discuss those hopes and fears. To Jeremy— and still more to Aunt Hilda—this sudden obsession about her own vocal future would be inexplicable, even carrying a hint of treachery with it.
    After all, it was she herself who had always insisted on putting Jeremy's fortunes before anything else. She it was who had agreed that her part was to wait until he was established. Was it perhaps, she thought imeasily, still her natural role—to wait?
    But when she reflected on Sir Oscar's bracing advice—^and the way Lucille Duparc had looked at Jeremy, which of course had nothing to do with the present situation—she thirsted for action. And action on her own behalf, for the first time in her life.
    One encouraging ray of light was provided by

    the fact that the next day was Saturday, when she would be going to her usual singing lesson. To Miss Curtis she could confide her whole story, secure in her complete interest and a discretion upon which one could rely implicitly.
    As it turned out Miss Curtis was not only enthralled and prepared to be discretion itself, but she displayed an optimism beyond anything Caroline had herself entertained.
    *You have a great future in front of you, dear child, if you follow Sir Oscar's advice,' she stated dramatically. 'Who else could advise you better?'
    'But the money ' began Caroline.
    'The money V With a telling gesture of scorn Miss Curtis pushed imaginary stacks of banknotes from her. 'The money must somehow be found. To begin with, you will no longer pay for any lessons of mine '
    'Of course I shall!' Caroline interrupted indignantly in her turn. 'In fact, I fully intend to increase the very modest amount I pay you, out of Lady Warrender's generous reward. You see '
    This competition in generous offer and counter-offer continued for a few minutes and ended in their kissing each other emotionally— which was quite unlike them really—^and in Miss Curtis declaring that when Caroline was famous, and she herself was known to be the teacher of the rising star, prospective students would be eagerly beating a pathway to her studio door.
    Caroline's own hopes fell somewhat short of this, but there was no denying that there was something so infectious about Miss Curtis's enthusiasm that, for the first time, she began somehow to believe in miracles.

    If only she could have discussed it all with Jeremy! Until a couple of weeks ago that would have been the natural, the most exciting and heartwarming thing to do. But not now. For Jeremy was, not imnaturally, pursuing his own interests with concentrated energy and enthusiasm.
    Initially encouragement had been based on Sir Oscar's moderate but basically favourable verdict. But to this had now been added some subtle influence from Lucille Duparc, with whom he was quite obviously maintaining some continued contact. Indeed, during the following week the French soprano was his chief topic of conversation.
    He questioned Caroline closely about Lucille's future plans. For, as he said, 'Since your boss represents her you must know quite a lot about these.'
    Tlans for next year, you mean?'
    *Any plans of hers.' Jeremy made a gesture descriptive of unlimited activities.
    'A lot of what goes on in the office is confidential,' Caroline said a trifle repressively.
    'Oh, come on! Don't be silly. I'm not asking about fees or