She also carried a shining shield.
“Yes; it is,” said Carrie, pleased that some one should talk to her.
“I’m almost roasting,” said the girl.
Carrie looked into her pretty face, with its large blue eyes, and saw little beads of moisture.
“There’s more marching in this opera than ever I did before,” added the girl.
“Have you been in others?” asked Carrie, surprised at her experience.
“Lots of them,” said the girl; “haven’t you?”
“This is my first experience.”
“Oh, is it?
I thought I saw you the time they ran ‘The Queen’s Mate’ here.”
“No,” said Carrie, shaking her head; “not me.”
This conversation was interrupted by the blare of the orchestra and the sputtering of the calcium lights in the wings as the line was called to form for a new entrance.
No further opportunity for conversation occurred, but the next evening, when they were getting ready for the stage, this girl appeared anew at her side.
“They say this show is going on the road next month.”
“Is it?” said Carrie.
“Yes; do you think you’ll go?”
“I don’t know; I guess so, if they’ll take me.”
“Oh, they’ll take you.
I wouldn’t go.
They won’t give you any more, and it will cost you everything you make to live.
I never leave New York. There are too many shows going on here.”
“Can you always get in another show?”
“I always have.
There’s one going on up at the Broadway this month.
I’m going to try and get in that if this one really goes.”
Carrie heard this with aroused intelligence.
Evidently it wasn’t so very difficult to get on.
Maybe she also could get a place if this show went away.
“Do they all pay about the same?” she asked.
“Yes.
Sometimes you get a little more.
This show doesn’t pay very much.”
“I get twelve,” said Carrie.
“Do you?” said the girl.
“They pay me fifteen, and you do more work than I do.
I wouldn’t stand it if I were you.
They’re just giving you less because they think you don’t know.
You ought to be making fifteen.”
“Well, I’m not,” said Carrie.
“Well, you’ll get more at the next place if you want it,” went on the girl, who admired Carrie very much.
“You do fine, and the manager knows it.”
To say the truth, Carrie did unconsciously move about with an air pleasing and somewhat distinctive.
It was due wholly to her natural manner and total lack of self-consciousness.
“Do you suppose I could get more up at the Broadway?”
“Of course you can,” answered the girl.
“You come with me when I go.
I’ll do the talking.”
Carrie heard this, flushing with thankfulness.
She liked this little gaslight soldier.
She seemed so experienced and self-reliant in her tinsel helmet and military accoutrements.