“I am, faithfully,

“CHARLES FROHMAN.

“P.S.  I told him that I understood the author was an unhappy wife, who desired to be unknown.”

The Professor looked up as Bambi pirouetted around the beds, waving a fluttering white sheet in good melodrama style.

“This letter that I longed for, it has come!” she sang, lifting a pointed toe over the top of a withered sunflower stalk.

“My dear, that ballet step is a trifle exaggerated for a lady!”

“The sunflower’s dead, so it couldn’t be shocked.  The secret is working fine.  Oh, I’m so happy, I’m so happy!” she trilled, and whirled off toward the house.

“If you are still thinking of a career, why not a whirling dervish?” called her father.

She stopped, and turned to him.

“Career?  Career, did you say, for stupid little me?”

“I never called you stupid,” he protested.

“I should hope not.  I’m the smartest child you ever had!” she cried as a period to their discourse.

All day she waited for word from Jarvis and none came.  She could have cried with disappointment.  Could he have been insane enough to refuse, after he had read the story?  Or did he think she was indifferent to his good fortune?  She went to bed determined to write him on the morrow.

The morning mail brought a second letter from the Empire Theatre.  It contained a line from Mr. Frohman, “He accepts,” and an enclosure.  This proved to be a letter from Jarvis: 

"To the Author of ‘Francesca,’ care of Mr. Frohman, Empire Theatre, New York.

“MY DEAR MADAM:  Mr. Charles Frohman has given me your story ‘Francesca’ to read, with a view to making it into a play.  Of course you are familiar with his plans in this respect.  He has offered to entrust me with the dramatization, and I have consented to accept, on the condition that both you and he will allow me to use my own discretion in the work, and not hamper me by superimposing your own ideas and desires.  When I have finished all I can do with it, I will then try to incorporate any ideas you may have in the final version.

“I think the story very charming, the characters interesting.  The part of the musician seems to me rather fantastic, but I suppose there are such men.  The girl, Francesca, is delightful; the old fiddler, a fine study.

“You are to be congratulated on your work, and I trust I may be able to make as good a play as you have made a book.

“Very truly yours,

“JARVIS JOCELYN.”

Bambi chuckled as she read, and patted the part which praised her.  Whatever else had happened, Jarvis’s dignity was still intact.  He calmly told the author to keep her hands off her own book!  She flew to the typewriter to answer him.

"Mr. Jarvis Jocelyn, care of Mr. Charles Frohman, Empire Theatre, New York.

“MY DEAR MR. JOCELYN:  Your letter in regard to the dramatization of my book, ‘Francesca,’ seems to demand immediate assurance that you will have free rein in the work you are to do.  Mr. Frohman has told me something of you and of your work, and I shall be very happy if my story gives you your first opportunity to succeed as a playwright.