Part 30 (1/2)

The entertainment was to be held on Saturday, when, as there was no preparation, the whole evening could be devoted to ain at 6 pm, with box office open at 545 The school turned up with prompt punctuality, and would have scrambled for the door, if Barbara, seated at the receipt of custo an orderly and orthodox queue She took their shi+llings in a business-like raood of the cause!” she added

The programmes, produced in Linda's and Hermie's best style, were attractive Each had a different picture upon its cover, and all were tied up hite satin ribbon The girls opened theerly, and read:

MARLOWE GRANGE

Dramatic Performance in Aid of the Blinded Soldiers' Fund

Scenes from _The Rivals_, by Sheridan

Cast:

Sir Anthony Absolute Veronica Terry

Captain Absolute Hermione Graveson

Faulkland Daphne Johnstone

Bob Acres Barbara Rowlands

Mrs Malaprop Linda Mottraht

Lucy Lois Barlow

”So the bumble and Gibbie aren't in it, after all!” whispered Aveline

”I never thought they would be, nor the Professor, nor Mr Browne either, and certainly not Mr Beasley! It proin promptly!” an to dress?”

”I don't come on till the second scene,” explained Barbara, ”so I can change while they're acting the first That's why they put ”

The two front rows had been reserved for outsiders, and presently began to be filled by those who had bought tickets Miss Beasley and Miss Gibbs took their places, Mademoiselle played an introductory fantasia upon the piano, and the curtains were drawn aside

There was no doubt about the play being a; from first to last the audience was convulsed The actresses threw themselves admirably into their parts, and rendered their characters with the utmost spirit Veronica, well padded with pillows, made a stout and presentable Sir Anthony Absolute, and played the autocratic parent to the life Hermie, with blue cloak, sword, and military stride, endeavoured to live up to her conception of an eighteenth-century buck, and made love with a fervour that was all the ht of Miss Gibbs in the front row, sitting with pursed-up lips and straightened back Meta, as Lydia Languish, sighed, wept, y of sentiment, while Lois acted the cheeky maidservant with enthusiasm The best of all, however, was Mrs Malaprop; Linda had seen the play on the real stage, and reproduced a famous actress to the ut mistakes sent the room into a roar, and she occasionally had to wait for quiet until she could continue her speeches

Everybody voted the evening a huge success The visitors heartily congratulated Miss Beasley upon the cleverness of her elder pupils, and hoped they would soirls clapped till their hands were sore Even Miss Gibbs, though she considered that the love- had exceeded the liuarded approval

”We've cleared two pounds three and sixpence!” announced Barbara gleefully to the Fifth

”Good!” exclaimed Valentine ”And we made one pound ten, and the kids one pound seven What does it tot up to?”

”Five pounds and sixpence,” calculated Barbara after a ramme

”Well, I call it a very decent result for a school of only twenty-six girls!”