"I'll take a look and see that everything's ready," said Adah.
She ran to the platform and held a hasty review of the stage properties. Yes, all was arranged exactly as she wished. Minnie and Alice had done their duty. From the other side of the curtain came the sound of talking. She could not resist a peep at the audience and applied her eye to a small chink. What she saw made her gasp. Instead of a whole schoolroomful of people only the three front rows of seats were occupied. Much disturbed she rushed back to the dressing-room, and, calling Mona Bardsley, who was acting prompter, sent her off as scout.
"Go and find out why they're not ready, and tell them to hurry up and take their places or we shall begin without them," she commanded.
Mona was away some little time. She returned looking decidedly blank.
"They say they're ready and waiting, all those who are coming."
"But the room's only a quarter full! Where are the others?"
"The day girls have nearly all gone home."
"Gone home! Didn't they understand we'd invited them?"
"Oh, yes, but they said they'd rather not stay."
Adah's face was a study.