“That’s queer; but you are friends, and I suppose he thought it was not necessary. You are bound by——”
“Bound by nothing! Do you think I’ll stay to take such bullying? No! What difference did it make at rehearsal whether I made the exit by the tormentor or right upper?”
“You know Havener insists on every member going through rehearsal exactly as he will play so far as entrances, exits and business are concerned. He is a stickler for that. He may allow some of us to chew our lines at rehearsal, but the business must be correct. Merriwell has given him entire charge of the stage, and——”
“And he has chosen me to bully. That’s the size of it, Miss Stanley.”
“Nonsense!”
“There is no nonsense about it.”
“Now, look here, Mr. Hodge, I like you——”
“Do you?” exclaimed Bart, in mingled eagerness and doubt.
“Of course I do, and I don’t want to see you make a bad break. What are you going to do if you quit the company?”
“I don’t know. I don’t care.”