CHAPTER X
TRYING FOR PARTS
“Teddie Wilson has gone and got herself conditioned in psych.,” announced Bob Parker, bouncing unceremoniously through Betty’s half-open door.
“Oh, Bob!” Betty’s tone was fairly tragic. “Does that mean that she can’t try for a part in the play?”
Bob nodded. “Cast-iron rule. And she’d have made a perfect Gobbo, young or old, and a stunning Gratiano. Well, her being out of it will give K. a better chance.”
“But I’m sure Katherine wouldn’t want her chance to come this way,” said Betty sadly. “Besides—oh, Bob, have you looked at the bulletin-board this afternoon?”
“Babe did,” said Bob with a grin, “so you needn’t worry yet, my child. Ted says she ought to have expected it, because she’d cut a lot and let things go awfully,—depended on the—faculty—knowing—us—well—enough by—this—time—to—pass—over—any small—deficiencies, and all that sort of talk. And this just shows, she says, how well they do know her. She’s awfully plucky about it, but she cares. I didn’t suppose Ted had it in her to care so about anything,” declared Bob solemnly. “But of course it’s a lot to lose—the star comedy part that was going to be handed out to her by her admiring little classmates, who think that nobody can act like Teddie. I wish I was as sure of a part in the mob.”
“What are you going to try for, Bob?” asked Betty sympathetically.
Bob blushed. “Oh, I don’t know,” she said, with a fine assumption of indifference. “Everybody says that you ought to begin at the top and then the grateful committee won’t forget to throw you a crumb when they get to passing out the ‘supers.’” Bob paused and her air of unconcern dropped from her like a mask. “I say, Betty, I do want my family to be proud of me for once. Promise you won’t laugh if I come up for Bassanio.”