“This has been a thoroughly satisfactory rehearsal,” said Miss Raymond, with unusual cordiality. “Everybody is on hand, and you’ve all done well. I thought last Saturday you would have to rehearse every day this week, but now we will do no more till the dress-rehearsal on Thursday. You’ve done splendidly.”
Praise from Miss Raymond was so rare that the girls beamed.
“Isn’t it fortunate that we didn’t cut?” said Eunice, as they went homewards. “Now we can go to-morrow with a clear conscience, and this afternoon we would have felt guilty all the time.”
“Yes, and had to rehearse to-morrow, too, if we’d cut this afternoon.”
The eventful Friday evening arrived in due course of time, and an enthusiastic and expectant audience crowded the schoolroom at St. Agatha’s. The juniors’ play was first on the programme. Eunice, in her part of maid, was very taking in her becoming costume, with its little mob-cap and jaunty apron. Cricket, as saucy Nancy, who was always listening behind doors, and getting into trouble, made a decided hit. The other girls were all so good in their parts that it was hard to say, after all, which was best. Everything went smoothly, as it should with a well-trained, well-disciplined set of girls. The French play was beautifully given by the seniors.
The programme closed with some pretty drills and marches, for which they had been trained by their teacher of physical culture, as part of their school work. For this they had had no other preparation than their regular daily half-hour in the gymnasium.
“All this means much work on your part, Miss Emmet,” Mrs. Ward said, appreciatively, to the head of the school, as people were congratulating her on her beautifully trained girls.
“And much on the girls’ part, as well,” answered Miss Emmet, cordially. “They learn many valuable lessons, during the time we take to prepare all this, besides their school work.”
“Certainly lessons in self-denial and persistency and promptness,” said Mrs. Ward, smiling. “My little girls have certainly learned the necessity of keeping engagements, no matter what more interesting things come up.” And she told Miss Emmet of the Monday before, and its accumulation of disappointments.
Miss Emmet laughed, but she looked sympathising, also.