“There would be a great deal to do in such a short time,” said Chris. “And where would you have them?”
“Oh! in this room of course. It is beautifully adapted for the purpose. There’s the opening for the curtains between the two rooms, and a door to each, one for the audience, the other for the performers.”
She was so enthusiastic that Chris felt quite sorry that she must destroy this charming arrangement by pointing out that the room was wanted for the ball on Friday night, and that there would be no time to put up a stage on Thursday and to take it down and re-arrange the room for the night after.
“Well, there must be some other room in a big place like this,” said Mrs. Graham-Shute, still buoyantly. “Come, you set your wits to work to help me, like a dear girl, and I’m sure we shall manage something between us.”
Chris began to see that she had better indulge her, as she would want something to keep her occupied during the next few days.
“There’s a great place that was built for a barn, that was used for a school treat in the summer, I believe. It’s down by the new stables, a quarter of a mile away. I don’t know whether that would do. There are some tables and trestles piled up in one corner; perhaps they could be made into a stage.”
“The very thing!” cried Mrs. Graham-Shute, enthusiastically. “I knew we should manage it somehow.”
But Chris saw difficulties where her companion saw none.
“But you will want a lot of people, performers and spectators too,” she objected. “And then, have you considered that there will be dresses to be made, and scenes to be rehearsed? There’s a lot of work to be done to get tableaux up properly.”