It had seemed all too short a period of pleasure. Arethusa sighed as she rose and reached behind her for her Green Cloak.
"I wish," she said, regretfully, "I wish it had lasted longer!"
"Lasted longer!" exclaimed Mr. Bennet, "Why!..."
"Isn't it over?" she almost shrieked.
"Over! Good gracious, child! That was only the first act! I believe there are two more, before it's over."
"Two more! Oh! Goody!" Arethusa plumped herself down again with such solid decision to stay where she was, that had her seat not been strongly made, she might have gone clear through it. "But I saw men going out! And I thought of course that was all! It did seem awfully short, though!"
That there should be two whole more acts; such richness of prospect!
The curtain rose for the second act, and Arethusa's smile began to widen in glad anticipation. Then it faded, and her expression changed to that of one rather bewildered. She looked all about her, but no one else seemed at all affected as she was herself. Everybody in the audience was gazing intently, and with pleasure, at the stage.
"What's the matter?" inquired Mr. Bennet.
Arethusa nodded towards the frolicking chorus girls who were just immediately back of the foot-lights, all with arms out-stretched to their responsive audience, singing vociferously of unintelligible words.