“Please, wouldn’t you like to see our little dance?”
“Nothing would please us better,” answered Heneman.
“Thank you. Come on now; we’re going to show them what we’ve learned.”
It is hard to interest a seasoned director in such things, and almost impossible to secure the interest of a Compton. But there are exceptions to every rule. For five minutes or more the audience of two was spellbound.
It was a variation of the original dance, a wonderful variation, retaining all its grace and beauty and springtime aroma, with little touches, magical touches, which charmed it into the realms of fairyland.
“By jove,” roared the manager, “that’s simply wonderful! Peggy, you’re a genius!”
“Listen, children,” said Compton. “You’ve done more than I expected. I had a bet with the manager that if I put you together, Pearl and Francis would go to work and pick up that dance. But you’ve done more. You’ve saved me the trouble of getting up a dance to fit into our new scenario which we start at the day after to-morrow. It is called ‘Imitation,’ and you are all four to be in it.”
The children gazed at each other in speechless joy and wonder.
“There are to be four principals: Bobby, Francis, Peggy and Pearl. Mr. Heneman and myself have chosen you because we know you can act, and—and—”
“Because we love you,” supplemented Heneman.