"Everyone but Lillian," Helen answered. "We may as well begin to take our places. She will be down in a few moments."
Already the stage had backed up before the door, and Jean was among the first to run lightly down the broad flight of steps. Farr stood at the foot, and as he held out his hand to assist her, she saw that he was regarding her sadly. There was no time for words, the others were flocking down the steps behind them. She turned her eyes to meet his with a plaintive, almost appealing smile. She thought they must have spoken for her, for ere he released her hand he gave it a quick pressure.
It was some few moments before Miss Stuart made her appearance. She descended the steps slowly, with no suggestion of haste. Farr held open the door for her to enter.
"Come up here by me, Lillian," Helen called to her from the other end of the stage, but she did not seem to hear the request, and slipped into a seat near the door.
Farr sprang lightly in, but as he would have passed her she laid a detaining hand on his arm.
"There is plenty of room here," she said, indicating the place beside her, and he had no alternative but to take it.
The other men crowded past them, and as the stage lurched forward, Cliff Archer dropped into a seat between Jean and Eleanor.
"A great deal of strength is wasted in undue haste," he observed lazily. "I find that laggards invariably prosper."
"What heresy, Cliff," laughed Eleanor softly, with an expressive glance in Miss Stuart's direction.
Cliff appealed to Jean.