"What other two?"
"Miss Pennington and Miss Dixon."
"Oh, I'm so sorry."
"Sorry for what?"
"I mean, I don't want them to dislike me," returned Alice.
"Oh, don't worry about that, little girl. They don't like anyone who can do better than themselves. But they're the only ones. The rest of us like you!"
"Really?"
"Well I should say!" and there was more energy in the words than was actually necessary. Alice blushed, but looked pleased.
"Very good!" observed the manager, after an effective scene in which Alice and Ruth took part. "You are doing excellent work. If this play is a hit I'll star you two in something more elaborate next week."
"Will you, really?" asked Ruth, as she came out of the scene.