The woman in the long cloak—evidently her clothes were of the ready-made variety, for they certainly did not fit. Also she seemed very slender for a full grown woman, and in spite of her intention to remain unobserved was curiously nervous.
And the man? He was trying to keep his face in the shadow, but from Betty’s point of observation a ray of afternoon sunlight fell directly across his face. The line where his beard began was extremely distinct and his cheeks above it brown and boyish. Besides, though he did wear glasses, his eyes showed fear, amusement and Polly was right in a way, for they did show a certain amount of admiration, although they were certainly never the eyes of a censorious dramatic critic. For several moments Betty had been longing to interrupt Polly’s speech-making but had not known exactly how, and indeed had hardly dared. Perhaps if she could get Polly away before she ever found things out it would be best. Polly’s temper was never very good, and this would hurt her in all the ways in which she was most sensitive.
The girl’s face was white as chalk as she now ceased gazing at Betty and walked quietly across the room toward the supposedly strange woman who had risen at her approach and was trembling violently.
“It is a joke, Polly, don’t be angry; we thought if you could just see how silly play acting seemed to other people you would give it up,” the voice shook a little.
For Polly was ominously pale and quiet as she gently untied the veil and lifted off the stranger’s hat.
“So you wanted to see how much of a fool you could make of me, didn’t you, Mollie? Well, you have succeeded splendidly, dear; I can’t imagine how you could have had any greater success!” And Polly shut her lips tight together and clenched her hands. If only Betty and Meg and Mollie knew how furiously, suffocatingly angry she was they would probably be afraid to have anything to do with her.
But Meg was approaching her with her usually happy face somewhat clouded. “I am afraid you must think pretty poorly of us all, Polly, really it just looked funny to us at first, we only meant to tease you. But now, while I am willing to confess, it does seem rather hateful of us and I want to apologize to you for my part in this whole proceeding.”
Still Polly made no answer, only when Mollie rather timidly put her arms about her saying: “Please do, Polly dear, forgive us and don’t take the whole thing so seriously, you are fond enough of a joke yourself,” she quietly pushed Mollie aside and turned toward Betty.
“Please take me home then, Betty, for I am afraid I have furnished all the amusement this afternoon that I feel equal to.” But when Betty’s arms went about her, Polly trembled so violently that she had to hide her head on her friend’s shoulder and just for an instant a choked sob shook her. Both girls, however, were moving toward the closed drawing room door, but before they could leave the room a tall form barred their way.
“You can’t go until I have spoken to you,” Billy Webster said almost rudely in his determination to be obeyed. He had taken off his beard, wig and glasses and his face showed almost as white as Polly’s.