"We have her cast, anyway," Clarence answered dolefully.
"She's played Celia, the one that's a sort of lieutenant-fairy, before, and I remember the time I had getting her to memorize her words—not a long part at all. She could no more play Phyllis than I can."
"Were you talking about the part, or about me?"' asked Phyllis Harrington, coming in again.
"How is Gail?" asked everybody.
"Ask John," said Phyllis. "Her ankle seems to be hurting her badly, poor girl. I hope it will be all right tomorrow night. I made her go to bed, and her mother is sworn to make her stay there. I'll go through her part for her now, Clarence, if it will be any help."
Clarence stared at her.
"Can you?" he asked.
"Well, I know the words," said Phyllis. "And I don't think she will be able to rehearse again. It will be as much as she can do to get up tomorrow night and go through it."
John shook his head. "I'm afraid she won't be able to do even that," he said.
"Then you'll have to take the part, Phyllis!" said Clarence with a sudden decision. "Never mind dressing now. Take your hat off and see what you can do."