He gave a sigh of disappointment and glanced toward the girls. Alene was leaning forward with a rapt expression, Ivy's mouth was half opened—she appeared to have forgotten the world—and Laura's head was craned painfully to one side of that huge affair in front. Then he glanced at Nettie who sat beside him. Her face was the picture of woe, her lips were curled ready to cry.
"What's the matter?" he whispered sympathetically.
A tear came running slowly down her cheek.
"Don't you see—I can't see a thing!"
Alene, attracted by their restlessness, glanced round. There they sat, looking blankly at Hermione's mammoth hat, that shut away everything else from their gaze. To be sure, it was a beautiful creation of white chiffon, green foliage and pink ribbons; but when one has feasted his eyes for a week on gorgeous posters, and has been washed and starched and brought to the show to see wonderful things on a real stage, a girl's hat, be it ever so fine, is surely a poor substitute!
"You little martyrs!" exclaimed Alene, feeling that she must do something to help them.
She knew it would be useless to have them change places with her or the other girls. It was only by leaning to one side that they were able to see the pictures, for the brim of Hermione's hat met that of Vera's, a rival in pale green and white, forming a screen which completely hid the stage.
With a sudden compunction Alene remembered that her own hat was of goodly proportions, with a lovely lace cascade rippling over the brim. She glanced behind to find that she, too, was an offender, for a little girl whose head was on a level with Claude's, sat directly in the rear.
For a moment only Alene hesitated, then she reached for her hat pin, and whispering, called the attention of Laura and Ivy to the situation. They gave her a nod and following her example took off their hats which, while not so fine as Alene's and the Ramsey girls', were just as effectual in shutting out the view.
The people back of them nodded their approval and the mother of the little maid whom Alene had first noticed leaned forward to thank her, but the action of the three girls gave little relief so long as those other hats stood up defiantly in front.