"I'll do it if you will, Ellen," began Marion.
"I don't mind trying," agreed Ellen.
Thus the matter was settled.
"Let us first select the little girls to take part in our drama,"
Marion continued.
"There's Annie Conwell," said one.
"And Lucy Caryl," interposed another.
So they went on, till they had chosen ten or twelve little girls.
"As it is to be a May piece, of course we must have a Queen," said
Ellen.
"Yes; and let us have Abby Clayton for the Queen," rejoined Marion. "Abby is passably good-looking and rather graceful; besides, she has a clear, strong voice, and plenty of self-confidence. She would not be apt to get flustered. Annie Conwell, now, is a dear child; but perhaps she would be timid, and it would spoil the whole play if the Queen should break down."
After school the little girls were invited into the Graduates' class-room; and, although not a word of the drama had yet been written, the principal parts were then and there assigned. Lucy Caryl was to have the opening address, Annie as many lines as she would undertake, and so on.