“Sunday-school meeting,” thought the colonel. “Hard-shelled Baptists and Methodists on one side, and High-church Episcopalians and Roman Catholics on the other. Needs something a little sprightly to make ’em sit up and take notice. I wonder——”
He looked about him curiously, and then he saw Mr. Carter going slowly down the aisle, followed by his wife and Emily.
“Hello!” said the colonel. “Didn’t expect such luck. You’ve got the seat next to me, Mrs. Carter. How are you, Emily?” He glanced rather sharply at the girl as he spoke, startled by her unusual appearance, for Emily’s white eyelashes were now a dark brown, and her nose was whitened. “Bless my soul!” thought the colonel, and then, to Mr. Carter: “Where’s William and his pretty wife?”
“William isn’t coming,” Mr. Carter replied shortly, seating himself heavily and feeling of his necktie. “He’s at home, smoking a pipe with Dan. His wife”—Mr. Carter glanced at the lighted platform, filled with a grand piano and many palms—“I suppose she’s coming. She started with Leigh half an hour ago. He’s bringing her.”
“Humph!”
The colonel tried to think of something more to say, but Mrs. Payson relieved him. She fluttered across the aisle.
“Dear Mrs. Carter, we’re all crazy to hear your new daughter sing! Judge Jessup says she’s got a lovely voice.”
Mrs. Carter smiled tremulously and blushed.
“Yes,” she said faintly, but with some pride in her voice. “The judge heard her the other night. She’s—she’s coming with Leigh.”
As she spoke there was a flutter and stir in the audience, and Mrs. Payson retreated hastily to a front seat. Judge Jessup had just appeared on the platform with a tall, thin man who wore an immaculate dress-suit and displayed an amazing head of black hair.