“We’ll do what is needed,” Thurley said in as sharp fashion as Hobart could have replied.
Hortense Quinby came searching the audience to deliver a telegram to Thurley, delighted with her opportunity to appear important.
It was a good-by note from Hobart and of no importance, so Thurley thought as she read it:
Dear Thurley—
Leaving for my vacation to-night and sorry not to say good-by, will send up the new operas I told you about—don’t waste this summer
B. H.
She rose and excused herself from the entertainment, which caused half the audience to say that “Thurley Precore liked to create scenes” and the other half “she was a purse-proud young woman with no patriotism.”
Polly and Collin stayed the performance out, since two of the women Collin had painted were taking part in the tableaux and had sent him those telling three-cornered notes on mauve linen requesting that he see them as “France Enraged” and “Belgium at Bay.”
Polly stayed because Collin stayed. After the next number was well under way, Collin, stroking that mad, blond beard of his, asked,
“What’s wrong with Thurley? She’s not been herself all winter and she is going off in her voice.”