“And thanks for the ride and everything,” Peggy called after him.
“He’s such a sweet kid,” Rita commented as they climbed. “A wonderful help to Gus—I have a feeling Michael may make this business his life work. Here’s where you live, Peggy!”
They stepped into a tiny white room, sparsely furnished with only a day bed, a large bureau, a folding screen, straight chair, and a bedside table.
“The manager of the inn must know something about summer stock companies,” Rita observed ruefully. “Obviously he has a good idea of just how much time we’ll be spending in our rooms.”
Peggy looked at her questioningly and Rita laughed. “It’s your first season, I know—but just you wait and see!”
“My trunk!” Peggy interrupted with a sudden disturbing thought. “I sent it ahead by Railway Express. Hasn’t it come?”
“Right here, madame.” Rita folded back the screen and revealed Peggy’s large, black wardrobe trunk, which was somewhat dented and worn, parts of old labels still sticking to it here and there. “You know, for a girl who hasn’t done stock before, or been on the road, this trunk is really strange. What did you do?” she asked with a teasing smile. “Stick on labels, and tear them off, and then jump up and down on it wielding a hammer?”
Peggy hooted. “Rita Stevens, you have a very suspicious mind! I want you to know that this trunk belonged to a friend of my father’s—a wonderful woman who was in the theater years ago.” Peggy’s face softened wistfully. “And I imagine that this battered old trunk has seen more drama—on stage and off—than we can even imagine.”
The girls looked at it thoughtfully, a picture of the old, romantic days of the theater—great plays, great producers, great stars—all the golden history of the stage firing their imagination.
Peggy broke the spell, “Well, anyway, May Berriman gave it to me. She runs the rooming house where I live in New York, you know. And believe me, I’m grateful! Besides needing a trunk, I think of it as a symbol of good luck. Some time soon, Rita, would you mind taking a look at my wardrobe? I think I brought enough, but I’d like to be sure.”