“And you two became such fast friends in all of about five minutes?” Chris raised his eyebrows. “Oh, now, Peggy! I watched you together tonight and I still say—there’s more to this than meets the eye!”
“Well”—Peggy was glad of the night that effectively covered her blush—“he’s really nice, Chris.” She wasn’t very good at evasion and wished that she could tell the whole story, but for Bill’s sake she mustn’t.
“I see,” Chris said softly. “Yes, he is a pleasant fellow, Peggy, but you know there are other people around, too. I hope you won’t forget that when you’re thinking of Mr. Slade.”
“What does he mean?” Peggy wondered in silence all the way home. Could Chris possibly be putting a different interpretation on her friendship with Bill Slade? “Oh dear,” Peggy thought, “I may have helped untangle the theater, but I’ve certainly tangled up my personal affairs!” She sighed, remembering a little nervously that tomorrow For Love or Money would go into rehearsal and she would be playing a romantic lead opposite Chris Hill!
X
Friends—New and Old
“‘Last night a group of professional actors, backed by years of experience on Broadway, television, and radio, presented a stunning performance of Angel Street to an audience of fewer than twenty persons. It is this reviewer’s duty to apologize publicly for having neglected the Kenabeek Summer Theater. Until now he has not had the pleasure of viewing one of its productions. It is his loss. And he would like to say that the Summer Theater is one of the finest additions to our town in many years. It deserves all the support our local residents and out-of-towners can give it.’
“Oh, just listen to that!” Peggy interrupted herself and squealed with delight as she read Ford Birmingham’s review in the Gazette to Rita, Alison, and Chris. They were having dinner together before the opening of Charley’s Aunt. Ford Birmingham had timed the appearance of the review to coincide with the opening of the new play, and tomorrow there would be yet another review in the Gazette.
“Go on,” Alison urged.
“‘Angel Street was so electrifying,’” Peggy continued, “‘that despite the small house, your reviewer was sitting—literally—on the edge of his hard seat in our high school auditorium. (That he was unaware of his discomfort is another indication of the quality of the performance.) Do not make the mistake of assuming that a production given in the high school is an amateurish effort. The set was excellently executed by Gus Stevens, a young man, who, we suspect, will shortly be designing for Broadway.
“‘Alison Lord, as Mrs. Manningham, gave a controlled, vibrant performance that was a delight to watch. As that colorful inspector, Sergeant Bough, our own Howard Miller was simply superb.’” As Peggy read on, the wonderful words of praise made everyone glow with a feeling of success and satisfaction.