Dorothy Daintys Gay Times | Page 8

commenced.
At recess they could not spare a moment for games! They talked, and
talked of the entertainment which they were to give, and of the fine
times which they would have at the afternoon rehearsals, and after
school, when they walked along the avenue, they still were talking of
the solo numbers, and of the dialogue.
"There's eight girls in it, and one boy, that's Reginald," said Mollie,
"and I know--oh, wait till I tie my shoe."
She rested her foot on a stone, and tied the ribbons with a smart little
twitch.
"And now what were you going to say?" asked Jeanette.
"I said how many were to be in the dialogue, and I was going to say
that I know I'm just wild to hear Aunt Charlotte read it to us this
afternoon."
"Then you won't have to be wild long," Jeanette said, "for we are to
come back at two to have our parts given to us."
* * * * *
At two o'clock they were again at the cottage, eagerly watching Aunt
Charlotte, as she opened her desk, and took from it a book with a
scarlet cover.
"There are nine girls in my class, just the number required for this
dialogue," she said. "Eight of the characters are school girls, one is a
fairy, and the boy in the little play is an elfin messenger."
"That'll be me, for I'm the only boy here," said Reginald; "you girls

don't know who'll be which!" Aunt Charlotte laughed at this speech as
heartily as did the girls.
"We'll soon know who'll be which," said Nancy.
"Yes, because Aunt Charlotte will tell us," laughed Dorothy.
"The directions for producing the play, speaks of the fairy queen as
being taller than the school girls, so I will give that part to you, Jeanette,
as you are a trifle taller than the others."
"Oh, I'll love to be the queen," Jeanette said quickly, and she glanced at
her playmates with flashing eyes.
"I guess Dorothy expected to be the queen," whispered Nina to Lola.
Nina felt almost as proud as if she herself had been honored.
It was true that Dorothy had usually been given leading parts, but
evidently she was not at all vexed.
"You'll make a fine queen, Jeanette," she was saying, "and oh, Aunt
Charlotte, do tell her to let her hair hang loose; it's 'most below her
waist."
"Surely Jeanette must have her hair unbraided," Aunt Charlotte agreed,
"and we must make a tiny gold crown for her."
"How lovely!" said Nancy, and Jeanette was delighted.
Of course Reginald was to be the little page, and the other parts were
assigned, Aunt Charlotte choosing for each of the girls the part which
best fitted her.
At first Arabella had seemed greatly interested, but as soon as Jeanette
had been chosen for the fairy queen, she left the group, and turning
toward the window, looked out into the garden.
Flossie called to her. "Come, Arabella!" she cried. "We're going to read
our dialogue now."

The others took their places, and Arabella turned, and slowly joined
them.
"We will pass the book from one to another, and thus read the little
play through," said Aunt Charlotte, "and I will copy each part carefully,
that each can memorize all that she has to say. When you have learned
your lines, we will have our first rehearsal."
"Hooray!" said Reginald, and although the girls laughed, they were
quite as eagerly delighted as he.
They left the cottage, and as they walked down the avenue they talked
of the pretty dialogue, each insisting that she liked her part best.
"But mine's the best," said Reginald, "for I'm the only boy in it."
"Mine's the best, for I'm the queen," said Jeanette, and she held her
head very high, as she looked toward her playmates.
"All the parts are nice," Nancy said, "and we'll have a fine
entertainment."
Arabella had stopped to arrange her books in her desk, and was the last
to leave the cottage.
"I like to see that you are orderly," Aunt Charlotte said, as Arabella
passed her on her way to the door.
She made no reply, but hurried down the walk.
"An odd child, truly," Aunt Charlotte said, as she looked after the
slender little figure.
The next day each girl received a copy of her lines, and Wednesday of
the next week was set for the first rehearsal.
* * * * *
"I know every word I have to say," said Jeanette, as she walked along
toward the cottage with Katie Dean.

It was Wednesday morning, and the first rehearsal was set for the
afternoon.
"I guess I know mine, but I'm not sure. Aunt Charlotte will have the
book and she can prompt me," Katie