Chapter X. The Dramatic Club

l,withJill'snewmittensonhishands,Mammanoddingfromthedoor-step,andFrankreadytogivehimaliftonthenewsled,ifthewayprovedtoolongortoorough. “Ishallnothavetimetomisshimnow,forwearetobeverybusygettingreadyfortheTwenty-second.TheDramaticClubmeetsto-night,andwouldliketocomehere,iftheymay,soIcanhelp?”saidJill,asMrs.Minotcameup,expectingtofindherratherlowinhermind. “CertainlyandIhaveabasketofoldfineryIlookedupfortheclubwhenIwasrummagingoutbitsofsilkforyourbluequilt,”answeredthegoodlady,whohadsetupanewemploymenttobeguilethehoursofJack'sabsence. Whenthegirlsarrived,thatevening,theyfoundMrs.Chairwomansurroundedbyastrewoftheatricalproperties,enjoyingherselfverymuch.Allbroughtsuchcontributionsastheycouldmuster,andallwereeageraboutacertaintableauwhichwastobethegemofthewhole,theythought.Jill,ofcourse,wasnotexpectedtotakeanypart,buthertastewasgood,soallconsultedherastheyshowedtheiroldsilks,laces,andflowers,askingwhoshouldbethis,andwhothat.Allwantedtobethe“SleepingBeauty,”forthatwasthechosenscene,withtheslumberingcourtabouttheprincess,andtheprinceintheactofawakeningher.Jackwastobethehero,braveinhismother'svelvetcape,redboots,andarealsword,whiletheotherboysweretohavepartsofmoreorlesssplendor. “MabelshouldbetheBeauty,becauseherhairissolovely,”saidJuliet,whowasquitesatisfiedwithherownpartoftheQueen. “No,Merryoughttohaveit,assheistheprettiest,andhasthatsplendidveiltowear,”answeredMolly,whowastobethemaidofhonor,cuffingthelittlepage,Boo. “Idon'tcareabit,butmyfeatherwouldbefineforthePrincess,andIdon'tknowasEmmawouldliketohavemelendittoanyoneelse,”saidAnnette,wavingalongwhiteplumeoverherhead,withgirlishdelightinitsgrace. “Ishouldthinkthewhitesilkdress,theveil,andthefeatheroughttogotogether,withthescarletcrapeshawlandthesepearls.Thatwouldbesweet,andjustwhatprincessesreallywear,”advisedJill,whowasstringingaquantityofoldRomanpearls. “Weallwanttowearthenicethings,soletusdrawlots.Wouldn'tthatbethefairestway?”askedMerry,lookinglikearosylittlebride,underagreatpieceofillusion,whichhaddonedutyinmanyplays. “ThePrinceislight,sothePrincessmustbedarkish.Weoughttochoosethegirlwhowilllookbest,asitisapicture.IheardMissDelanosayso,whentheladiesgotupthetableaux,lastwinter,andeveryonewantedtobeCleopatra,”saidJilldecidedly. “Youchoose,andthenifwecan'tagreewewilldrawlots,”proposedSusy,who,beingplain,knewtherewaslittlehopeofhergettingachanceinanyotherway. Soallstoodinarow,andJill,fromhersofa,surveyedthemcritically,feelingthattheoneJackwouldreallypreferwasnotamongthenumber. “Ichoosethatone,forJulietwantstobeQueen,Mollywouldmakefaces,andtheothersaretoobigortoolight,”pronouncedJill,pointingtoMerry,wholookedpleased,whileMabel'sfacedarkened,andSusygaveadisdainfulsniff. “You'dbetterdrawlots,andthentherewillbenofuss.JuandIareoutofthefight,butyouthreecantry,andletthissettlethematter,”saidMolly,handingJillalongstripofpaper. Allagreedtoletitbeso,andwhenthebitswerereadydrewinturn.ThistimefatewasevidentlyonMerry'sside,andnoonegrumbledwhensheshowedthelongestpaper. “Goanddress,thencomeback,andwe'llplanhowwearetobeplacedbeforewecalluptheboys,”commandedJill,whowasmanager,sinceshecouldbenothingelse. Thegirlsretiredtothebedroomandbeganto“rigup,”astheycalleditbutdiscontentstilllurkedamongthem,andshoweditselfinsharpwords,enviouslooks,anddisobligingacts. “AmI