"Who's in your show?"

"I am the star, and Tommy Page is Carton. He's no good because he
giggles, but Mr. Christiansen wouldn't play it. I asked him first."

Mrs. Bryce laughed.

"I suppose you could do with ice cream and cake."

"We could"--promptly.

"What are you going to wear?"

"I have several costumes. I took your velvet opera coat for the
rehearsal. Do you mind?"

"Mind? Certainly I mind. Don't you dare touch anything in my closet."

"All right," replied her daughter, coolly; "Tommy brought over his
mother's best coat in case you were huffy."

"I shall call Madge Page up this minute and tell her."

"Very well, but if you do, I'll announce before the curtain goes up,
that because of _traitors_ there are no costumes."

She saw that that shot took effect.

"You'd better let it alone, Max. I've got it all thought out," she
added.

"I'd like to spank you!" Max exploded.

At the door Isabelle turned.

"Don't you care anything about ART?" she demanded.

CHAPTER SEVEN

As Mrs. Bryce and Wally came out from luncheon, they beheld the first
consignment of friends and relatives, a motor car full from the Pages.

"We've come to the matinee," laughed Mrs. Page.

"It's ridiculous of you," retorted her hostess.

"I would not have missed it for anything," said Martin Christiansen.

"I hear she invited you to play Carton," jeered Wally.

"I never was more flattered in my life. But I persuaded her that I was
not the type."

Other motors began to arrive with beaming parents, and excited children.
The terrace was almost crowded when finally, after much delay, and trips
to and from the house, Teddy Horton rushed into view, announcing through
a megaphone that the doors of the Isabelle Theatre were open. Everybody
strolled toward the garage and soon all the "stalls" were full.

Isabelle appeared before the sheets which served as curtain. She was
pale, composed, and in deadly earnest.

"Fathers and mothers, and ladies and gentlemen," she began, "we are
going to give a play called 'A Tale of Two Cities,' by Charles Dickens
and me."

She was undisturbed by their laughter and applause.

"We didn't have time to print programmes, so I will tell you the
characters: Mademoiselle Lucy Manet--Isabelle Bryce; Dr. Manet, her
father--Margie Hunter; Madame La Farge--Isabelle Bryce; Mr. Lorry--Margie
Hunter; Charles D'Arnay--Teddy Horton; Sidney Carton--Tommy Page.
Manager--Isabe