on, or had
learned more than any one realized from playing with Mrs. Burton,
certainly she showed unusual ease and pliancy for an amateur actress.
More than once during the performance Mrs. Burton managed to whisper her
congratulations, stirring Marta to fresh efforts.

Gerry did not do a great deal of acting, but as _Phebe_ she was such a
ravishingly pretty shepherdess that one thought of little else. Peggy's
character study of _Audrey_, the country wench, showed such an amusing
combination of stupidity and common sense that in spite of the
unimportance of the part, she won a real triumph.

Lieutenant Carson at least presented a fine appearance as the melancholy
_Jaques_.

The one failure among the company of youthful artists was Felipe Morris,
upon whose natural ability Mrs. Burton and all the other players had
depended.

It was surprising, for during all the rehearsals Felipe had always acted
so agreeably that even the stage manager had only words of praise for
him.

Yet the _Touchstone_ who danced gracefully out before the footlights on
the occasion of the real performance was a different _Touchstone_.

By a kind of natural instinct Mrs. Burton instantly recognized the fact.
Even through his make-up and his motley costume of stripes and caps and
bells, one could discern that Felipe's thoughts were not concentrated
upon his performance.

_Touchstone_ spoke his lines with the proper combination of drollery and
impertinence, yet there was no suggestion of real wit or merriment. The
very jangling of his bells was depressing.

Once in a hurried moment behind the scenes Mrs. Burton managed to
inquire: "Is there anything the matter, Felipe? Are you not well?"

Felipe only laughed and shook his head. "What should be the matter? Am I
falling down on my part? I shall try and brace up in the next act."

If _Touchstone_ was a failure in his acting, Felipe sang as never
before. It was not Gerry alone, listening behind the scenes, who was
completely fascinated.

One of _Touchstone's_ ballads is of the eternal romance of love and
spring time. Felipe's voice held a freshness, a clear sweetness that
went straight to the hearts of his audience.

"It was a lover and his lass,
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,
That o'er the green corn-field did pass
In the spring time, the only pretty ring time,
When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding;
Sweet lovers love the spring."

The play was fin