ith a copy of _Moore's
Irish Melodies_, and Philippa Seaton with a volume of _Extracts from
Byron_."

We went up together to receive our prizes, which Mrs. Marshall handed to
us with a kind word of approval and encouragement, and then the girls
were allowed to disperse, as the platform was required next by the
dramatic society, and the actors withdrew to dress themselves as
rapidly as possible for their parts.

I was sitting among the audience, waiting for the play to begin, when
Doris, who was stage-manager, entered quietly, and drew me aside, with a
troubled face.

"I wish you would come upstairs to Cathy's bedroom," she said. "She
seems quite ill and is asking for you. We can't think what is the matter
with her."

I flew upstairs in a panic. Cathy was lying on her bed, covered with a
down quilt, and a group of anxious girls, half-dressed in various
costumes, hovered around her with bottles of eau de Cologne and
smelling-salts.

She raised her head languidly when I entered.

"I feel so queer, Phil," she whispered. "I don't believe I can act in
the play, after all."

"Let me fetch Mrs. Marshall," I gasped.

"No! No! Not on any account! I shall be all right. I only need quiet.
Phil, I want you to take Portia! You know the part as well as I do
myself, and the dress fits you. Will you do it to please me?"

"But I cannot leave you if you are ill, Cathy! I can't indeed!"

"You must, you must! I don't want anyone here. I would rather be left
quite alone. Millicent has promised to dress you. Oh, go all of you,
please! It's getting so late, and the audience will be waiting."

"Someone must take Portia," said Doris. "We certainly can't leave her
out. Philippa, you will have to try."

"I don't believe she can do it," said Ernestine, who was to act the part
of Lorenzo. "It's a shame to spoil the play. Put it off for half an
hour, and perhaps Cathy will be better. I declare I won't act with
anyone who has not rehearsed with us beforehand."

"Don't be nasty, Ernestine! Of course you'll be obliged to act with her.
How can we put it off? They've been waiting twenty minutes or more
already. Come along, girls, we're terribly late! I'm so sorry, Cathy!
We'll turn the light low, and you must try to go to sleep;" and Doris
drove us from the room into the studio where we were to dress, and
hurriedly helped the others to arrange their finishing touches.

Millicent hustled me into the pink costume, and twisted the gold
orn