o_ much better, because she's had to coach
Olivia Cartwright for that part so much more than she's had to coach
Ethel for _Katherine_. But, then, she knows the whole play--she could
take any part. She would have loved to play _Petruchio_, though, on
account of the boots and the slashing round the stage the way he does.
But I think it's just as well, for _Katherine_ certainly slashes,
too--and Rob's not quite tall enough for _Petruchio_."

"I'm glad she plays _Katherine_," said Richard Kendrick decidedly. "I
can't imagine your sister in boots! I've no doubt, though, she'd make
them different from other boots--if she wore them!"

"Of course she would," agreed Ruth. Then she began to talk about
something else, for a bit of fear had come into her mind that Rob
wouldn't enjoy all this discussion of herself, if she should know about
it.

She was such an honest young person, however, that she had a good deal
of difficulty, when she had done her errand and was at home again, in
not telling Roberta of her meeting with Richard Kendrick. She did
venture to ask a question.

"Is Mr. Kendrick invited for to-night, Rob?"

"Not by me," Roberta responded promptly.

"He might be, by one of the girls, I suppose?"

"The girls invite whom they like. I haven't seen the list. I don't
imagine he would be on it. I hope not, certainly."

"Why? Don't you think he would enjoy it?"

"No, I do not. Musical comedies are probably more to his taste than
amateur productions of Shakespeare. But I'm not thinking about the
audience--the players are enough for me." Then, suddenly, an idea which
flashed into her mind caused her to turn and scan Ruth's ingenuous young
face.

"You haven't been inviting Mr. Kendrick yourself, Rufus?"

"Why, how could I?" But the girl flushed rosily in a way which betrayed
her interest. "I just--wondered."

"How did you come to wonder? Have you seen him?"

Ruth being Ruth, there was nothing to do but to tell Roberta of the
encounter with Richard. "He said he was glad you were to play
_Katherine_, because he couldn't imagine you in boots," she added,
hoping this news might appease her sister. But it did nothing of the
sort.

"As if it made the slightest difference to him! But if he feels that
way, I wish I were to wear the boots, and I wish he might be there to
see me do it. As it is, I hope Mrs. Stuart Henderson will be deaf to his
audacity, if he dares to ask an invitation. It would be quite like him!"

"I d