kind of eyes, would have hair like that. My own
looks a great deal better."

"Why don't you wear your own, then? Wrinkle up your forehead, Parent,
and let me see which way they run."

"Georgie paid two dollars for renting it, and she's bound to get the
money's worth of wear out of it, even if she makes me look like a fright
and spoils the play."

"Nonsense," said Patty, pushing away the Parent and giving her undivided
attention to the question. "Your own hair does look better. Just mislay
the wig and keep out of Georgie's way till the curtain goes up. The
audience are beginning to come," she announced to the room in general,
"and you've got to keep still back there. You're making an awful racket,
and they can hear you all over the house. Here, what are you making such
a noise for?" she demanded of Lord Bromley, who came clumping up with
footfalls which reverberated through the flies.

"I can't help it," he said crossly. "Look at these boots. They're so big
that I can step out of them without unlacing them."

"It's not my fault. I haven't anything to do with the costumes."

"I know it; but what can I do?"

"Never mind," said Patty, soothingly; "they don't look so awfully bad.
You'll have to try and walk without raising your feet."

She went out on the stage, where Georgie was giving her last directions
to the scene-shifters. "The minute the curtain goes down on the first
act change this forest to the drawing-room scene, and don't make any
noise hammering. If you have to hammer, do it while the orchestra's
playing. How does it look?" she asked anxiously, turning to Patty.

"Beautiful," said Patty. "I'd scarcely recognize it."

The "forest scene" had served in every outdoor capacity for the last
four years, and it was usually hailed with a groan on the part of the
audience.

"I was just coming in to see if the cast were ready," said Georgie.

"They're all made up, and are sitting in the green-room getting
stage-fright. What shall I do now?"

"Let me see," said Georgie, consulting her book. "One of the committee
is to prompt, one is to stay with the men and see that they manage the
curtain and the lights in the right places, one is to give the cues, and
two are to help change costumes. Cynthia has to change from a
riding-habit to a ball-gown in four minutes. I think you'd better help
her, too."

"Anything you please," said Patty, obligingly. "I'll stand on a stool
with the ball-gown in the air ready to dro