don't often hev much of a crowd out our way."

They were among the first to take their seats at the theatre. Mr. Ray
had got places for them only three rows back from the stage, and, once
established there, Nannie felt that they were in a safe haven, where
her guest could grow calm and responsive again.

At first Miss Becky was almost too overawed to speak, but after a
while she got the better of the situation and began telling Nannie all
about Sophia and her "true-so," and how they got lost on their way to
the station and almost missed their train, which was the only train
"out" in old times.

"I do hope we sha'n't miss our train to-night, my dear! It doos seem's
though we might 'f they don't begin pretty soon," and the old
lady--for a very old lady she seemed to have become all of a
sudden--fidgeted in her chair, and looked over her shoulder to see if
the seats were not filling up.

"We sha'n't lose our train, Miss Becky," Nannie assured her. "You know
it doesn't go until half-past five o'clock, and the play is always
over before five. And even if we did miss it we could take the
seven-fifteen."

"Oh, dear, no! I sh'd feel reel bad to miss the train. Why, it gits
dark by six o'clock, 'n' 'twouldn't be safe for us to be goin' round
the city streets after dark. We might git garroted or, or--_spoken
to!_ Dear me! I _wish_ they would begin!"

"If it gets late, Miss Becky, we won't wait for the end of the play,"
said Nannie, while a very distinct pang seized her at thought of
missing anything.

"I think that _would_ be better!" Miss Becky cried, with evident
relief. "Don't you think it might be better to go out a little early,
anyway? They'll be such a crowd when everybody tries to go out to
once that we might git delayed. _My!_ what a sight of people there is
already! And up in the galleries, too! Ain't you 'most afeared to stay
in sech a crowd?"

"Oh, no, Miss Becky. It's just like this always, and nothing ever
happens."

"Them galleries don't look strong enough to hold many people. Why,
Nannie, see! They ain't any _pillows_ under 'em! What do you suppose
keeps 'em up?"

"I don't know, I'm sure; but they're safe enough."

At this point the orchestra struck up a popular tune and silence fell
upon Miss Becky. She sat, stiff and severe, gazing straight before
her, and when Nannie ventured to make a remark she received only a
reproving look in reply.

How strange it was, Nannie thought! She had meant to giv