They had after all given her place in the Cinderella tableau; she was one of the two wicked sisters; and she looked dissatisfied enough for the character.  She wanted to get away to be alone for two minutes; but she had this part to fill first.  It is very hard to play when one’s heart is heavy.  Daisy could not go on so.  She could not bear it.  Without waiting till June could undress her, she slipped away, the moment the curtain was drawn, and ran across the hall to the dressing room.  People were coming and going everywhere; and Daisy went out upon the piazza.  There, in a dark spot, she kneeled down and prayed; that this terrible spirit of pleasing herself might be put away from her.  She had but a minute; she knew she must be back again immediately; but she knew too it takes but a minute for ever so little a prayer to go all the way to heaven; and the answer does not take any longer to come, if it pleases God.  Daisy was very much in earnest, and quite well knew all that.  She went back to the library feeling humbled and ashamed, but quiet.  The library was all in commotion.

Nora was begging that Esther might be put off till the last.  Mrs. Sandford and Preston objected.  They chose that it should come next.

“Here is Priscilla,” said Hamilton Rush,—­“I beg pardon! it is Cinderella’s wicked sister—­I don’t know what her name was.  Let us have your vote, my angel; I will address you in your prospective character; will you put on your wings at once?  Or shall we get done with the terrestrial first?  What do you say?—­I hope you are going to make Miss Stanfield the queen, Mrs. Sandford; she has done one part so well that I should like to see her in another.”

“Why, you are going to be Ahasuerus yourself!” said the lady.

“Am I?” said Hamilton; who it must be noticed had not met for the practisings as often as the other people, being held not to need them.  “Then I must respectfully be allowed to choose my own queen.  I vote for Miss Theresa.”

“It is a capital idea,” said Preston.

“I think so too,” said Mrs. Sandford.  “Theresa, my dear, I wonder we did not think before of something so much to our advantage; but these children seemed to have got the picture into their own hands.  You will do it far better.  Come! let me robe you.”

“I would rather be Vashti,” murmured Theresa.  “I don’t like submissive characters.  Mrs. Sandford, Vashti is far more in my line.  Go off, boys, and get ready!  What a pity we didn’t think of having Vashti, Mrs. Sandford.”

However, Theresa made no objection to be dressed for Esther.

“Who will be your supporters?  Ella is too short.  Jane and Nora?—­Where is Nora!”

Nora was in the furthest corner of the room, seated in gloom.

“Nora!—­”

“I am not going to play any more—­” said Nora.

“You must come and be one of the queen’s women—­I want you for that.”