“All ready, let her go,” was the chorus, and the machine whizzed down the street.

CHAPTER XXII

AS YOU LIKE IT

The big dressing rooms on each side of the stage at Assembly Hall were ablaze with light.  There was a hum of girlish voices and gay laughter, and all the pleasant excitement attending an amateur production prevailed.  The dressing had been going on for the last hour, and now a goodly company of courtiers and dames stood about waiting while Miss Tebbs and Miss Kane rapidly “made up their faces” with rouge and powder.  This being done to prevent them from looking too pale when in the white glare of the footlights.

Miriam Nesbit as the “Duke” looked particularly fine, and the girls gathered around her with many exclamations of admiration.  Nora’s roguish face looked out from her fool’s cap in saucy fashion as she flitted about jingling her bells.  Grace made a handsome Orlando, while Jessica looked an ideal shepherdess.

“Where’s Anne?” said Grace as Nora paused in front of her.  “I haven’t see her to-night.  I suppose she’s over in the other dressing room.  Miss Tebbs said that some of the costumes were moved over there after we left last night.  What time is it?  I didn’t wear my watch to-night because I didn’t want to risk losing it.”

“It’s almost half past seven,” said Jessica.  “I asked Miss Tebbs for the time just a few minutes ago.”

“Let’s go and find Anne at once, then,” said Nora.  “It’s getting late, and she surely is dressed by this time.  Then we’ll look through the hole in the curtain at the house.  People are beginning to arrive.”

“Wait a minute,” said Jessica.  “There’s Mabel.  Doesn’t she look great as Jaques?  Come here, dear,” called Jessica.

Mabel Allison joined the three girls, who hurried across the stage to the other dressing room in search of Anne Pierson.

“Why, I don’t see her here,” cried Grace, making a quick survey of the room.  “She must be somewhere about, for——­”

“There she goes now,” exclaimed Nora, who stood in the door, looking out on the stage, “and she has her hat and coat on.  How strange.  I wonder if she knows how late it is?”

Sure enough, Anne was hurrying toward the opposite dressing room.

The three girls made a rush for her.

“Why, Anne,” said Grace.  “What is the matter?  We thought you had dressed over here and were looking for you.”

“Girls,” replied Anne, “I’ve been on a wild-goose chase.  I can’t stop to tell you about it now, but you shall hear as soon as I have a chance.  Will you help me with my costume and make-up?  I’m awfully late, and haven’t a minute to spare.”

“Why of course we will,” said Grace.  “Give me your hat and coat, dear.  Where did you put your costumes?  It won’t take you long to dress, for most of the girls are dressed and over on the other side, so you have the place to yourself.”