“I feel frightfully out of place in this company of chivalry and beauty,” Anne remarked, looking fondly about her at the friends whose presence told more plainly than words could have done the place she occupied in their hearts.

“Think how we shall fade into insignificance to-night when you hold forth with the great Southard,” retorted Nora.  “I shall consider myself honored by even a mere bow from you, after you have taken curtain calls before a New York audience.”

“When I was with Edwin Booth,” began Hippy reminiscently, “he often said to me, ’Hippy, my boy, my acting is nothing compared to yours.  You are—­’”

“A first cousin to Ananias and Sapphira,” finished David derisively.

“Never heard of them,” replied Hippy unabashed.  “Not branches of our family tree.  As I was saying—­”

“Never mind what you were saying,” said Nora in cutting tones.  “Listen to me.  It is seven o’clock.  Anne must go, and in a taxicab, at that.”

“Where shall we see you after the performance, dear?” asked Grace.

“Mr. Southard has obtained special permission for all of you to go behind the scenes after the play.”

“How lovely!” cried the girls.

“My curiosity will at last be satisfied.  I have always wanted to go behind the scenes of a New York theatre,” remarked Mrs. Gibson.

“I have the dearest dressing room,” said Anne, with enthusiasm.  “Mr. and Miss Southard are going to carry you off to their house after the performance to-night.  I almost forgot to tell you.  So don’t make any other plans.”

“We are in the hands of our friends,” said Hippy, with an exaggerated bow.

“You’ll be in the hands of the law if you don’t mend your ways,” prophesied Reddy.  “If we get you safely into the theatre without official assistance it will surprise me very much.”

“Reddy, you amaze me,” responded Hippy reproachfully.  “I may make mistakes, but I am far from lawless.  Neither do I flaunt the flame colored signal of anarchy every time I remove my hat.”

There was a burst of good-natured laughter at Reddy’s expense.  His red hair was as common a subject of joke as was Hippy’s behavior.

“That was a fair exchange of compliments,” said Tom Gray.  “Now forget it, both of you.”

“Good-bye, every one, until eleven o’clock,” cried Anne, who, knowing that she would be obliged to hurry away, had brought her wraps to the dining room with her.

David accompanied Anne to the entrance of the hotel, put her in a taxicab and walked into the hotel, hardly knowing whether he were glad or sorry that Anne had had greatness thrust upon her.

CHAPTER XVIII

THE THEATRE PARTY

It was a very merry party that took possession of the box that Mr. Southard had placed at their disposal and waited with ill-concealed impatience for the rise of the curtain.