Carol’s was the only vote cast against “The Girl from Kankakee.”

II

She disliked “The Girl from Kankakee” even more than she had expected.  It narrated the success of a farm-lassie in clearing her brother of a charge of forgery.  She became secretary to a New York millionaire and social counselor to his wife; and after a well-conceived speech on the discomfort of having money, she married his son.

There was also a humorous office-boy.

Carol discerned that both Juanita Haydock and Ella Stowbody wanted the lead.  She let Juanita have it.  Juanita kissed her and in the exuberant manner of a new star presented to the executive committee her theory, “What we want in a play is humor and pep.  There’s where American playwrights put it all over these darn old European glooms.”

As selected by Carol and confirmed by the committee, the persons of the play were: 

     John Grimm, a millionaire . . . .  Guy Pollock
     His wife. . . . . . . . .  Miss Vida Sherwin
     His son . . . . . . . . .  Dr. Harvey Dillon
     His business rival. . . . . . .  Raymond T. Wutherspoon
     Friend of Mrs. Grimm . . . . . .  Miss Ella Stowbody
     The girl from Kankakee . . . . .  Mrs. Harold C. Haydock
     Her brother. . . . . . . .  Dr. Terence Gould
     Her mother . . . . . . . .  Mrs. David Dyer
     Stenographer . . . . . . . .  Miss Rita Simons
     Office-boy . . . . . . . .  Miss Myrtle Cass
     Maid in the Grimms’ home . . . .  Mrs. W. P. Kennicott
     Direction of Mrs. Kennicott

Among the minor lamentations was Maud Dyer’s “Well of course I suppose I look old enough to be Juanita’s mother, even if Juanita is eight months older than I am, but I don’t know as I care to have everybody noticing it and——­”

Carol pleaded, “Oh, my dear!  You two look exactly the same age.  I chose you because you have such a darling complexion, and you know with powder and a white wig, anybody looks twice her age, and I want the mother to be sweet, no matter who else is.”

Ella Stowbody, the professional, perceiving that it was because of a conspiracy of jealousy that she had been given a small part, alternated between lofty amusement and Christian patience.

Carol hinted that the play would be improved by cutting, but as every actor except Vida and Guy and herself wailed at the loss of a single line, she was defeated.  She told herself that, after all, a great deal could be done with direction and settings.

Sam Clark had boastfully written about the dramatic association to his schoolmate, Percy Bresnahan, president of the Velvet Motor Company of Boston.  Bresnahan sent a check for a hundred dollars; Sam added twenty-five and brought the fund to Carol, fondly crying, “There!  That’ll give you a start for putting the thing across swell!”