The Cricket Part 15

On her side, Isabelle found Miss Watts's mind a storehouse of treasures.

She told stories of all countries, and all times, and she told them well. The only punishment ever inflicted was the abolishment of the story hour, and this was the only chastis.e.m.e.nt Isabelle had ever regarded as such. There was a marked improvement in her behaviour and the members of her household drew a long breath of relief.

Miss Watts piqued the girl's interest in the study hours, and, as if by a miracle, she learned to read. The teacher found an extraordinary concentration of effort to acquire anything the girl desired. Promised the joy of finding stories for herself, the student applied herself and learned by magic. She was extremely proud of the new accomplishment, and would have read constantly if Miss Watts had not settled upon literary pursuits as the reward of virtue.

One of the by-products of the new ability was a tighter hold on her leadership of the children she played with. Everything she read suggested new and wonderful games. As originator and inventor she always played the leading roles, a.s.sisted by the others.

Summer days provided uninterrupted opportunity for her talents. She turned the playhouse into a theatre, and organized a supporting company.

Sometimes Miss Watts a.s.sisted with the scenario, sometimes Isabelle was sole author or adapter.

It was the year when she was eight, and just beginning to read d.i.c.kens, that she prepared a presentation of "A Tale of Two Cities." She worked at it with great enthusiasm for fully a week. Then she appeared in her mother's room.

"Max, can I have lemonade and cake for the audience this afternoon?"

"What audience?"

"At the Isabelle Theatre."

"Who's coming?"

"Everybody. Parents and relatives. I rode around to all the houses this morning and issued the invitations. They all accepted."

"Why didn't you consult me before you invited the neighbourhood in?"--hotly.

"I thought you'd kick about the refreshments."

"If you ever do this again you will get no refreshments and I will send your friends home."

"They're yours too. Martin Christiansen said he would not miss it for a kingdom."

"You call him Mr. Christiansen, when you speak of him, Miss Impudence.

What do you intend to do to entertain all these people?"

"'A Tale of Two Cities,' by Charles d.i.c.kens."

"In the playhouse?"

"Yes; it will be crowded, but people can sit on the floor."

"You can't ask people to sit on the floor in that stuffy box!"

"Well, I asked you to let me use the garage and you wouldn't."

"So that's why you asked all these people."

"That's only one reason. Matthews and Henry can carry chairs to the garage this morning. We can move the stage our own selves. The play begins at two."

"Hottest time in the day."

"You don't have to come."

"Who's in your show?"

"I am the star, and Tommy Page is Carton. He's no good because he giggles, but Mr. Christiansen wouldn't play it. I asked him first."

Mrs. Bryce laughed.

"I suppose you could do with ice cream and cake."

"We could"--promptly.

"What are you going to wear?"

"I have several costumes. I took your velvet opera coat for the rehearsal. Do you mind?"

"Mind? Certainly I mind. Don't you dare touch anything in my closet."

"All right," replied her daughter, coolly; "Tommy brought over his mother's best coat in case you were huffy."

"I shall call Madge Page up this minute and tell her."

"Very well, but if you do, I'll announce before the curtain goes up, that because of _traitors_ there are no costumes."

She saw that that shot took effect.

"You'd better let it alone, Max. I've got it all thought out," she added.

"I'd like to spank you!" Max exploded.

At the door Isabelle turned.

"Don't you care anything about ART?" she demanded.

CHAPTER SEVEN

As Mrs. Bryce and Wally came out from luncheon, they beheld the first consignment of friends and relatives, a motor car full from the Pages.

"We've come to the matinee," laughed Mrs. Page.

"It's ridiculous of you," retorted her hostess.

"I would not have missed it for anything," said Martin Christiansen.

"I hear she invited you to play Carton," jeered Wally.

"I never was more flattered in my life. But I persuaded her that I was not the type."