"The very thing," they agreed.

The stage setting was arranged and the play continued. Betty const.i.tuted herself the musician and sang: "Tell me where is fancy bred, etc.," to a tune all her own.

An hour pa.s.sed and they started the fourth act.

"I don't feel a bit like a judge," announced Lois, "and, Miss Porter, you ought to have a beard, but never mind. Let's see; this is the court room and-"

"The judge ought to sit in a prominent place," interrupted Betty. "I know-a chair up there." And she swung a light cane visitor's chair on the English room's dignified and highly polished oak desk.

The stage ready, the scene began. _Ba.s.sanio_ pleaded with _Shylock_ for _Antonio's_ life, but _Shylock_ gloatingly demanded his pound of flesh.

_Portia_, as the learned judge, made answer.

"A pound of that same merchant's flesh is thine: The Court awards it, and the law doth give it."

_Shylock_ rubbed his hands together joyously and gurgled: "Most rightful judge!"

_Portia_: "And you must cut this flesh from off his breast: The law allows it, and the court awards it."

_Shylock_: "Most learned judge! A sentence! Come, prepare!"

Then Lois rose and, holding up a warning arm, began with suppressed excitement, while they all watched her, intent on the coming speech.

_Portia_:

"Tarry a little; there is something else!

This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood,- The words expressly are, a pound of flesh: Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of-"

"Candy," called a voice from the hall, and in a second the door opened and Uncle Roddy, preceded by Mrs. Baird, entered.

Lois nearly toppled off the desk in her surprise and Miss Porter, who had fallen, groveling on the floor, at the words "no jot of blood,"

scrambled to her feet with a very red face.

"Uncle Roddy!" exclaimed Polly, "where did you come from?" And she threw her arms around his neck.

"From Buffalo, my dear," answered Uncle Roddy. "I found I could stop over here for a couple of hours on my way home. I am so glad I did, for I wouldn't have missed this for the world. Please introduce me to the rest of the company."

Mrs. Baird made the introductions and then turned to leave them. Before she closed the door she said:

"Girls, if you have been at this all the afternoon, I think you might be excused from study hour." Then to Polly she added: "I'll send tea to the reception-room at once."

Of course Uncle Roddy insisted on "the companies" joining them for tea.

Miss Porter had to decline the invitation on account of a special cla.s.s at 4:30, but Betty and Lois accepted with pleasure.

After they were comfortably settled in the reception-room, Uncle Roddy asked:

"Miss Farwell, are you, by any chance, related to Doctor Walter Farwell?"

"I should think so," laughed Lois. "I'm his daughter. Do you know him?"

"I used to go to college with him. We were great pals, then, but after we graduated he went West and I went to England, and we lost track of each other."

"I'll write him about you this very night," answered Lois excitedly.

"Isn't it fun to think you know each other?"

Uncle Roddy smiled. "I'd like to see old Walter again," he said.

The tea arrived and Polly served. Every one did justice to it and the hot b.u.t.tered toast.

"How long had you and Mrs. Baird been listening at the door, Mr.

Pendleton?" inquired Betty as she dropped four lumps of sugar into her cup.

"Long enough to feel sure that you will make a very great actress one of these days," laughed Uncle Roddy.

"Actress!" she exclaimed, taken by surprise. "Certainly not! I intend to write."

The secret was out and Betty, who had never intended telling any one her one great wish, was terribly confused.

Uncle Roddy, however, was deeply interested, and he talked books with her for the rest of his visit. He was greatly surprised that any one so young should have read and appreciated so much.

Polly and Lois joined in the conversation every now and then, but contented themselves most of the time with the candy that Uncle Roddy had brought, which, by the way, was five pounds instead of one.

When his time was up, the three girls escorted him to the door.

"I've had a splendid time," he told them. "I'll surely send you that book," he added to Betty, and then turning to Lois he called: "Don't forget to give my regards to your father."

After a last kiss and hug for Polly, he closed the front door, and the girls watched him jump into his cab.

"Do you know, Polly," announced Betty, as they returned to the corridor, "I adore that uncle of yours."

"So do I," agreed Lois; "he's a duck, and I'm so glad he and Dad know each other."

Polly smiled happily.

"Funny thing," she replied, "but do you know, so do I."

As the carriage jogged through the mud on its way to the station, Uncle Roddy decided that visiting and having tea with three very interesting and lively young ladies was much more entertaining then he had expected.

CHAPTER VII

BETTY'S DUCKING

Betty was bored. The impatient look in her eyes and the disgusted expression of her mouth could be described by no other word.

She leaned dejectedly against a big tree on the edge of the pond and watched the girls skate round and round in dizzy circles. A white boy's sweater enveloped her slender body and accentuated the forlorn droop of her shoulders. Her white berry cap was pulled rakishly over one ear.