Part 24 (2/2)

”You lucky dear!” Agnes said. ”Well! at least the Kenways will be represented on the programme, if I can't do anything myself.”

Others, besides her immediate girl friends, said abroad that Agnes Kenway should be Innocent Delight. She was just fitted for the part.

Miss s.h.i.+pman, Agnes' old teacher, joined Miss Lederer in pet.i.tioning that the second oldest Corner House girl be given the part instead of Trix Severn. Trix, as a very p.r.o.nounced brunette, would much better be given a part like Tom-o'-Dreams or Starlight.

But Mr. Marks was obdurate. None of the girls who had entered into the reprehensible prank on the way back from the basket ball game at Fleeting could have any part in the performance of _The Carnation Countess_.

”The farmer wrote me of their stealing the berries in such a strain that I fear he may take legal action against the parents of the foolish girls. It would be a lasting disgrace for any of the names of these girls to appear on our programme and in court proceedings at the same time,” added the princ.i.p.al, though smiling at this conceit. ”I do not see how I can change my ruling.”

But Agnes could not understand Mr. Bob Buckham. His letter to Mr. Marks must have been really vindictive; yet he did not seem to be at all the sort of person who would be so stern and uncompromising.

Just what Neale had done toward getting his girl chum out of ”the mess,”

as he called it, Agnes did not know. At this time Neale suffered something which quite took up his attention.

Those trousers that were too long!

Sat.u.r.day of this very busy week came, and Agnes, in dusting the sitting-room, found Neale's new gray trousers, neatly folded, on Ruth's sewing-table.

”Oh, Ruthie!” she said. ”You never fixed these pants.”

”I'm going to,” her sister replied, and sat right down, there and then, carefully ripped the hem at the bottom of each trouser-leg, cut off two inches and st.i.tched a new hem very carefully, putting back the stiffening and sewing on the ”heel-strap” in a very workmanlike manner.

Agnes ran to the kitchen for an iron and pressed the bottom of the trouser-legs to conform with the tailor's creases. ”There! that's done,”

she said, ”and done right.”

It most certainly was done, whether right or not, the sequel was to show. After supper Neale started for home and Agnes gave him the new trousers.

”I suppose you'll want to wear that fancy suit of yours to church to-morrow morning,” she said.

”Bet you!” he replied cheerfully. ”Did you cut 'em down?”

”Ruthie did,” said Agnes.

”Good for her! Tell her 'Thanks'!”

As he went through the front hall Aunt Sarah put her head over the bal.u.s.trade and asked:

”Did you get them pants, boy?”

She never by any possibility called Neale by his right name, and her voice now was just as sharp as ever.

”Yes, ma'am--thank you,” Neale said politely.

In the kitchen Mrs. MacCall said, with a smile: ”The pants all right, Neale?”

”Sure they are,” he declared, as he went out. Then he thought: ”Dear me!

seems as though everybody has a lot of interest in my new clothes.”

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