Part 42 (2/2)
In truth, as a whole, the Milton school pupils did well in the play. The professor's fears were not fulfilled. Milton people did not by any means, laugh the actors out of town.
Instead, the packed house of the first night was repeated on the second evening. The matinee on the third day, which was given at popular prices, was overcrowded--they had to stop selling admission tickets.
While the third and last evening saw a repet.i.tion of the crowds at the other performances.
The local papers gave much s.p.a.ce each day to the benefit, and their criticisms of the amateur players made the hearts of boys and girls alike, glad.
The reports from the ticket office were, after all, the main thing. It was soon seen that a goodly sum would be made for the Women's and Children's Hospital. In the end it amounted to more than three thousand dollars.
”Why, _that_ will give the hospital a new lease of life! Dr. Forsyth said so,” Agnes declared at the dinner table the day after the last performance.
”It will pay Mrs. Eland's salary for a long time,” Tess remarked, with a sigh of satisfaction.
”I don't know but that sounds rather selfish, after all, dear,” Ruth said, smiling at sober little Tess.
”What does, Sister?”
”It seems that all _you_ care about the hospital is that Mrs. Eland shall get her wages.”
”Yes. I s'pose that's my special interest in it,” admitted Tess, slowly.
”But then, if my Mrs. Eland is there as matron, the hospital is bound to do a great deal of good.”
”Oh! wisdom of the ancients!” laughed Agnes.
”Quite true, my dear,” commented Mrs. MacCall. ”Your Mrs. Eland is a fine woman. I've always said that.”
”Everybody doesn't agree with you,” said Ruth, smiling.
”Who doesn't like Mrs. Eland?” demanded Tess, quite excited.
”Our neighbor, Sammy Pinkney,” Ruth replied, laughing again. ”I heard him talking about her this very morning, and what he said was not complimentary.”
Tess was quite flushed. ”Sammy gave us Billy b.u.mps,” she said sternly, ”and Billy is a very good goat.”
”Except when he eats up poor Seneca Sprague's hair,” chuckled Agnes.
”He is a _very_ good goat,” repeated Tess. ”But if Sammy says my Mrs.
Eland isn't the very nicest lady there is--well--he can take his old goat back--so now!”
”What did he say, Ruthie?” asked Agnes.
”I heard him say that if Mrs. Eland nursed Miss Pepperill so well that she could come back to teach school, when he got to be a pirate he would sail 'way off with Mrs. Eland somewhere and make her walk the plank!”
”If he does such a thing,” cried Dot, excitedly, ”he _can_ take back his old goat! You know, I don't believe Mrs. Eland could walk a plank, anyway. She isn't an acrobat, like Neale.”
”If Sammy Pinkney tries to be a pirate, and carries my Mrs. Eland off in any such horrid way,” declared Tess with much energy for her, ”I hope his mother spanks him good!”
And with the hilarious laughter that welcomed this speech from Swiftwing, the hummingbird, let us bid farewell to our four Corner House girls.
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