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Page 21
"I have an idea!" exclaimed Hippy.
"Impossible," said Reddy. "No one would ever accuse you of such a thing."
"Be silent, fellow," commanded Hippy. "I will not brook such idle
babbling." He strutted up and down the room, his chest inflated and one
hand over his heart, presenting such a ridiculous figure that he raised a
general laugh.
"Speak on, fat one. I promise not to make any more remarks," said Reddy.
"I propose," said Hippy, pausing in his march, "that we give an impromptu
vaudeville show for the benefit of Miss Grace Harlowe, once an active
member of this happy band, but now laid on the shelf--couch, I mean--for
repairs."
"Done," was the unanimous reply.
"Now," continued Hippy, "get cozy, and the show will begin. Miss Nora
O'Malley will open the show by singing 'Peggy Brady,' as only an Irish
colleen of her pretensions can."
Nora rose, looked toward Jessica, who went at once to the piano to
accompany her, and sang the song demanded with a fascinating brogue that
always brought forth the applause of her friends. She responded to an
encore. Then Anne's turn came, and she recited "Lasca." Hippy next favored
the company with a comic song, which caused them to shout with laughter.
Jessica did her Greek dance for which she was famous. The performance
ended with an up-to-date version of "Antony and Cleopatra," enacted by
David, Reddy and Hippy, with dialogue and stage business of which
Shakespeare never dreamed.
It was a product of Hippy's fertile brain, and the boys had been
rehearsing it with great glee, in view of appearing in it, on some fitting
occasion, before the girls.
David, gracefully draped in the piano cover, represented Egypt's queen,
and languished upon Marc Antony's shoulder in the most approved manner.
Reddy, as the Roman conqueror left nothing to be desired. The star actor
of the piece, however, was Hippy, who played the deadly asp. He writhed
and wriggled in a manner that would have filled a respectable serpent with
envy, and in the closing scene bit the unfortunate Cleopatra so venomously
that she howled for mercy, and instead of dying gracefully, arose and
engaged in battle with his snakeship.
Grace forgot her sprained ankle and laughed until the tears rolled down
her cheeks.
"You funny, funny boys," she gasped, "how did you ever think of anything
so ridiculous!"
"Hippy perpetrated the outrage," said David "and we agreed to help him
produce it. We have been practising it for two weeks, only we don't
generally end up with a scuffle. I hope you will pardon us, Grace, but the
desire to shake that husky Egyptian reptile was irresistible."
"There is nothing to pardon," replied Grace, "and we have only thanks to
offer for the fun you have given us."
"It was indeed a notable performance," agreed Nora.
"Girls and boys," said Anne, "it is almost ten o'clock and Grace ought to
be in bed. I move that we adjourn."
"Second the motion," said David. "We have been very selfish in keeping
poor Grace up when she is ill."
"Poor Grace is glad you came, and isn't a bit tired," replied Grace,
looking fondly at her friends. "You must all come to see me as often as
you can while I am laid up. I shall be pretty lonely for a few days."
The young folks departed, singing "Good Night, Ladies" as they trooped
down the walk.
"What a pleasure it is to have such dear, good friends," thought Grace as
she lay back on her couch after they had gone. "They are well worth all
the loyalty I can give them."
She went to sleep that night unconscious of how soon her loyalty to one of
them would be put to the test.
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