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Then Little Bo-Peep appeared fast asleep, lying on some fresh hay from the Brownlie barn. And what a charming picture Dorothy did make! She wore a light-blue skirt, with a dark bodice, and a big, soft straw hat, tossed back on her head, did not hide the beauty of her abundant locks. Her crook had fallen from her hand, and rested at the bottom of the little mound of hay.
But the idea of a contest was quickly taken up by the others, so that soon the party had paired off, and racing with the strings of laurel became a matter of enjoyment, and not a question of work. Dorothy took her place with Tom; Agnes Sinclair was with Ned; Nat went to work with Eva Brownlie, and Tavia sat beside Roland. How quickly the fingers flew!
Brownlie, in spite of his protests, insisted on calling a doctor. Dorothy wanted to cry. She felt it was somehow her fault. If only Tom had not interfered! But of course he meant no harm. Yet she knew how Ned felt. "Oh, dear," she sighed aloud, "I did feel that something would happen!" "I'm sorry," said Ned feebly. "I was a goose to snap it so, Doro."
Brownlie has offered her house, and I am to do most of the coaching." This last was uttered with a note of dismay to coach young people did not seem a very delightful task, so many difficulties being sure to come up unexpectedly. "And we are to select the scenes," went on Mrs. White, "so you may start in to think of Mother Goose just as soon as you like.
Nat insisted on being "Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater," and wanted to have the privilege of selecting the pretty Eva Brownlie to put in the pumpkin shell, "for," argued Nat, "that is the only way any fellow will ever be able to keep the wily Eva." The character of "Old King Cole" was assigned to Ned, with the instructions that he should get his "fiddlers three."
It was a delightful representation, and Dorothy seemed actually painted upon the canvas, so naturally did she sleep. Mrs. Brownlie nodded approvingly to Mrs. White. Dorothy's picture was not only pretty, but it artistically perfect.
She was pleased delighted with Mary, and the girls waiting to be admitted to the "hall" exchanged knowing glances when Dorothy told them the room was ready. Besides the pictures there was to be music the Brownlie girls played the violin beautifully, and Dorothy was an acknowledged pianist; then Agnes Sinclair was to entertain with monologues, and the boys were to have a vocal double quartette.
Finally all was arranged, or rearranged, and the hour for the play was almost at hand. No more delightful weather could have been wished for. It was clear and cold, while outside a big silvery moon threw a fairy-like illumination over the scene, and filtered in through the big windows of the drawing-room of the home of Mrs. Justin Brownlie. Dorothy laughed her light, happy laugh.
The Brownlie girls, Eva and Edith, understood the remark Dorothy made as she entered, and so left the parlors entirely at her disposal, even locking the door from the hall and throwing open the library to accommodate any one who might come before Mary's "practice" was over.
As it was, the big candlestick did topple over just as the curtain bell sounded. Then Edith Brownlie looked decidedly miserable as "The Queen was in the Kitchen, Eating Bread and Honey." She liked Tom Scott everybody knew that and now Tom, in addition to having lately favored Dorothy, had kissed Agnes!
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