"Louise? Get up! The act's over. Run out of the way. Stop--help me with this, as you're here."
Obediently the child scrambled to her feet. She gripped an armful of curtain, and trailed across the stage in Alwynne's wake. Till the curtains rose on the final act, she trotted after her meekly, helping where she could.
With King John embarked on his opening speech, Alwynne drew breath again. She ran her eye over the actors, palpitant at their several entrances, saw the prompter still established with book and lantern, and decided that all could go on without her for a moment. She put her hand on Louise's shoulder and drew her into the passage.
"What were you doing just now? Were you scared? Was it stage fright?"
"I was dead. I had jumped, you know. I was finding out how it would feel."
"I liked it--it was so quiet. I'd forgotten about shifting the scenery. I'm sorry. Does it--did it hurt him, do you think, the falling?"
Alwynne put both her hands on the thin shoulders and shook her gently.
"Louise! Wake up! You're not Prince Arthur now! Gracious me, child--it's only a play. You mustn't take it so seriously."
Louise made no answer; she did not seem to understand.
Alwynne was struck by a new idea. She took the child's face in her hand and turned it to the gaslight.
"Did I see you at lunch, Louise? I don't believe I did. Do you know you're a very naughty child to take advantage of the confusion?"
"Miss Durand, I had to learn. I was forgetting it all. I slipped the last two lines as it was--you know, the 'My uncle's spirit is in these stones' bit. I wasn't hungry."
"And you were very late, too. What did you have for breakfast?"
An agitated face peered round the corner.
"Miss Durand, which side do I come on from? Hubert's nearly off."
"The left." Alwynne hurried to the rescue, dragging Louise after her. She hustled the anxious courier to his entrance, twitched his mantle into position, and saw him safely on the stage. Then she turned to Louise.
"Louise, will you please go to the kitchen and ask Mrs. Random for two cups of tea and some buns--at once. There is some tea made, I know. I'm tired and thirsty--two cups, please. Bring it to me here, and don't run into any one with your hands full. Be quick--I'm dying for some."