Produced by Stephen Hutcheson and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
[Illustration: _Randy was, as Peggy had suspected, a fine dancer_]
(c) GROSSET & DUNLAP, INC., 1962 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
1 Dramatic Dialogue 1 2 Dramatic Decision 9 3 In the Wings 20 4 Two Auditions 33 5 Starting a New Role 46 6 Cast of Characters 57 7 The Biggest Stage 69 8 First Act 77 9 Theater Party 89 10 Peggy Produces a Plot 102 11 Rehearsals 110 12 Intermission 119 13 The Hidden City 127 14 The Hidden Theater 135 15 The Stage Door 145 16 Understudies for Danger 154 17 Backstage Fright 160 18 Forecast--Fair! 171
"Of course, this is no surprise to us," Thomas Lane said to his daughter Peggy, who perched tensely on the edge of a kitchen stool. "We could hardly have helped knowing that you've wanted to be an actress since you were out of your cradle. It's just that decisions like this can't be made quickly."
"But, Dad!" Peggy almost wailed. "You just finished saying yourself that I've been thinking about this and wanting it for years! You can't follow that by calling it a quick decision!" She turned to her mother, her hazel eyes flashing under a mass of dark chestnut curls. "Mother, you understand, don't you?"
Mrs. Lane smiled gently and placed her soft white hand on her daughter's lean brown one. "Of course I understand, Margaret, and so does your father. We both want to do what's best for you, not to stand in your way. The only question is whether the time is right, or if you should wait longer."
"Wait! Mother--Dad--I'm years behind already! The theater is full of beginners a year and even two years younger than I am, and girls of my age have lots of acting credits already. Besides, what is there to wait for?"
Peggy's father put down his coffee cup and leaned back in the kitchen chair until it tilted on two legs against the wall behind him. He took his time before answering. When he finally spoke, his voice was warm and slow.
"Peg, I don't want to hold up your career. I don't have any objections to your wanting to act. I think--judging from the plays I've seen you in at high school and college--that you have a real talent. But I thought that if you would go on with college for three more years and get your degree, you would gain so much worth-while knowledge that you'd use and enjoy for the rest of your life--"