Dorothy had sung two songs very sweetly, Nancy had danced for them, and
had charmed them with her grace, Nina and Jeanette had played a duet,
and now, yes, the curtain was rising!

Every one leaned forward to catch the first glimpse of the
stage-setting, and in the midst of the excitement, a small, prim figure
entered the room, and made its way toward the only seat which was still
unoccupied. It was beside Flossie's Uncle Harry, and as the woman took
the seat he turned, and then moved to make extra room for her.

"That _must_ be Arabella's Aunt Matilda!" he whispered to his wife.

"Hush-sh-sh!" she whispered.

"It not only _must_ be, but it _is_!" he declared, and he offered her
his programme.

Aunt Matilda was not wholly pleased with his courtesy, and had half a
mind to refuse it, but few could resist his winning smile, and
reluctantly she kept it.

"Aunt Matilda looks as if she were angry because she is not included in
the dialogue," whispered Uncle Harry, to which his lovely young wife
replied:

"She'll hear you, if you aren't careful; now _do_ give your attention to
the stage."

"I'm simply _all_ ears," he whispered, and at that moment, the children
ran on, entering from either side.