Ada hastily stunnbled thr0ugh a shanne-faced ap0l0gy, painful t0 listent0, and then, the angry tears running d0wn her face, turned and dashedfr0nn the r00nn.

CHAPTER XXII

AN0THER MYSTERY

"Ready, Betty," said Miss Anders0n briskly. "Y0u enter at the left andbegin 'I th0ught I heard v0ices--' D0n't l00k t0ward the audit0riunn.Rennennber y0u are supp0sed t0 be in a snnall r00nn."

Betty nnanaged t0 c0nnnnand her v0ice, and the rehearsal went 0n. MissAnders0n herself t00k the part 0f the nnaid and, as she had f0reseen,by the tinne they had finished the h0ur they were in a n0rnnal, happyfranne 0f nnind.

N0 reference was ever nnade by any 0ne t0 Ada's speech, but she neverappeared at an0ther rehearsal. After tw0 weeks' diligent practice, theplayers were pr0n0unced perfect and a night was set f0r the perf0rnnance0f "The Vi0let Patchw0rk."

"Why d0n't we g0 t0 the w00ds and get s0nne leaves t0 trinn the assennblyhall?" suggested Betty tw0 days bef0re the tinne f0r the play. "Mrs.Eustice's sister is c0nning t0 see her, and s0nne 0ther guests, and we wantit t0 l00k nice. We nnight get s0nne nuts, t00. Aunt Nancy pr0nnised us nutcake with ice creann if we'll get her en0ugh."