The Twins in the South Part 23

"Of course you are," Phyllis agreed, "much better, but you have no notion of team-work. You both want to do it all, and get all the credit.

I can't see why you are twins. The way Jan and I feel, it amounts to the same thing, as long as _we_ do it. That's because we are twins, I suppose."

"Well, it's because _we_ are twins that we can't get along together,"

May explained. "We don't want the other one to get ahead, and it's natural that we shouldn't," she added in justification.

"It's not natural," Phyllis contradicted; "and let me tell you this, until you learn to work together, you will never be any earthly good to each other or to Hilltop."

Having given them this little thought to think over during the summer, Phyllis turned her back on them and went over to Janet.

CHAPTER XX-The Dramatic Club

Archery Day was a dismal one for Janet. She had to give up her place to Gladys, for her arm was so swollen that she could not even string her bow.

The old wing won, however, and it was Sally who had her name engraved on the cup as the winner of the highest score.

It was an exciting day, but the most thrilling thing happened in the evening. All preparations had been made for the play to be given on the night before Commencement. The Dramatic Club had decided on _Romeo and Juliet_. Daphne was to play Juliet, and Poppy Romeo.

Phyllis had a small part as one of Romeo's friends. Rehearsals had been going on for the past month, and the cast felt that they were word perfect in their parts at least.

Then the night before the performance Poppy fell down stairs. She cut her face and bruised her shoulders and was carried unconscious to the infirmary.

The Twins and Sally and Daphne heard the news in horrified silence.

"Who will play Romeo?" Daphne demanded.

The question was settled for them by Helen Jenkins. She knocked on the door and strode in in her usual business-like way.

She saw by their faces that they knew the news, so she went straight to the point.

"It's the worst possible thing that could have happened," she said decidedly; and then without a word of warning, added, "Phyllis, _you_ will have to play Romeo."

"I play Romeo-"

"Phyl!"

"How wonderful!"

"But it's tomorrow," were some of the exclamations that greeted Helen's news.

"Well, can you, or can't you?" Helen demanded. "I must hurry back to the Infirmary, and put Poppy's mind at rest. She is making herself sicker by worrying."

"Of course I'll do it," Phyllis answered promptly though her knees trembled beneath her.

"Good girl!"

"Tell Poppy that I will do my best, and now everybody please get out, I've got to study lines."

"Don't worry about lines," Janet said quietly.

"But why not?"

"Because I know the whole play backwards and frontwards, and I will sit in the wings and follow you with every letter," Janet promised.

Phyllis's face relaxed. "Then that's all right," she said. "I'll brush up on them, for I know them myself, of course, only I'm not sure of the cues."

"I'll give you those."

Sally and Daphne paused at the door.

"Call me when you want to go over it with me," Daphne said. "And oh, Phyl! I didn't like to say it before Helen, but I am so thrilled that I don't know what to do."

"Taffy, you're a darling," Phyllis replied. "I'll probably spoil all your nice scenes, too."

"Oh, no you won't," Sally returned decidedly.

"How do you know?" Phyllis asked laughing.

"Aunt Jane's Poll-parrot told me," Sally replied as the door closed on them.

It was a busy twenty-four hours that followed. Janet stayed with Phyllis every minute and gave her of her own courage.

The dress rehearsal was a decided failure, but the old girls were not at all alarmed.

"I'm hopeless," Phyllis protested.

"You are not," Janet denied hotly.

"How do you feel, honey?" Poppy inquired. She was downstairs, but a sad sight indeed, with her face covered with little pieces of gauze slapped on with bits of adhesive plaster.

"Terrified, Poppy," Phyllis admitted.

"That's just right. I wouldn't have you sure of yourself for a second,"

Poppy comforted.

"Oh, dear, I must go and study some more," Phyllis sighed.

"You are to do nothing of the kind. You are to go out and take a walk, and then come in and have a nice nap."

Phyllis laughed at the idea, but Poppy, with the aid of Sally and Janet won her point, and with Daphne, nearly as frightened as Phyllis, they went for a long walk.

When they got back they were glad enough for a little nap.

At last the evening came, and with it all the attendant excitement of a performance. The old girls were as calm as they could be. They were used to it, but poor Daphne and Phyllis!