15 Grand Meeting
A grand meeting was called to discuss the pantomime, the casting of the characters, and the times of rehearsal¹. Darrell had finished her writing, and Irene had completed the music. Everything was ready for rehearsal.
All the fifth-formers attended the meeting in the North Tower common-room. It was very crowded. A fire burned in the big fire-place, for it was now October and the nights were cold.
Moira was in the chair. Catherine—rather a quiet and sulky Catherine, not quite so free with her beaming smile—was at her left hand, ready to provide her with anything she wanted. The committee sat on chairs on each side of the table.
Moira banged on the table with a book, and shouted for silence. She got it. People always automatically obeyed Moira! She had that kind of voice, crisp and curt².
The meeting began. Darrell was called upon to explain the pantomime and the characters in it. She was also asked to read the first act.
Very flushed and excited she gave the listening fifth-formers a short summary of the pantomime. They listened with much approval. It sounded very good.
Then, stammering³ a little at first, Darrell read the first act of the pantomime, just as she had written it, dialogue, songs, stage directions and everything. There was a deep silence as she read on.
“That’s the end of the act,” she said at last, raising her eyes half-shyly, not absolutely certain if she had carried her listeners with her or not.
There was no doubt about that a second later. The girls stamped and clapped and cheered. Darrell was so pleased that she felt hot with joy, and had to wipe her forehead dry.
Moira banged for silence.
“Well, you’ve all heard what a jolly good play Darrell and Sally have got together,” she said. “Darrell did most of it—but Sally was splendid too. You can tell it will bring the house down if we can produce it properly.”
“Who’s going to produce it?” called Betty.
“I am,” said Moira, promptly⁴. “Any objections?”
There were quite a lot of doubtful faces. Nobody really doubted Moira’s ability to produce a pantomime—but they did doubt her talent for getting the best out of people. She rubbed them up the wrong way so much.
“I think it would be better to have two producers,” said somebody.

分享到：