_Chapter X_ VICTORY FOR HELEN
The rest of the week slipped away quickly. The harrowing experience inLittle Deer valley became a memory and the seniors concentrated uponwinning roles in the class play.
By Saturday morning the snow had vanished, the temperature was abovefreezing and the grass was starting to turn green--such are the miraclesof the early spring.
Janet and Helen rehearsed their tryout parts so many times that Janetfound herself mumbling her lines in her sleep.
Most of the seniors assembled promptly at 9:30 o'clock that morning forthe tryouts. A few of them, feeling that they had no chance, did notcome, but Janet noticed that Margie and Cora were well to the front ofthe room where Miss Williams would be sure to see them.
"I want you to do your best this morning for on your work now dependswhether you will have a place in the play," she warned them, and Janetfelt a little twinge. School was near an end and the senior play was herlast chance. Of course it wasn't as important to her as it was to Helen,but it would be nice to have the part of Abbie, for Abbie was such adelightfully irresponsible character.
Miss Williams called for tryouts for minor roles first and Helen sent ananxious glance toward Janet and nodded toward the hall.
They slipped out of the assembly quietly and Helen voiced her fears.
"Perhaps I'd better try for one of these minor parts as well as for thelead. Then if I don't get to play Gale Naughton, I may win another role."
"I wouldn't," counseled Janet. "Concentrate on the main part. I thinkyou'll make it all right."
"I wish I had your confidence."
"I'm not confident about winning a part myself, but I'm sure you will,"replied Janet. "Let's go back and watch the tryouts."
"Perhaps I ought to go over my lines again?"
"Nonsense. You can even speak them backwards. If you work on them anymore you may do that, which would be fatal. Let's see the mistakes of theothers and then we'll know we aren't the world's worst actresses."
Miss Williams was conscientious. She wanted every boy and girl who felthe had a chance to have the utmost opportunity and she worked with themcarefully. At noon she was fairly well down the cast, but the four majorroles remained, two for the boys and two for the girls, including theparts of Gale and Abbie Naughton which Helen and Janet sought.
"We've been at this long enough," announced Miss Williams as the noonwhistles sounded down town. "Everyone take a rest, have lunch, and beback here at one o'clock. Then we'll go on until we finish. For those whohave been assigned parts, the first rehearsal will be Monday night at7:15 o'clock. I'll expect you to have your first act lines memorized."
The group broke up, some of them going home to have lunch and othersstopping at the luncheonette of a nearby drug store. Janet and Helen wereamong this group, which included Cora and Margie. The latter, seated withtwo companions, appeared confident that they would win the leading roles,but Janet overheard a spiteful remark by Cora.
"Of course, I haven't the pull Helen has, for her father's a famousdirector," she said, and Janet saw Helen's face flush.
"That's isn't fair," said Helen. "You know Dad wouldn't use any influenceto get a part for me."
"So does Cora. She's saying that just to be mean."
When they reassembled it was a small group, Jim Barron, Ed Rickey and twoother boys who were trying for the male leads, Cora, Margie, Helen, Janetand Miss Williams.
The instructor worked with the boys first and it was evident that Jim andEd were to have the major parts. In less than half an hour they wereassigned, Ed getting the lead and Jim the second role. If Janet won thepart of Abbie, Jim would be playing opposite her. That would be fun, forJim was wholesome and pleasant.
After the boys had departed, Miss Williams turned to the girls.
"Now we're down to the two major parts, for the play hinges on thecharacters of Gale and Abbie." She looked at the four hopeful, anxiousfaces.
"I want Cora and Margie first. Take your places and give me aninterpretation of the action you think should go with the lines you havememorized."
Cora, dark-eyed and confident, stepped to the platform. Margie, a wispy,blonde girl, followed. Both girls used excellent diction, spoke clearlyand with feeling, but somehow Cora's work lacked a convincing touch.Perhaps she was trying too hard and Janet felt her spirits rising.
Helen should walk away with the role unless she got scared when shestepped on the platform. But Janet was more than a little concerned aboutMargie. The blonde senior was doing an excellent job, putting just theright amount of enthusiasm into the role. There was nothing forced. Everyword and gesture seemed spontaneous and lines that had sounded silly intheir own rehearsals were very logical and convincing when they cametumbling from Margie's lips.
Janet smiled grimly. Of course she wanted the part, but even more, shewanted Helen to win the role of Gale.
Cora and Margie finished the part Miss Williams had assigned, and lookedanxiously toward the dramatics teacher.
"That was very nicely done," said Miss Williams. "Janet and Helen nextand put plenty of feeling into your interpretations."
From the platform Janet could look down on Cora and Margie. There was athin sneer on Cora's lips and Janet felt Helen, standing close besideher, tremble.
"Ready?" she asked. Helen nodded.
Janet's lines opened their brief tryout roles. She spoke them clearly,but somehow the spark needed to add vigor and brilliance was lacking. Shewas thinking too much about Helen.
The lines and action snapped to Helen and she picked them up instantly.Janet thrilled. Helen had forgotten Cora and Margie. She had forgotteneven Miss Williams. She was living her part. She was Gale Naughton, thedark, lovely heroine of "The Chinese Image." The lines came smoothly andwithout effort.
Then they were through, a little breathless, their hearts beatingrapidly. Janet was the first to turn toward Miss Williams and before theinstructor spoke, she knew Helen had made a deep impression with herinterpretation of Gale.
"Splendid. I liked that very much," said Miss Williams, who was not givento compliments. "If you'll be good enough to wait a few minutes, I'll beback."
"Will you announce the winners then?" asked Cora, her dark cheeks flushedwith excitement and her brown eyes glowing.
"Yes," promised Miss Williams, hurrying from the room.
"Why do you suppose she left to make her tabulations?" asked Helen, hervoice low.
"Probably didn't want us to know just how she rated us. She's got apercentage system all her own she uses in casting parts. It won't be longnow," said Janet.
"The sooner the better. I'm all fluttery inside."
"Maybe you think Cora and Margie aren't. They can't even sit still."
Which was true. Cora and Margie were walking restlessly up and down thefar side of the assembly, looking anxiously toward the double doorwaythrough which Miss Williams would return.
Five minutes slipped away. Then another five and it stretched out intofifteen minutes before the quick footsteps of the dramatics instructorcould be heard in the hallway. Involuntarily Cora and Margie joined Janetand Helen at the front of the large assembly room.
Miss Williams came in briskly, a slip of paper in her right hand, andJanet, who was nearest, saw two names written on the slip.
"Sorry I kept you so long, but I'm trying to be very fair in making thefinal selections," explained Miss Williams.
"Go on, go on," burst out Cora. "Who won?"
Miss Williams frowned.
"Well, I'm sorry, Cora."
The dark-haired senior interrupted her sharply.
"You mean I didn't win?"
"I mean that Helen gave a more convincing interpretation of the part. Shegets the leading role."
Cora's eyes flashed.
"I might have known that. Too bad I don't have a father with someinfluence."
Cora picked up her coat. "Come on, Margie. We've just wasted our time."
"I'd stay if I were you, Margie," said Miss Williams. "What I have to sayshould interest you."
And in those words Janet knew the decision. Helen had the lead and Margiewas to get the second role. She was out, but at least she could take itwithout creating a scene like Cora.