CHAPTER XII
"As You Like It"
The more Mrs. Burton dwelt upon the idea of giving a play for therecreation fund of the soldiers, the more the idea pleased her. Upongoing more deeply into the subject she discovered that an effort wasbeing made to secure funds for the building of a theater in each warcamp in the United States.
To initiate the movement and to be the first contributor to the fundhere in their immediate neighborhood, Mrs. Burton realized would giveher great pleasure. If her fellow players were offering to act at thesetheaters, traveling from one to the other in a regular circuit duringthe coming winter, then surely the theaters should be provided!
Moreover, after having first suffered a natural objection to acting withnovices, Mrs. Burton changed her point of view to the extent ofconsidering that it might be rather charming to play with her own CampFire girls in a comedy fresh and sparkling as Shakespeare's "As You LikeIt." The play itself was in the spirit of a summer vacation, full of theoutdoors and delicious improbabilities. Besides the effort would be avaluable experience for her Camp Fire girls.
Captain Burton had written, expressing not only his approval of thesuggestion, but a real enthusiasm, provided Mrs. Burton felt well enoughto undertake it. Also he suggested that Mrs. Burton find someprofessional actor in California who would play _Orlando_ to her_Rosalind_. Then the contrast between her acting and that of her amateurcompany need not be so conspicuous. He also proposed that she secure theassistance of a professional stage manager to assist in the training ofher players.
In the beginning of their discussion concerning the production of "AsYou Like It," Mrs. Burton had announced as insurmountable the obstaclethat the cast required a greater number of men than of women characters.It appeared that the girls already had considered this fact and wereprepared with a proposal.
Peggy and Bettina had talked the matter over quietly with LieutenantCarson on the night of their dance, begging him not to speak of it ifnothing came of their idea. But they were thus able to report thatLieutenant Carson believed his commanding officer would permit a few ofthe soldiers to act with them in "As You Like It," provided therehearsals did not interfere with their army work.
Later, when the performance became an actual possibility, LieutenantCarson inquired among his soldier companions until he discovered the menwho had some past dramatic experience and would also be acceptable in asocial way.
Besides the soldiers Mrs. Burton later on invited Felipe Morris andMerton Anderson to become members of her cast.
Merton Anderson declined. No one knew the reason for his refusal exceptSally Ashton, who, as a matter of fact, had begged him not to take part.Personally she did not approve of the outdoor play and had no idea ofmaking the effort necessary to portray the least important character.Therefore Sally did not wish her latest admirer to become involved inan interest which would separate him from her society.
Felipe Morris appeared delighted to take part, and it was his aid whichMrs. Burton desired. She was confident that he would be able to act withunusual grace and self-assurance for a novice, and at least he possessedgood looks and a naturally artistic temperament.
Moreover, Mrs. Burton and Felipe's father had become good friends, sothat she believed that Mr. Morris would be pleased to have Felipe drawninto an intimate association with certain of the soldiers of theNational Guard, trusting that they might influence him. Personally Mrs.Burton thought the one thing necessary was to entice Felipe away fromhis music and his indolent dreaming into the world of real men where hewould awaken to his duty.
She knew of his friendship with Gerry and of the somewhat markedinterest they apparently felt in each other, but she did not take thefact seriously. Already he had asked several times that he and Gerry beallowed to spend an afternoon together and Mrs. Burton had promptlyconsented. No longer did she cherish the illusion that she could hideaway her Camp Fire girls in even the remotest corners of the globewithout their being discovered. Therefore, after her foolish alarm overBettina and her unconventional Indian friendship, she had concluded notto be so nervous a second time, but to trust to the discretion of thegirls themselves.
Among the seven Camp Fire girls Gerry was exceptionally pretty and socould not fail to receive attention. But not for a single moment didMrs. Burton dream that there was anything more than a superficialattraction between Gerry and Felipe. Of course she considered Gerry tooyoung, not realizing that Felipe Morris was four years her senior andthat Gerry's history had made her older than most girls of her age.
Yet after the verdict was reached and the actors secured, there stillremained many details to be settled, the most important being theselection of the characters for the production of the Shakespeareancomedy. Then, although there was a good deal of discussion, and Mrs.Burton allowed a free expression of opinion, in each choice sheremained the court of final decision.
It was she who at the beginning of the discussion settled upon MartaClark for the character of _Celia_, sweet cousin to _Rosalind_ andsecond only in importance. In consequence Marta, who had not expectedthe honor, suffered a confusion of emotions, surprise, pleasure, alarm!Mrs. Burton had not forgotten their absurd first meeting, nor Marta'sshy confession of an ambition to follow in her footsteps. If she hadability--and it was more than probable since her brother had latelywritten a clever play showing a dramatic gift in the family--Mrs. Burtonhad every intention of aiding Marta in her desire when the right momentarrived. This would be but a slight return in memory of the friend whoso generously had helped her in the old days.
Moreover, Mrs. Burton felt that she and Marta must learn to know eachother better. To play beside her as _Celia_, to be with each otherconstantly at rehearsals would not only afford her the chance to testMarta's talent, but would give them an opportunity to become betterfriends.
Marta possessed vivacity, a love of poetry and of nature; these thingsMrs. Burton had found out. Also her face depended upon the passing moodfor its charm, a superior gift to beauty in an emotional actress.
Gerry Williams and Peggy were to impersonate _Phebe_, a shepherdess, and_Audrey_, a country wench, after a good-natured argument in which Peggyinsisted upon this division of honors because of Gerry's superiorprettiness.
_Touchstone_, the gay clown in "As You Like It," sings several of themost charming ballads in all Shakespeare. Because of his beautiful voiceand his grace as a dancer Mrs. Burton begged Felipe Morris to play_Touchstone_, and he appeared pleased to accept.
Lieutenant Carson agreed to portray _Jaques_, whose soliloquy, "All theworld's a stage," is one of the greatest speeches in English literature.
Dan Webster determined upon the character of _Adam_, servant to_Orlando_, while Billy Webster together with Sally Ashton refused toshow the slightest interest in the approaching performance.
The other members of the cast were the officers and soldiers from thenearby cantonment. They expressed a great deal of enthusiasm over therelief the rehearsals afforded from the hard physical labor of theseearly days of their army training. Moreover, they would not even attemptto express their pleasure in associating so informally with a number ofagreeable girls.
Bettina, Alice and Vera Lagerloff were to be ladies-in-waiting at thecourt of the _Duke_.
If Sally Ashton's refusal to play any part was due to her inherentindolence, Billy's lack of interest was ascribable to the whollyopposite cause.
Now and then for a passing moment when she had time to think of heralways erratic nephew, Mrs. Burton wished that Billy had been yieldingto his usual slothfulness. But recently he had awakened to an amazingenergy and was working as he never had worked in his life.
After his brief conversation with Lieutenant Carson, for no reason whichhe chose to explain, Billy proceeded to find out whatever was possiblein regard to the details of the new war camps. The monthly magazinesand newspapers to which his aunt, or any one else at Sunrise campsubscribed, he searched diligently for all war information. Then hewould disappear on long walks, announcing on hi
s return that he had beenover in the direction of the new National Guard cantonment, followingthe railroad tracks which had recently been laid from the city.
Finally he imparted the surprising information that he had secured workas a day laborer at the war camp, Mr. Jefferson Simpson having vouchedfor him. Moreover, Billy declared that he had given his aunt's name as asecurity for his trustworthiness and that Captain Mason had rememberedhis original visit to camp with Mrs. Burton's party.
Of Billy's value as a day laborer his family and friends felt extremelyuncertain. But Billy explained that he was only expected to stand aroundand to hand the carpenters who were at work the tools they happened toneed at the moment. He also carried buckets of water back and forth andin short did whatever chores he was ordered to do.
Mrs. Webster and Peggy were touched by Billy's unexpected display ofpatriotism, knowing how abhorrent labor of this kind had always been tohim. Never, except under absolute coercion, had Billy ever performed theslightest manual work upon their own farm!
Mrs. Burton, Dan Webster and even the usually trustful Vera were not soenthusiastic over Billy's latest departure. Without confessing the fact,they suffered vague discomfort.
What possible plan had Billy in mind? If one only could believe he hadchosen this method of "doing his bit!" But this would have been acommonplace attitude, and Billy was never commonplace.
There were moments when Mrs. Burton wondered if Billy were intent uponpreaching his childish ideas upon pacifism and had chosen the one placewhere they would be most troublesome and dangerous! However, she was toodeeply absorbed in making a success of the play which she and the CampFire girls had undertaken to allow much time to the consideration of hernephew.
The Camp Fire girls were learning to know their guardian in a new light.Under ordinary circumstances she was extremely lenient and more thanwilling to allow them to do as they liked.
But now they were to see her not in a holiday mood, but as an artist atwork at her task. Since they had insisted upon the production of "As YouLike It," the penalty rested upon them. Therefore she would suffer noidleness and accept no excuses for delay or carelessness.
At one of the rehearsals, Peggy having appeared uncertain of her lines,was publicly lectured and sent back to her tent with the suggestion thatif she were unwilling to do her duty, some one else had best take herplace.