“Come, come!” he cried. “No more nonsense. Now we leave the girls alone and get to work. Here is the scene. Mademoiselle Gretry, if I derange you!” He cleared a space at the end of the parlor, pulling the chairs about. “Be attentive now. Here”⁠—he placed a chair at his right with a flourish, as though planting a banner⁠—“is the porch of Lord Glendale’s country house.”

“Ah,” murmured Landry, winking solemnly at Page, “the chair is the porch of the house.”

“And here,” shouted Monsieur Gerardy, glaring at him and slamming down another chair, “is a rustic bench and practicable table set for breakfast.”

Page began to giggle behind her playbook. Gerardy, his nostrils expanded, gave her his back. The older people, who were not to take part⁠—Jadwin, the Cresslers, and Aunt Wess’⁠—retired to a far corner, Mrs. Cressler declaring that they would constitute the audience.