Her words were caught up, and cheers for Hester Wright ran through the
house from her friends--and most there knew her, and were her
friends--long before she reached the wings, and joined the astonished
manager, who stood wavering, and in a considerable state of terror,
on his deserted stage.

"I'll sing," said Hester, speaking to him eagerly and quickly. "The
children are bitterly disappointed, and a song or two will quiet the
whole house. Let me; I know how."

The manager was a stranger in the town, and had no acquaintance with
the dark-eyed, intense woman who addressed him. The crowd, however,
cheered and vociferated. Their ill-humor was changed into the most
hearty approval.

"Just like Hetty, bless her," whispered Susan Jakes to her sweetheart.
"Just like Hetty," resounded all over the small house. Be the woman
mad or not, the manager saw she was popular, and his brow cleared.

"Yes, sing--sing anything," he responded, in a voice of intense relief.
"I'll pay you anything in reason--only sing, and keep them quiet. This
is an awful minute for me."

"I'll sing for the children, and not for money," said Hester, flashing
an angry glance at him; and then her magnificent voice arose, and
filled the house.

For some reason, the ballad which she and her cousin had sung together
for Bet the night before was still ringing in her head. It rose easily
to her lips, and she sang it first, giving point and meaning to the