Ruth turned pale at hearing the unkind
words, but Alice blushed a rosy red, and started to say something.
"Don't," advised Mrs. Maguire, coming up beside them, and evidently
guessing her intention. "It would only make matters worse to reply to
them, my dear."
"But--but----" began Alice.
"Hush!" begged Ruth. "Oh, how could they say it--as if we _wanted_ to
displace those girls."
"I'm just going to tell them what I think!" exclaimed Alice, and
there was a hint of real anger in her voice. But she had no chance,
for Miss Pennington and Miss Dixon, as though satisfied with what
they had done, swept out to the elevator.
"Don't mind them, my dears," said motherly Mrs. Maguire. "It's only
professional jealousy, anyhow; and you'll see plenty of that if you
stay in this business long enough."
"Then I'm not going to stay!" cried Alice. "I'm not used to having
such things said of me."
Mrs. Maguire laughed genially. She was standing with Ruth and Alice,
who were waiting for their father to join them. Most of the other
performers had now gone.
"Oh, you'll get so you won't mind that a bit!" went on Mrs.
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