After Jinny reached home, she phoned Miss Taylor and explained that Elena could come to rehearsals after all. "Oh, that's splendid," exclaimed the delighted coach. "Not that you wouldn't have done very well, Jinny, but Elena's voice—and all the work she's done—"

Then Jinny phoned Jeff. "We were all wrong about Elena," she told him. "She's not stuck up, she's just scared to death. Of everything. And of us. Especially us. I mean she doesn't know how to act friendly, if you know what I mean..."

"No, I don't," replied Jeff. "What's it to me?"

"Just this, you goon. You're going to be friends with Elena if it kills you. Sit beside her at rehearsals, kid around a little, make her laugh. You know. And pass the word along. Oh, Jeff, will you?"

"I will, but it doesn't make sense. All right, all right," he yelped. "You don't have to get excited, I'll give it a whirl."

Not until Jinny was in bed that night did she realize she had forgotten to tell Miss Taylor that she would have to miss rehearsals. Of course, she could ask Dode or Jeff to tell the coach, but then she would have to explain to them what she was doing. No, she would have to see Miss Taylor alone and tell her.

Monday after school Jinny headed for the Parthenon, scrubbing off her lipstick as she ran. Several times during the afternoon she was aware of Elena's mother standing silently in the doorway at the rear, watching her. Jinny smiled and nodded. On Tuesday, Elena's mother returned the smile; and on Wednesday she invited Jinny into the back room and offered her some little pastries, still hot from the oven.

Thursday morning, Dode grabbed Jinny in the school corridor. "Hey, where've you been all week? Miss Taylor's mad at you. She asked me if you were sick and she said to tell you even the chorus is part of the show."

"Golly , there's something I forgot to tell her. Never mind, I'll see her today. How's everything?"

"Swell, and say, you were right about Elena. She's practically a human being. Miss Taylor's so tickled with her she's about to bust. You'd better get to rehearsal this afternoon—it's the last one."

Jinny finally caught up with Miss Taylor between classes, but before she could open her mouth, the coach said sharply: "Jinny, have you been ill?"

"No, but I—"

"Then, Jinny, I must say that I am disappointed in you. I realize it must have been a blow to you to find out that you wouldn't be taking the leading part, but that is no excuse..."

Jinny's reply was drowned out by the bell, and Miss Taylor hurried off. Jinny was seething as she ran to her next class. That was the last glimpse she had of Miss Taylor all day.

At the Parthenon, Mr. Nicholas waved two tickets under Jinny's nose and exclaimed triumphantly, "What do you know? We go to hear Elena sing tomorrow night! My wife, she wants to go. Every day, she watches you, and she likes you, and she says, maybe she is mistaken all this time. The shop?" He snapped his fingers magnificently, "We hang a sign on the door. CLOSED. And we just walk out!"

Well, that was fine, thought Jinny wearily. Everything was dandy. Everything except Jinny Barnes, who had probably been dropped from the cast of the Spring Musical. She just had to see Miss Taylor.

That evening she called the coach's house. No answer. Next morning she cut her first class and went straight to the music room. Miss Taylor was out of the building, her assistant said; something about the show tonight. Any message? No, no message.

After school, she looked into the auditorium. The set for the first act was in place, and a couple of the boys were testing the lights, their voices echoing in the empty room. There was no rehearsal, so Jinny's stint at the Parthenon was over. The members of the cast, under orders, had all gone straight home from school to rest their voices, but Jinny wasn't sure she was going to be using hers. The part in the chorus suddenly seemed tremendously desirable. She had been out of things for one whole week, and she yearned to be in again.

She wandered home aimlessly, and tried to phone Miss Taylor again. No answer. Oh it was all so silly. Elena might at least have told Miss Taylor; but then, she had assured Elena that the chorus didn't matter, and Elena wouldn't know any better. If only she had kept her big mouth shut in the first place, she would be getting flowers tonight behind the footlights, and her picture would be featured tomorrow in all the papers.

She was still in the same mood when she entered the stage door of the auditorium. At the entrance to the girls' dressing room, Miss Taylor bore down upon her and swept her into the empty make-up room.

"Jinny, my dear!" she exclaimed breathlessly.

The angry explanation died on Jinny's lips.

"Elena just told me—I want to apologize—but I do think you might have told me sooner, or Elena might, but then she thought I knew—And Jinny, it hasn't been wasted," she went on earnestly, if a trifle incoherently, "because a friend of mine who has a great deal to say about awarding scholarships to the School of Music at State University will be out front tonight. Jinny dear, the time will come when both you and I will be proud to say of Elena Nicholas, 'I knew her when—' Heavens, here I stand, with a million things to do! But I simply had to tell you how proud I am of you."

"Oh, that's all right," stammered Jinny. Suddenly, it was all right. Everything was all right.

Miss Taylor fumbled in her smock pocket. "Have you seen a copy of the program? Quite the nicest we've ever had, and so professional looking."

It did look professional, from NEWTON HIGH SCHOOL PRESENTS at the top, down to the list of acknowledgements, at the bottom, of merchants who had lent properties.

Miss Taylor scrawled something in pencil across the program, and handed it to Jinny. "This should be on all the programs," she said. "But you know, and I know, and Elena knows, and that's all that matters. Now run and get into you first-act costume."

Before entering the noisy dressing room, Jinny looked at the program. Miss Taylor had written, under the name of Elena Nicholas, "Courtesy of Jinny Barnes."