The Imp's Matinée
much valuable time! The Imp glanced behind him—had the theatre people gone? Were they tired of waiting? Then he burst into his tale.
"I paid twenty-five cents to go to the theatre, and everybody's gone to the circus, and they won't act the theatre for just me, and I paid for my ticket!"
He stopped for breath and the Hungarian band, at a nod from the leader, stopped playing at the same moment. The Imp's face was tragic: one would have thought he was describing a scene of anguish.
"So I asked the man would he act the theatre for ten people, and he wouldn't. And I asked him would he for twenty people, and he wouldn't. And I asked him would he for thirty people, and he would. And I hurried up so much, and I hope they haven't gone, and won't you come? It's only twenty-five cents!"
Here the Imp sat down and fanned himself with his cap and sobbed for pure excitement. Everybody looked exceedingly interested, and Miss Eleanor, in the beautiful bright red dress, was distinctly sympathetic.
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