And just then John Lawton lowered the paper he had been reading, as he sat at the far end of the porch, and asked: "Girls, have you noticed a young woman who rides past here on horseback evenings, generally without a groom?" "Yes!" cried the girls. "Sometimes she comes scrambling down that rocky lane below us," said Sybil, "but she never does that on the big chestnut--he'd break his legs." "Nice horse, that," commented Mr. Lawton. "But do you know who she is?" "No, papa, do you?" asked Dorothy, turning the last hem. "Y--e--s," was the slow answer. "I was looking at the swelling on the leg of that black police-horse last night, and I told him--the policeman, I mean--that a bandage was needed, and just then along came the young woman, riding a small bay at almost a dead run. I thought at first there was work for the policeman to do, but the rider touched her cap as she rushed past, and the officer guessed my thought, for he said: 'No; that ain't no runaway! I suspect the bay's been a bit unruly; anyway, she never rides at such a spanking gait as that except in the cool of the evening and when the roads are quiet.' He seemed to know the lady so well that I asked if she lived in the neighborhood, and he said: 'Why, good Lord! Don't you know who she is? Why, that's Claire Morrell, the actress.'" With a cry Sybil sprang to her feet, wide-eyed and palpitating with excitement, while Dorothy exclaimed, reproachfully: "Oh, papa, why did you not tell us before? Where does she live? Now don't say you don't know and so reduce us to the necessity of interviewing the policeman for ourselves!" Mr. Lawton gently pinched his bandaged finger, to see how much it was hurt, before answering: "Miss Morrell, who is Mrs. Barton in private life, you know, lives as the crow flies exactly opposite us on Riverdale Avenue, at a place called The Beeches." "Oh! oh!" cried Dorothy. "Let's go and tell mamma whom she has for a neighbor--she will be so interested! She used to be quite proud of living near a former residence of Miss Kemble, the English actress. Come, Sybil dear--why, are you asleep?" For her sister had been standing, staring dumbly into space. Now she leaned forward and whispered, rapidly: "Dorrie! Dorrie! Here is the answer to your question, and here is my one chance! This woman has power to help me, and she shall use it--yes, if I have to go upon my knees to her! Her hand shall open to me the stage-door of the theatre!" CHAPTER III SHOPPING UNDER DIFFICULTIES