"Exactly what it really is, Miss Margaret. It was a Baptist church. They turned it into a playhouse, by remodelling its gallery into a dress-circle and balcony and adding another gallery above. My grandmother Stoneman is a devoted Baptist, and was an attendant at this church. My father never goes to church, but he used to go here occasionally to please her. Elsie and I frequently came."
Phil pushed his way rapidly through the crowd with a peculiar sense of pleasure in making a way for Margaret and in defending her from the jostling throng.
They found Elsie at the door, stamping her foot with impatience.
"Well, I must say, Phil, this is prompt for a soldier who had positive orders," she cried. "I've been here an hour."
"Nonsense, Sis, I'm ahead of time," he protested.
Elsie held up her watch.
"It's a quarter past eight. Every seat is filled, and they've stopped selling standing-room. I hope you have good seats."
"The best in the house to-night, the first row in the balcony dress-circle, opposite the President's box. We can see everything on the stage, in the box, and every nook and corner of the house."
"Then, I'll forgive you for keeping me waiting."
They ascended the stairs, pushed through the throng standing, and at last reached the seats.
What a crowd! The building was a mass of throbbing humanity, and, over all, the hum of the thrilling wonder of peace and victory!
