Chapter Two #3
Mrs. Digby and I both chuckled. She must know as well as I did that Grace was quite the chatterbox.
Robert introduced me to Mrs. Digby and her husband, Hugh.
“They have the mercantile in the village and operate the post office and telephone exchange. Therefore, they are largely responsible for keeping the village running.”
“I’d like to think I also have a hand in keeping the village running, as you say,” Dr. Penhollow said with an air of pride.
“I’m sure he would,” I heard Mrs. Digby mutter to her husband. George and I shared a grin, then turned our attention to the stage when the curtain rose.
While the chairs were less than comfortable and the performance was not up to Gilliam’s standards, there was something homely and endearing about attending the village Christmas play, a highly abbreviated version of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol.
The cast was largely school-age children, probably all from the local parish.
Grace made up for her lack of lines by adding animated gestures and expressions.
I believe the adults found the play enjoyable, and the children seemed to love it.
After the final scene, the vicar, a stocky man who appeared to be about thirty, despite his receding hairline, stepped out on-stage to remind us of the time for Christmas services and to urge us to donate to the collection for the poor in the county.
Once his speech had concluded, the audience took to their feet, all heading back to the church vestibule and out to their carriages and other sundry vehicles. “Shall we wait here for Fiona and Grace?” I asked, watching as the crowd came to a near standstill at the doorway.
“No point in waiting here,” Dr. Penhollow said.
I held back a sigh. Yes, I’m sure he was trying to be helpful, but must he overhear and interfere in every conversation?
“Unless they decide to climb over the stage,” he continued, “they’ll have to come through the church. You would do best to wait for them in the vestibule.”
“It isn’t so bad. The crowd is moving,” Lissette said. “Besides, I want to know if it’s snowing yet.”
“I’d say that settles the matter,” Robert said.
“To the church we go. We hope there is snow!” The audience had largely dispersed by now, so Robert led the young people down the short passage to the church vestibule while they repeated his words as a sort of chant. George, Hetty, and I followed behind.
When we emerged in the vestibule, there was still no sign of Fiona and Grace, and the vestibule was slowly emptying. Lissette scurried to the door and returned with a long face and a report that it was still raining.
“That’s not rain, just a little pattering,” Mr. Digby said as he and his wife headed for the door. “But don’t you worry, miss. There will be snow tonight, you mark my words.”
Lissette beamed and Rose let out a little squeal at the news.
“Do you mind having a look backstage?” Robert asked me. “Fiona might well be caught up in conversation with some of the cast members. We haven’t been in the country for a few months, and I know she’ll want to hear all the latest news.”
I happily agreed. Robert was correct. There was something about Fiona that made people, even strangers, confide in her. I was certain she was learning not only the latest news but the latest gossip, too.
I started down the long hallway Fiona and Grace had taken when we first arrived.
Presumably it led to the backstage area.
I caught sight of Dr. Penhollow about halfway down the hall and decided to ask him since he seemed to be an authority on everything, but as I approached, I could see he was in conversation with a man of about my age.
The stranger towered over the doctor, and the exchange seemed heated.
“Something to say to you,” I heard, though I don’t know which man said it.
I managed to swerve on my heel so as not to intrude on their conversation, which sounded quite personal.
Fortunately, the hallway was bustling with people, so my faux pas went unnoticed.
A few more steps brought me face-to-face with Fiona and Grace, who were headed to the vestibule to find our party.
Fiona took hold of my hands. “Did you enjoy the play? Aren’t you glad I made you come back out in the cold to see it?”
“It was delightful,” I replied. “And, Grace, you were wonderful! My favorite Cratchit child by far.”
She eyed me suspiciously. “I didn’t even speak.”
“It doesn’t matter, dear,” Fiona said. “You had presence. Next time they will surely give you a speaking role, and you will be superb.”
Grace compressed her lips and tweaked them to one side.
“It sounds as if you’d like Grace to pursue the theater as a career,” I teased. “Gilliam might be able to help in that endeavor.”
“What?” Fiona was incredulous. “Heavens, no. Amateur theatricals are one thing. A career on the stage is a completely different matter.” She gave me a narrow look. “I see you are teasing me. Nevertheless, Grace has talent.”
“That is indisputable.” I gave Grace a wink, and she responded with a smile. “The production certainly put everyone in the Christmas spirit,” I said.
“Then we’ve done our job,” Fiona said. “Shall we be off?”
I reversed course and headed down the hallway from whence I’d come.
Dr. Penhollow was still speaking with the younger man, though his expression had changed to something less chilly, and a young woman was now at his side.
With a curt nod from him, the trio parted, and we followed them into the vestibule, where the rest of our party waited.
“Ah, here we go!” Robert said, reaching out to take Fiona’s arm. “And just in time, too. The carriages have arrived.”
We all moved to the double doors. “Is it still raining?” Grace asked.
“Rain? A fine mist is all,” said the vicar, who’d been standing beside the doors. “But I can smell snow in the air. Just you wait, we’ll have a few inches by morning.”