A few memories

92 A FEW MEMORIES
Extreme politeness was my first move in that direction. With a beating heart but smiling face I placed two chairs for the unwelcome visitors by the stove. Taking one myself, I began questioning them about their families, while anxiously looking for the appearance of some rescuer. Though their replies were discouragingly curt, this ruse succeeded, for when, answering an imaginary call from the wings, I asked for a moment's grace, they readily assented. I knew of a side exit through an alley, often used to escape the curious crowd that generally collected about the stage-door. I walked calmly across the stage, and once outside ran like one possessed to the hotel. There I found Mr. Norton, who hastily escorted me to our rooms, advising my mother and me to remain in them with locked doors. Two more frightened women it would be difficult to imagine, for we had no idea what the threatened arrest meant. Later on we learned that all the trouble had been caused by the ejected disturbers of the day before. Some influential friends went bail for me. There was a trial, and I am happy to say the offenders only received two cents damages. Why they received even this—being disturbers of the public peace—