On the stage, six of the characters had already appeared in theopening parlour scene. Drouet and Hurstwood saw at a glance thatCarrie was not among them, and went on talking in a whisper.Mrs. Morgan, Mrs. Hoagland, and the actor who had takenBamberger's part were representing the principal roles in thisscene. The professional, whose name was Patton, had little torecommend him outside of his assurance, but this at the presentmoment was most palpably needed. Mrs. Morgan, as Pearl, wasstiff with fright. Mrs. Hoagland was husky in the throat. Thewhole company was so weak-kneed that the lines were merelyspoken, and nothing more. It took all the hope and uncriticalgood-nature of the audience to keep from manifesting pity by thatunrest which is the agony of failure.