She swept along through the poem royally , playing on the emotions of her audience as she had so often played on ours in the old orchard . Pity , terror , indignation , suspense , possessed her hearers in turn . In the court scene she surpassed herself . She was , in very truth , the Florentine judge , stern , stately , impassive . Her voice dropped into the solemnity of the all-important line , '' ` The court pronounces the defendant -- ' '' She paused for a breathless moment , the better to bring out the tragic import of the last word . `` DEAD , '' piped up Sara Ray in her shrill , plaintive little voice . The effect , to use a hackneyed but convenient phrase , can better be imagined than described . Instead of the sigh of relieved tension that should have swept over the audience at the conclusion of the line , a burst of laughter greeted it . The Story Girl 's performance was completely spoiled . She dealt the luckless Sara a glance that would have slain her on the spot could glances kill , stumbled lamely and impotently through the few remaining lines of her recitation , and fled with crimson cheeks to hide her mortification in the little corner that had been curtained off for a dressing-room . Mr. Perkins looked things not lawful to be uttered , and the audience tittered at intervals for the rest of the performance . Sara Ray alone remained serenely satisfied until the close of the concert , when we surrounded her with a whirlwind of reproaches . `` Why , '' she stammered aghast , `` what did I do ? I -- I thought she was stuck and that I ought to prompt her quick . '' `` You little fool , she just paused for effect , '' cried Felicity angrily . Felicity might be rather jealous of the Story Girl 's gift , but she was furious at beholding `` one of our family '' made ridiculous in such a fashion . `` You have less sense than anyone I ever heard of , Sara Ray . '' Poor Sara dissolved in tears . `` I did n't know . I thought she was stuck , '' she wailed again .
She cried all the way home , but we did not try XXXXX comfort her .
for in into of on over through to until with