half past eight
`` Let me look for a minute , Anne , '' said Grace . `` I do n't believe there 'll be standing room , '' she remarked , as she stepped aside to give Eleanor a chance to peer out . `` Come on , girls , '' called Nora O'Malley , as a burst of applause sounded from the other side of the curtain . `` It 's half past eight , and the curtain will go up in about two minutes . '' The three girls scurried off the stage , the Glee Club filed on and arranged themselves , and the curtain rose . Each number was applauded to the echo and in every instance the audience clamored for an encore . As the time for Eleanor 's first solo drew near , Anne and Grace felt their hearts beat a little faster .