the peterkin papers-第20章

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procession　was　marching　up　the　steps　of　the　stage；　　all　in　costume；　and　entering　behind　the　scenes。

〃We　are　just　in　the　right　time；〃　whispered　Mr。　Peterkin　to　his　family；　〃they　are　　going　upon　the　stage；　we　must　fall　into　line。〃　The　little　boys　had　their　　feather…dusters　ready。　Some　words　from　one　of　the　managers　made　Peterkin　　understand　the　situation。

〃We　are　going　to　be　introduced　to　Mr。　Dickens；〃　he　said。

〃I　thought　he　was　dead！〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Peterkin　trembling。

〃Authors　live　forever！〃　said　Agamemnon　in　her　ear。

At　this　moment　they　were　ushered　upon　the　stage。　The　stage　manager　glared　at　　them；　as　he　awaited　their　names　for　introduction；　while　they　came　up　all　　unannounced；…a　part　of　the　programme　not　expected。　But　he　uttered　the　words　upon　　his　lips；　〃Great　Expectations；〃　and　the　Peterkin　family　swept　across　the　stage　　with　the　rest：　Mr。　Peterkin　costumed　as　Peter　the　Great；　Mrs。　Peterkin　as　　Cleopatra；　Agamemnon　as　Noah；　Solomon　John　as　Christopher　Columbus；　Elizabeth　　Eliza　in　yellow　flannel　as　Mrs。　Shem；　with　a　large；　old…fashioned　bonnet　on　her　　head　as　Mrs。　Columbus；　and　the　little　boys　behind　as　two　doves　and　a　raven。

Across　the　stage；　in　face　of　all　the　assembled　people；　then　following　the　rest　　down　the　stairs　on　the　other　side；　in　among　the　audience；　they　went；　but　into　an　　audience　not　dressed　in　costume！

There　were　Ann　Maria　Bromwick　and　the　Osbornes；…all　the　neighbors；…all　as　　natural　as　though　they　were　walking　the　streets　at　home；　though　Ann　Maria　did　　wear　white　gloves。

〃I　had　no　idea　you　were　to　appear　in　character；〃　said　Ann　Maria　to　Elizabeth　　Eliza；　〃to　what　booth　do　you　belong？〃

〃We　are　no　particular　author；〃　said　Mr。　Peterkin。

〃Ah；　I　see；　a　sort　of　varieties'　booth；〃　said　Mr。　Osborne。

〃What　is　your　character？〃　asked　Ann　Maria　of　Elizabeth　Eliza。

〃I　have　not　quite　decided；〃　said　Elizabeth　Eliza。　〃I　thought　I　should　find　out　　after　I　came　here。　The　marshal　called　us　'Great　Expectations。'〃

Mrs。　Peterkin　was　at　the　summit　of　bliss。　〃I　have　shaken　hands　with　Dickens！〃

she　exclaimed。

But　she　looked　round　to　ask　the　little　boys　if　they；　too；　had　shaken　hands　with　　the　great　man；　but　not　a　little　boy　could　she　find。

They　had　been　swept　off　in　Mother　Goose's　train；　which　had　lingered　on　the　steps　　to　see　the　Dickens　reception；　with　which　the　procession　of　characters　in　costume　　had　closed。　At　this　moment　they　were　dancing　round　the　barberry　bush；　in　a　　corner　of　the　balcony　in　Mother　Goose's　quarters；　their　feather…dusters　gayly　　waving　in　the　air。

But　Mrs。　Peterkin；　far　below；　could　not　see　this；　and　consoled　herself　with　the　　thought；　they　should　all　meet　on　the　stage　in　the　grand　closing　tableau。　She　was　　bewildered　by　the　crowds　which　swept　her　hither　and　thither。　At　last　she　found　　herself　in　the　Whittier　Booth；　and　sat　a　long　time　calmly　there。　As　Cleopatra　　she　seemed　out　of　place；　but　as　her　own　grandmother　she　answered　well　with　its　　New　England　scenery。

Solomon　John　wandered　about；　landing　in　America　whenever　he　found　a　chance　to　　enter　a　booth。　Once　before　an　admiring　audience　he　set　up　his　egg　in　the　centre　　of　the　Goethe　Booth；　which　had　been　deserted　by　its　committee　for　the　larger　　stage。

Agamemnon　frequently　stood　in　the　background　of　scenes　in　the　Arabian　Nights。

It　was　with　difficulty　that　the　family　could　be　repressed　from　going　on　the　　stage　whenever　the　bugle　sounded　for　the　different　groups　represented　there。

Elizabeth　Eliza　came　near　appearing　in　the　〃Dream　of　Fair　Women；〃　at　its　most　　culminating　point。

Mr。　Peterkin　found　himself　with　the　〃Cricket　on　the　Hearth；〃　in　the　Dickens　　Booth。　He　explained　that　he　was　Peter　the　Great；　but　always　in　the　Russian　　language；　which　was　never　understood。

Elizabeth　Eliza　found　herself；　in　turn；　in　all　the　booths。　Every　manager　was　　puzzled　by　her　appearance；　and　would　send　her　to　some　other；　and　she　passed　　along；　always　trying　to　explain　that　she　had　not　yet　decided　upon　her　character。

　Mr。　Peterkin　came　and　took　Cleopatra　from　the　Whittier　Booth。

〃I　cannot　understand；〃　he　said；　〃why　none　of　our　friends　are　dressed　in　costume；　　and　why　we　are。〃

〃I　rather　like　it；〃　said　Elizabeth　Eliza；　〃though　I　should　be　better　pleased　if　　I　could　form　a　group　with　some　one。〃

The　strains　of　the　minuet　began。　Mrs。　Peterkin　was　anxious　to　join　the　　performers。　It　was　the　dance　of　her　youth。

But　she　was　delayed　by　one　of　the　managers　on　the　steps　that　led　to　the　stage。

〃I　cannot　understand　this　company；〃　he　said；　distractedly。

〃They　cannot　find　their　booth；〃　said　another。

〃That　is　the　case；〃　said　Mr。　Peterkin；　relieved　to　have　it　stated。

〃Perhaps　you　had　better　pass　into　the　corridor；〃　said　a　polite　marshal。

They　did　this；　and；　walking　across；　found　themselves　in　the　refreshment…room。

〃This　is　the　booth　for　us；〃　said　Mr。　Peterkin。

〃Indeed　it　is；〃　said　Mrs。　Peterkin；　sinking　into　a　chair；　exhausted。

At　this　moment　two　doves　and　a　raven　appeared；…the　little　boys；　who　had　been　　dancing　eagerly　in　Mother　Goose's　establishment；　and　now　came　down　for　　ice…cream。

〃I　hardly　know　how　to　sit　down；〃　said　Elizabeth　Eliza；　〃for　I　am　sure　Mrs。　Shem　　never　could。　Still；　as　I　do　not　know　if　I　am　Mrs。　Shem；　I　will　venture　it。〃

Happily；　seats　were　to　be　found　for　all；　and　they　were　soon　arranged　in　a　row；　　calmly　eating　ice…cream。

〃I　think　the　truth　is；〃　said　Mr。　Peterkin；　〃that　we　represent　historical　people；　　and　we　ought　to　have　been　fictitious　characters　in　books。　That　is；　I　observe；　　what　the　others　are。　We　shall　know　better　another　time。〃

〃If　we　only　ever　get　home；〃　said　Mrs。　Peterkin；　〃I　shall　not　wish　to　come　again。

It　seems　like　being　on　the　stage；　sitting　in　a　booth；　and　it　is　so　bewildering；　　Elizabeth　Eliza　not　knowing　who　she　is；　and　going　round　and　round　in　this　way。〃

〃I　am　afraid　we　shall　never　reach　home；〃　said　Agamemnon；　who　had　been　silent　for　　some　time；　〃we　may　have　to　spend　the　night　here。　I　find　I　have　lost　our　checks　　for　our　clothes　in　the　cloak…room！　〃

〃Spend　the　night　in　a　booth；　in　Cleopatra's　turban！〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Peterkin。

〃We　should　like　to　come　every　night；〃　cried　the　little　boys。

〃But　to　spend　the　night；〃　repeated　Mrs。　Peterkin。

〃I　conclude　the　Carnival　keeps　up　all　night；〃　said　Mr。　Peterkin。

〃But　never　to　recover　our　cloaks；〃　said　Mrs。　Peterkin；　〃could　not　the　little　　boys　look　round　for　the　checks　on　the　floors？　〃

She　began　to　enumerate　the　many　valuable　things　that　they　might　never　see　again。

She　had　worn　her　large　fur　cape　of　stone…marten；…her　grandmother's；…that　　Elizabeth　Eliza　had　been　urging　her　to　have　made　into　a　foot…rug。　Now　how　she　　wished　she　had！　And　there　were　Mr。　Peterkin's　new　overshoes；　and　Agamemnon　had　　brought　an　umbrella；　and　the　little　boys　had　their　mittens。　Their　india…rubber　　boots；　fortunately；　they　had　on；　in　the　character　of　birds。　But　Solomon　John　had　　worn　a　fur　cap；　and　Elizabeth　Eliza　a　muff。　Should　they　lose　all　these　valuables　　entirely；　and　go　home　in　the　cold　without　them？　No；　it　would　be　better　to　wait　　till　everybody　had　gone；　and　then　look　carefully　over　the　floors　for　the　checks；　　if　only　the　little　boys　could　know　where　Agamemnon　had　been；　they　were　willing　　to　look。　Mr。　Peterkin　was　not　sure　as　they　would　have　time　to　reach　the　train。

Still；　they　would　need　something　to　wear；　and　he　could　not　tell　the　time。　He　had　　not　brought　his　watch。　It　was　a　Waltham　watch；　and　he　thought　it　would　not　be　in　　character　for　Peter　the　Great　to　wear　it。

At　this　moment　the　strains　of　〃Home；　Sweet　Home〃　were　heard　from　the　band；　and　　people　were　seen　preparing　to　go。

〃All　can　go　home；　but　we　must　stay；〃　said　Mrs。　Peterkin；　gloomily；　as　the　　well…known　strains　floated　in　from　the　larger　hall。

A　number　of　marshals　came　to　the　refreshment…room；　looked　at　them；　whispered　to　　each　other；　as　the　Peterkins　sat　in　a　row。

〃Can　we　do　anything　for　you？〃　asked　one　at　last。　〃Would　you　not　like　to　go？〃　He　　seemed　eager　they　should　leave　the　room。

Mr。　Peterkin　explained　that　they　could　not　go；　as　they　had　lost　the　checks　for　　their　wraps；　and　hoped　to　find　their　checks　on　the　floor　when　everybody　was　　gone。　The　marshal　asked　if　they　could　not　describe　what　they　had　worn；　in　which　　case　the　loss　of　the　checks　was　not　so　important；　as　the　crowds　had　now　almost　　left；　and　it　would　not　be　difficult　to　identify　their　wraps。　Mrs。　Peterkin　　eagerly　declared　she　could　describe　every　article。

It　was　astonishing　how　the　marshals　hurried　them　through　the　quickly　deserted　　corridors；　how　gladly　they　recovered　their　garments！　Mrs。　Peterkin；　indeed；　was　　disturbed　by　the　eagerness　of　the　marshals；　she　feared　they　had　some　pretext　for　　getting　the　family　out　of　the　hall。　Mrs。　Peterkin　was　one　of　those　who　never　　consent　to　be　forced　to　anything。　She　would　not　be　compelled　to　go　home；　even　　with　strains　of　music。　She　whispered　her　suspicions　to　Mr。　Peterkin；　but　　Agamemnon　came　hastily　up　to　announce　the　time；　which　he　had　learned　from　the　　clock　in　the　large　hall。　They　must　leave　directly　if　they　wished　to　catch　the　　latest　train；　as　there　was　barely　time　to　reach　it。

Then；　indeed；　was　Mrs。　Peterkin　ready　to　leave。　If　they　should　miss　the　train！

If　she　should　have　to　pass　the　night　in　the　streets　in　her　turban！　She　was　the　　first　to　lead　the　way；　and；　panting；　the　family　followed　her；　just　in　time　to　　take　the　train　as　it　was　leaving　the　station。

The　excitement　was　not　yet　over。　They　found　in　the　train　many　of　their　friends　　and　neighbors；　returning　also　from　the　Carnival；　so　they　had　many　questions　put　　to　them　which　they　were　unable　to　answer。　Still　Mrs。　Peterkin's　turban　was　much　　admired；　and　indeed　the　whole　appearance　of　the　family；　so　that　they　felt　　themselves　much　repaid　for　their　exertions。

But　more　adventures　awaited　them。　They　left　the　train　with　their　friends；　but　as　　Mrs。　Peterkin　and　Elizabeth　Eliza　were　very　tired；　they　walked　very　slowly；　and　　Solomon　John　and　the　little　boys　were　sent　on　with　the　pass…key　to　open　the　　door。　They　soon　returned　with　the　startling　intelligence　that　it　was　not　the　　right　key；　and　they　could　not　get　in。　It　was　Mr。　Peterkin's　office…key；　he　had　　taken　it　by　mistake；　or　he　might　have　dropped　the　house…key　in　the　cloak…room　of　　the　Carnival。

〃Must　we　go　back？〃　sighed　Mrs。　Peterkin；　in　an　exhausted　voice。　More　than　ever　　did　Elizabeth　Eliza　regret　that　Agamemnon's　invention　in　keys　had　failed　to　　secure　a　patent！

It　was　impossible　to　get　into　the　house；　for　Amanda　had　been　allowed　to　go　and　　spend　the　night　with　a　friend；　so　there　was　no　use　in　ringing；　though　the　little　　boys　had　tried　it。

〃We　can　return　to　the　station；〃　said　Mr。　Peterkin；　〃the　rooms　will　be　warm；　on　　account　of　the　midnight　train。　We　can；　at　least；　think　what　we　shall　do　next。〃

At　the　station　was　one　of　their　neighbors；　proposing　to　take　the　New　York　　midnight　train；　for　it　was　now　after　eleven；　and　the　train　went　through　at　　half…past。

〃I　saw　lights　at　the　locksmith's　over　the　way；　as　I　passed；〃　he　said；　〃why　do　　not　you　send　over　to　the　young　man　there？　He　can　get　your　door　open　for　you。　I　　never　would　spend　the　night　here。〃

Solomon　John　went　over　to　〃the　young　man；〃　who　agreed　to　go　up　to　the　house　as　　soon　as　he　had　closed　the　shop；　fit　a　key；　and　open　the　door；　and