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.
