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.
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