"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.
Pages:
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169