the enchanted castle-第18部分

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with　tea　or　acting。

Then　there　was　an　interval　of　slamming　doors；　interesting　silences；
feet　that　flew　up　and　down　stairs。

It　was　still　good　daylight　when　the　dinner…bell　rang　　the　signal　had
been　agreed　upon　at　tea…time；　and　carefully　explained　to　Eliza。
Mademoiselle　laid　down　her　book　and　passed　out　of　the
sunset…yellowed　hail　into　the　faint　yellow　gaslight　of　the
dining…room。　The　giggling　Eliza　held　the　door　open　before　her；　and
followed　her　in。　The　shutters　had　been　closed　streaks　of　daylight
showed　above　and　below　them。　The　green…and…black　tablecloths　of
the　school　dining…tables　were　supported　on　the　clothes…line　from
the　backyard。　The　line　sagged　in　a　graceful　curve；　but　it　answered
its　purpose　of　supporting　the　curtains　which　concealed　that　part　of
the　room　which　was　the　stage。

Rows　of　chairs　had　been　placed　across　the　other　end　of　the　room　
all　the　chairs　in　the　house；　as　it　seemed　and　Mademoiselle　started
violently　when　she　saw　that　fully　half　a　dozen　of　these　chairs　were
occupied。　And　by　the　queerest　people；　too　an　old　woman　with　a
poke　bonnet　tied　under　her　chin　with　a　red　handkerchief；　a　lady　in
a　large　straw　hat　wreathed　in　flowers　and　the　oddest　hands　that
stuck　out　over　the　chair　in　front　of　her；　several　men　with　strange；
clumsy　figures；　and　all　with　hats　on。

〃But；〃　whispered　Mademoiselle；　through　the　chinks　of　the
tablecloths；　〃you　have　then　invited　other　friends？　You　should　have
asked　me；　my　children。〃　

Laughter　and　something　like　a　〃hurrah〃　answered　her　from　behind
the　folds　of　the　curtaining　tablecloths。

〃All　right；　Mademoiselle　Rapunzel；〃　cried　Mabel；　〃turn　the　gas　up。
It's　only　part　of　the　entertainment。〃　

Eliza；　still　giggling；　pushed　through　the　lines　of　chairs；　knocking
off　the　hat　of　one　of　the　visitors　as　she　did　so；　and　turned　up　the
three　incandescent　burners。

Mademoiselle　looked　at　the　figure　seated　nearest　to　her；　stooped　to
look　more　closely；　half　laughed；　quite　screamed；　and　sat　down
suddenly。

〃Oh！〃　she　cried；　〃they　are　not　alive！〃　

Eliza；　with　a　much　louder　scream；　had　found　out　the　same　thing
and　announced　it　differently。　〃They　ain't　got　no　insides；〃　said　she。
The　seven　members　of　the　audience　seated　among　the　wilderness
of　chairs　had；　indeed；　no　insides　to　speak　of。　Their　bodies　were
bolsters　and　rolled…up　blankets；　their　spines　were　broom…handles；
and　their　arm　and　leg　bones　were　hockey　sticks　and　umbrellas。
Their　shoulders　were　the　wooden　crosspieces　that　Mademoiselle
used　for　keeping　her　jackets　in　shape；　their　hands　were　gloves
stuffed　out　with　handkerchiefs；　and　their　faces　were　the　paper
masks　painted　in　the　afternoon　by　the　untutored　brush　of　Gerald；
tied　on　to　the　round　heads　made　of　the　ends　of　stuffed
bolster…cases。　The　faces　were　really　rather　dreadful。　Gerald　had
done　his　best；　but　even　after　his　best　had　been　done　you　would
hardly　have　known　they　were　faces；　some　of　them；　if　they　hadn't
been　in　the　positions　which　faces　usually　occupy；　between　the
collar　and　the　hat。　Their　eyebrows　were　furious　with　lamp…black
frowns　their　eyes　the　size；　and　almost　the　shape；　of　five…shilling
pieces；　and　on　their　lips　and　cheeks　had　been　spent　much　crimson
lake　and　nearly　the　whole　of　a　half…pan　of　vermilion。

〃You　have　made　yourself　an　auditors；　yes？　Bravo！〃　cried
Mademoiselle；　recovering　herself　and　beginning　to　clap。　And　to
the　sound　of　that　clapping　the　curtain　went　up　or；　rather；　apart。　A
voice　said；　in　a　breathless；　choked　way；　〃Beauty　and　the　Beast；〃
and　the　stage　was　revealed。

It　was　a　real　stage　too　the　dining…tables　pushed　close　together　and
covered　with　pink…and…white　counterpanes。　It　was　a　little　unsteady
and　creaky　to　walk　on；　but　very　imposing　to　look　at。　The　scene　was
simple；　but　convincing。　A　big　sheet　of　cardboard；　bent　square；　with
slits　cut　in　it　and　a　candle　behind；　represented；　quite　transparently；
the　domestic　hearth；　a　round　hat…tin　of　Eliza　s；　supported　on　a　stool
with　a　night…light　under　it；　could　not　have　been　mistaken；　save　by
wilful　malice；　for　anything　but　a　copper。　A　waste…paper　basket
with　two　or　three　school　dusters　and　an　overcoat　in　it；　and　a　pair　of
blue　pyjamas　over　the　back　of　a　chair；　put　the　finishing　touch　to
the　scene。　It　did　not　need　the　announcement　from　the　wings；　〃The
laundry　at　Beauty's　home。〃　It　was　so　plainly　a　laundry　and　nothing
else。

In　the　wings：　〃They　look　just　like　a　real　audience；　don't　they？〃
whispered　Mabel。　〃Go　on；　Jimmy　don't　forget　the　Merchant　has　to
be　pompous　and　use　long　words。〃　

Jimmy；　enlarged　by　pillows　under　Gerald's　best　overcoat　which
had　been　intentionally　bought　with　a　view　to　his　probable　growth
during　the　two　years　which　it　was　intended　to　last　him；　a　Turkish
towel　turban　on　his　head　and　an　open　umbrella　over　it；　opened　the
first　act　in　a　simple　and　swift　soliloquy：

〃I　am　the　most　unlucky　merchant　that　ever　was。　I　was　once　the
richest　merchant　in　Bagdad；　but　I　lost　all　my　ships；　and　now　I　live
in　a　poor　house　that　is　all　to　bits；　you　can　see　how　the　rain　comes
through　the　roof；　and　my　daughters　take　in　washing。　And　；〃

The　pause　might　have　seemed　long；　but　Gerald　rustled　in；　elegant
in　Mademoiselle's　pink　dressing…gown　and　the　character　of　the
eldest　daughter。

〃A　nice　drying　day；〃　he　minced。　〃Pa　dear；　put　the　umbrella　the
other　way　up。　It'll　save　us　going　out　in　the　rain　to　fetch　water。
Come　on；　sisters；　dear　father's　got　us　a　new　wash…tub。　Here's
luxury！〃　

Round　the　umbrella；　now　held　the　wrong　way　up；　the　three　sisters
knelt　and　washed　imaginary　linen。　Kathleen　wore　a　violet　skirt　of
Eliza　s；　a　blue　blouse　of　her　own；　and　a　cap　of　knotted
handkerchiefs。　A　white　nightdress　girt　with　a　white　apron　and　two
red　carnations　in　Mabel's　black　hair　left　no　doubt　as　to　which　of
the　three　was　Beauty。

The　scene　went　very　well。　The　final　dance　with　waving　towels　was
all　that　there　is　of　charming；　Mademoiselle　said；　and　Eliza　was　so
much　amused　that；　as　she　said；　she　got　quite　a　nasty　stitch　along　of
laughing　so　hearty。

You　know　pretty　well　what　Beauty　and　the　Beast　would　be　like
acted　by　four　children　who　had　spent　the　afternoon　in　arranging
their　costumes　and　so　had　left　no　time　for　rehearsing　what　they　had
to　say。　Yet　it　delighted　them；　and　it　charmed　their　audience。　And
what　more　can　any　play　do；　even　Shakespeare's？　Mabel；　in　her
Princess　clothes；　was　a　resplendent　Beauty；　and　Gerald　a　Beast
who　wore　the　drawing…room　hearthrugs　with　an　air　of
indescribable　distinction。　If　Jimmy　was　not　a　talkative　merchant；
he　made　it　up　with　a　stoutness　practically　unlimited；　and　Kathleen
surprised　and　delighted　even　herself　by　the　quickness　with　which
she　changed　from　one　to　the　other　of　the　minor　characters　fairies；
servants；　and　messengers。　It　was　at　the　end　of　the　second　act　that
Mabel；　whose　costume；　having　reached　the　height　of　elegance；
could　not　be　bettered　and　therefore　did　not　need　to　be　changed；
said　to　Gerald；　sweltering　under　the　weighty　magnificence　of　his
beast…skin：

〃I　say；　you　might　let　us　have　the　ring　back。〃　

〃I'm　going　to；〃　said　Gerald；　who　had　quite　forgotten　it。　〃I'll　give　it
you　in　the　next　scene。　Only　don't　lose　it；　or　go　putting　it　on。　You
might　go　out　all　together　and　never　be　seen　again；　or　you　might　get
seven　times　as　visible　as　anyone　else；　so　that　all　the　rest　of　us
would　look　like　shadows　beside　you；　you'd　be　so　thick；　or　；〃

〃Ready！〃　said　Kathleen；　bustling　in；　once　more　a　wicked　sister。

Gerald　managed　to　get　his　hand　into　his　pocket　under　his
hearthrug；　and　when　he　rolled　his　eyes　in　agonies　of　sentiment；　and
said；　〃Farewell；　dear　Beauty！　Return　quickly；　for　if　you　remain
long　absent　from　your　faithful　beast　he　will　assuredly　perish；〃　he
pressed　a　ring　into　her　hand　and　added：　〃This　is　a　magic　ring　that
will　give　you　anything　you　wish。　When　you　desire　to　return　to　your
own　disinterested　beast；　put　on　the　ring　and　utter　your　wish。
Instantly　you　will　be　by　my　side。〃

Beauty…Mabel　took　the　ring；　and　it　was　the　ring。

The　curtains　closed　to　warm　applause　from　two　pairs　of　hands。

The　next　scene　went　splendidly。　The　sisters　were　almost　too
natural　in　their　disagreeableness；　and　Beauty's　annoyance　when
they　splashed　her　Princess's　dress　with　real　soap　and　water　was
considered　a　miracle　of　good　acting。　Even　the　merchant　rose　to
something　more　than　mere　pillows；　and　the　curtain　fell　on　his
pathetic　assurance　that　in　the　absence　of　his　dear　Beauty　he　was
wasting　away　to　a　shadow。　And　again　two　pairs　of　hands
applauded。

〃Here；　Mabel；　catch　hold；〃　Gerald　appealed　from　under　the　weight
of　a　towel…horse；　the　tea…urn；　the　tea…tray；　and　the　green　baize
apron　of　the　boot　boy；　which　together　with　four　red　geraniums
from　the　landing；　the　pampas…grass　from　the　drawing…room
fireplace；　and　the　india…rubber　plants　from　the　drawing…room
window　were　to　represent　the　fountains　and　garden　of　the　last　act。
The　applause　had　died　away。

〃I　wish；〃　said　Mabel；　taking　on　herself　the　weight　of　the　tea…urn；　〃I
wish　those　creatures　we　made　were　alive。　We　should　get
something　like　applause　then。〃　

〃I'm　jolly　glad　they　aren't；　said　Gerald；　arranging　the　baize　and　the
towel…horse。　〃Brutes！　It　makes　me　feel　quite　silly　when　I　catch
their　paper　eyes。〃　

The　curtains　were　drawn　back。　There　lay　the　hearthrug…coated
beast；　in　flat　abandonment　among　the　tropic　beauties　of　the
garden；　the　pampas…grass　shrubbery；　the　india…rubber　plant　bushes；
the　geranium…trees　and　the　urn　fountain。　Beauty　was　ready　to　make
her　great　entry　in　all　the　thrilling　splendour　of　despair。　And　then
suddenly　it　all　happened。

Mademoiselle　began　it：　she　applauded　the　garden　scene　with
hurried　little　clappings　of　her　quick　French　hands。　Eliza's　fat　red
palms　followed　heavily；　and　then　someone　else　was　clapping；　six
or　seven　people；　and　their　clapping　made　a　dull　padded　sound。
Nine　faces　instead　of　two　were　turned　towards　the　stage；　and　seven
out　of　the　nine　were　painted；　pointed　paper　faces。　And　every　hand
and　every　face　was　alive。　The　applause　grew　louder　as　Mabel
glided　forward；　and　as　she　paused　and　looked　at　the　audience　her
unstudied　pose　of　horror　and　amazement　drew　forth　applause
louder　still；　but　it　was　not　loud　enough　to　drown　the　shrieks　of
Mademoiselle　and　Eliza　as　the