The bell rang; the curtain rose; I heard voices—presumably of actors— but it was impossible for me to tell. At tin.' risk of acquiring a telescopic neck, I leaned to the right, then to the left. But I had not counted on the balloon sleeves of the blonde, which were per fect, monsters of swollen silk, and which masked completely both wings of the stage, as her hat did the middle. " Holy smoke !'* said 1 to my friend, that hat is going to be rather a nuis ance."

The blonde lady heard me ; she turned slightly, put up her lorgnon, and sur veyed me with the utmost haughtiness. Then shrugging her shoulders she pull ed up her sleeves, so that it was im possible for me to see even the pro scenium arch. Then she braced up her feet against the chair, in front, and hoisted herself up a few inches, so that by this gymnastic feat she succeeded in elevating her vegetable garden even more than before.
