It was not with the joy which it had given him when he first es-
sayed it, that he now put on the garb of Hamlet : he only dressed
himself, that he might be in readiness. On joining the women
in the stage-room/ they unanimously cried that nothing sat upon
him right ; the fine feather stood awry ; the buckle of his belt
did not fit : they began to slit, to sew, and piece together. The
music started : Philina still objected somewhat to his ruff; Au-
relia had much to say against his mantle. ^' Leave me alone,
good people," cried he,, ^this negligence will make me liker
Hamlet." The women would not let him go, but continued
trimming him. The music ceased ; the acting was begun. He
looked at himself in the glass ; pressed his hat closer down upon
his face, and retouched the painting of his cheeks.
At this instant, somebody came rushing in and cried : "« The
Ghost ! the Ghost ! "

Wilhelm had not once had time all day to think of the Ghost,
and whether it wowld come or not. His anxiety on that head
was at length removed, and now some strange assistant was to
be expected. The stage manager came in, inquiring after vari-
ous matters ; Wilhelm had not time to ask about the Ghost ; he
hastened to present himself before the throne, where King and
Queen, surrounded with their court, were already glancing in all
the splendors of royalty, and waiting till the scene in front of
them should be concluded. He caught the last words of Hora«
tio, who was speaking of the Ghost, in extreme confusion, and
seemed to have almost forgotten his part.
