widow Brown exclaimed aloud, causing titters throughout the hall.
The mood was broken. Excited conversation erupted everywhere, as the Muses raced across the stage dragging the heavy curtain shut.
Doctor Lambeth came back out. Laydees and gentlemen, it has been our great pleasure—, he began, but his voice was lost in the hubbub.
Who was responsible for the choice of this scene? A pig-faced man demanded angrily, while another man said that personally he had found Romeo and Juliet to be totally charming and elevating in the manner of all great tragedy.
Oh poppycock! A skinny lady with spectacles said to our right.
Adeline! Ida! shrilled the widow.
Stay right where you are, Aunt Cecelia said severely, pointing to us. She did not look a bit edified. She held her special-smelling handkerchief to her face while we waited for the widow to grab up Adeline and Ida. Then Aunt Cecelia set forth across the hall, followed by the widow Brown. Mary White and I came in their wake, straight out the big double doors into the dark chilly night. I had to hold up the skirt of the blue velvet dress, which was too long for me, as off we went down the street toward the widows house.
Well! Aunt Cecelia said. I must say I had misunderstood the nature of this spectacle. The Muses were all well and good, but Romeo and Juliet went beyond the pale, dont you agree, Muriel? And good heavens, those costumes—girls in pants, in public! What has become of modesty? of femininity? I would like to know. Young ladys should not appear in public at all if their judgment is shown to be this faulty, this rash. Especially not young married ladys, the very idea.
Oh come now, Sissy, the widow Brown said in her high voice. Certainly there can be no immodesty in a young lady doing something which the whole community approves. Why these Tableaux are performed everywhere now, they are quite the thing. And look at how much money they must have raised, and for a very good cause, I might add.
To say that a thing is done does not make it right, Muriel. Each of Aunt Cecelias words came out in a puff of white breath as we paused by the last streetlight on our way back.
You need not preach to me, my dear. The widow sounded mad. Perhaps you have been too long in the country.
Country has nothing to do with it, I assure you, Aunt Cecelia said. Those girls were not comporting themselves as ladys. Mark my words, this never would have happened before the War.
Then it is high time for a few changes, the widow said. No one thought I could take over for Aldred either and yet I have done so quite competently if I do say so myself. For the widow owns and operates the Brown Printing and Engraving Co. Inc.
It is a completely different issue. Aunt Cecelia bit off each word.
No, I dont think it is, the widow said, but then we were there and all the dogs ran out barking. The carriage stood in front of the widows house with Virgil ready to tuck us all under the robes. Then he clicked to the horses and off we went through the clear and starry night.
Molly? It was Mary White coming forward to sit on the bench with me and Virgil. Isnt it beautiful? Mary White said, and I said, Yes. It is beautiful. Soon she was asleep too, her head against my shoulder, her breathing aslight as little Junius. Aunt Cecelia snored in the back. I made sure that Mary White was fully covered by the robes. As for me, I was much too excited to sleep. The dew fell all around us, turning fast to frost which had given the whole countryside a shine well before we reached Agate Hill. I pushed the robe down so I could feel the frost on my face, for I want to feel everything Dear Diary. I want to feel everything there is. I do not want to be a lady. Instead I want to be in a Tableaux Vivant myself, I want to be Tragedy, I want to be Juliet, I want to be Romeo. Thus with a kiss I die.
December 7, 1872
It was the worst thing I have ever seen Dear Diary or ever hope to see.
It all started yesterday when Aunt Mitty
The mood was broken. Excited conversation erupted everywhere, as the Muses raced across the stage dragging the heavy curtain shut.
Doctor Lambeth came back out. Laydees and gentlemen, it has been our great pleasure—, he began, but his voice was lost in the hubbub.
Who was responsible for the choice of this scene? A pig-faced man demanded angrily, while another man said that personally he had found Romeo and Juliet to be totally charming and elevating in the manner of all great tragedy.
Oh poppycock! A skinny lady with spectacles said to our right.
Adeline! Ida! shrilled the widow.
Stay right where you are, Aunt Cecelia said severely, pointing to us. She did not look a bit edified. She held her special-smelling handkerchief to her face while we waited for the widow to grab up Adeline and Ida. Then Aunt Cecelia set forth across the hall, followed by the widow Brown. Mary White and I came in their wake, straight out the big double doors into the dark chilly night. I had to hold up the skirt of the blue velvet dress, which was too long for me, as off we went down the street toward the widows house.
Well! Aunt Cecelia said. I must say I had misunderstood the nature of this spectacle. The Muses were all well and good, but Romeo and Juliet went beyond the pale, dont you agree, Muriel? And good heavens, those costumes—girls in pants, in public! What has become of modesty? of femininity? I would like to know. Young ladys should not appear in public at all if their judgment is shown to be this faulty, this rash. Especially not young married ladys, the very idea.
Oh come now, Sissy, the widow Brown said in her high voice. Certainly there can be no immodesty in a young lady doing something which the whole community approves. Why these Tableaux are performed everywhere now, they are quite the thing. And look at how much money they must have raised, and for a very good cause, I might add.
To say that a thing is done does not make it right, Muriel. Each of Aunt Cecelias words came out in a puff of white breath as we paused by the last streetlight on our way back.
You need not preach to me, my dear. The widow sounded mad. Perhaps you have been too long in the country.
Country has nothing to do with it, I assure you, Aunt Cecelia said. Those girls were not comporting themselves as ladys. Mark my words, this never would have happened before the War.
Then it is high time for a few changes, the widow said. No one thought I could take over for Aldred either and yet I have done so quite competently if I do say so myself. For the widow owns and operates the Brown Printing and Engraving Co. Inc.
It is a completely different issue. Aunt Cecelia bit off each word.
No, I dont think it is, the widow said, but then we were there and all the dogs ran out barking. The carriage stood in front of the widows house with Virgil ready to tuck us all under the robes. Then he clicked to the horses and off we went through the clear and starry night.
Molly? It was Mary White coming forward to sit on the bench with me and Virgil. Isnt it beautiful? Mary White said, and I said, Yes. It is beautiful. Soon she was asleep too, her head against my shoulder, her breathing aslight as little Junius. Aunt Cecelia snored in the back. I made sure that Mary White was fully covered by the robes. As for me, I was much too excited to sleep. The dew fell all around us, turning fast to frost which had given the whole countryside a shine well before we reached Agate Hill. I pushed the robe down so I could feel the frost on my face, for I want to feel everything Dear Diary. I want to feel everything there is. I do not want to be a lady. Instead I want to be in a Tableaux Vivant myself, I want to be Tragedy, I want to be Juliet, I want to be Romeo. Thus with a kiss I die.
December 7, 1872
It was the worst thing I have ever seen Dear Diary or ever hope to see.
It all started yesterday when Aunt Mitty
Similar Books
