and Lily the lovely daughter, both in the Greek costume, and it is easy
for one to imagine how becoming it must have been.
This was an acted tableau; for, as Haidee lay listlessly on her divan,
thinking of the gallant being who had sung under her window one
moonlight night, the same gallant being magnificently got up as a
corsair burst into the room, followed by his band. Oceanicus looked as
dark, fierce, and melodramatic as half-a-dozen Byrons, and quite
electrified the audience by knocking down the stately papa, exclaiming,
"Tyrant, I defy thee! Ha! ha! she is mine!" and rushing from the stage
with Lily on his arm.
This thrilling display of tragic power produced round after round of
tumultuous applause, and cries of "Lob! Lob!" from all parts of the
house. The curtain rose, but no one appeared except Columbus, still on
the ground, having been half-stunned and wholly bewildered by the
attack, that not having been planned beforehand. He lay staring
blankly, and looking so forlorn that the wags who had pulled up the
curtain dropped it, and raised him instead. Everybody laughed at him,
and praised Oceanicus. The Lobsters quite glowed with pride; the young
ladies declared it was "perfectly thrilling;" and the young gentlemen
vowed that "Lob outdid himself, by Jove!"
By the time the excitement subsided, people began to wonder why the
"stars" didn't appear to receive their honors. But nowhere could they
be found, and Mrs. Crab began to look anxious. Some one suggested that
they might be strolling on the beach to cool and compose themselves. A
careful search was made, but no trace of them was discovered, till an
old Jelly-fish who was lying on the sand informed them that a young
couple had sailed away not long before, and that he heard them say
there would be just time to stop at the Rev. Dr. Cod's before they
caught the outward-bound steamer.
When this dreadful intelligence was carried back to the party, Mrs.
Crab fainted dead away, and the Commodore stamped about, using very
strong language. Miss Mosquito triumphantly exclaimed, "I told you
so;" and every one was much excited.
The party broke up at once, and as the last wave left the door Mrs.
Turtle said with a long sigh, "For my part, I'm glad the season's over,
that we are done with fashion and frivolity, and can go back to our
simple, sensible ways, and live like respectable creatures."
Cambridge: Press of John Wilson & Son.
End of Project Gutenberg's Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag, Volume 3, by Louisa May Alcott