Mr. Peterkin came on in the second scene to receive the water-rates, and made a long speech on taxation.  He was interrupted by Ann Maria as an old woman in a huge bonnet.  She persisted in turning her back to the audience, and speaking so low nobody heard her; and Elizabeth Eliza, who appeared in a more remarkable bonnet, was so alarmed, she went directly back, saying she had forgotten something.  But this was supposed to be the effect intended, and it was loudly cheered.

Then came a long delay, for the little boys brought out a number of their friends to be browned for Hindoos.  Ann Maria played on the piano till the scene was ready.  The curtain rose upon five brown boys done up in blankets and turbans.

“I am thankful that is over,” said Elizabeth Eliza, “for now we can act my word.  Only I don’t myself know the whole.”

“Never mind, let us act it,” said John Osborne, “and the audience can guess the whole.”

“The first syllable must be the letter P,” said Elizabeth Eliza, “and we must have a school.”

Agamemnon was master, and the little boys and their friends went on as scholars.  All the boys talked and shouted at once, acting their idea of a school by flinging peanuts about, and scoffing at the master.

“They’ll guess that to be ‘row,’” said John Osborne in despair; “they’ll never guess ’P’!”

The next scene was gorgeous.  Solomon John, as a Turk, reclined on John Osborne’s army-blanket.  He had on a turban, and a long beard, and all the family shawls.  Ann Maria and Elizabeth Eliza were brought in to him, veiled, by the little boys in their Hindoo costumes.

This was considered the great scene of the evening, though Elizabeth Eliza was sure she did not know what to do,—­whether to kneel or sit down; she did not know whether Turkish women did sit down, and she could not help laughing whenever she looked at Solomon John.  He, however, kept his solemnity.  “I suppose I need not say much,” he had said, “for I shall be the ‘Turk who was dreaming of the hour.’” But he did order the little boys to bring sherbet, and when they brought it without ice, insisted they must have their heads cut off, and Ann Maria fainted, and the scene closed.

“What are we to do now?” asked John Osborne, warming up to the occasion.

“We must have an ‘inn’ scene,” said Elizabeth Eliza, consulting her letter; “two inns if we can.”

“We will have some travelers disgusted with one inn, and going to another,” said John Osborne.

“Now is the time for the bandboxes,” said Solomon John, who, since his Turk scene was over, could give his attention to the rest of the charade.

Elizabeth Eliza and Ann Maria went on as rival hostesses, trying to draw Solomon John, Agamemnon and John Osborne into their several inns.  The little boys carried valises, hand-bags, umbrellas and bandboxes.  Bandbox after bandbox appeared, and when Agamemnon sat down upon his, the applause was immense.  At last the curtain fell.