it.  Agamemnon would like to wear a mask, then he would have no trouble in keeping up his expression.  But Elizabeth Eliza objected to the picture in Dr. Schliemann’s book; she did not like it for Agamemnon,—­it was too slanting in the eyes.  So it was decided he should take the part of Nick Bottom, in “Midsummer Night’s Dream.”  He could then wear the ass’s head, which would have the same advantage as a mask, and would conceal his own face entirely.  Then he could be making up any face he pleased in the ass’s head, and would look like an ass without any difficulty, while his feet would show he was not one.  Solomon John thought that they might make an ass’s head if they could get a pattern, or could see the real animal and form an idea of the shape.  Barnum’s Circus would be along in a few weeks, and they could go on purpose to study the donkeys, as there usually was more than one donkey in the circus.  Agamemnon, however, in going with a friend to a costumer’s in Boston, found an ass’s head already made.

The little boys found in an illustrated paper an accurate description of the Hindu snake-charmer’s costume, and were so successful in their practice of shades of brown for the complexion, that Solomon John decided to take the part of Othello, and use some of their staining fluid.

There was some discussion as to consulting the lady from Philadelphia, who was in town.

Solomon John thought they ought to practise getting on by themselves, for soon the Atlantic would lie between her and them.  Mrs. Peterkin thought they could telegraph.  Elizabeth Eliza wanted to submit to her two or three questions about the supper, and whether, if her mother were Queen Elizabeth, they could have Chinese lanterns.  Was China invented at that time?  Agamemnon was sure China was one of the oldest countries in the world and did exist, though perhaps Queen Elizabeth did not know it.

Elizabeth Eliza was relieved to find that the lady from Philadelphia thought the question not important.  It would be impossible to have everything in the house to correspond with all the different characters, unless they selected some period to represent, such as the age of Queen Elizabeth.  Of course, Elizabeth Eliza would not wish to do this when her father was to be Julius Caesar.

The lady from Philadelphia advised Mrs. Peterkin to send for Jones the “caterer” to take charge of the supper.  But his first question staggered her.  How many did she expect?

They had not the slightest idea.  They had sent invitations to everybody.  The little boys proposed getting the directory of the place, and marking out the people they didn’t know and counting up the rest.  But even if this would give the number of invitations, it would not show how many would accept; and then there was no such directory.  They could not expect answers, as their invitations were cards with “At Home” on them.  One answer had come from a lady, that she too would be “at