While waiting they studied their programmes.  First was an overture by the orchestra, after which came “The Gleasons, in their mirth-moving musical farce, entitled ‘McMonnigal’s Court-ship.’” This was to be followed by “The Lamont Sisters, Winnie and Violet, serio-comiques and skirt dancers.”  And after this came a great array of other “artists” and “specialty performers,” musical wonders, acrobats, lightning artists, ventriloquists, and last of all, “The feature of the evening, the crowning scientific achievement of the nineteenth century, the kinetoscope.”  McTeague was excited, dazzled.  In five years he had not been twice to the theatre.  Now he beheld himself inviting his “girl” and her mother to accompany him.  He began to feel that he was a man of the world.  He ordered a cigar.

Meanwhile the house was filling up.  A few side brackets were turned on.  The ushers ran up and down the aisles, stubs of tickets between their thumb and finger, and from every part of the auditorium could be heard the sharp clap-clapping of the seats as the ushers flipped them down.  A buzz of talk arose.  In the gallery a street gamin whistled shrilly, and called to some friends on the other side of the house.

“Are they go-wun to begin pretty soon, ma?” whined Owgooste for the fifth or sixth time; adding, “Say, ma, can’t I have some candy?” A cadaverous little boy had appeared in their aisle, chanting, “Candies, French mixed candies, popcorn, peanuts and candy.”  The orchestra entered, each man crawling out from an opening under the stage, hardly larger than the gate of a rabbit hutch.  At every instant now the crowd increased; there were but few seats that were not taken.  The waiters hurried up and down the aisles, their trays laden with beer glasses.  A smell of cigar-smoke filled the air, and soon a faint blue haze rose from all corners of the house.

“Ma, when are they go-wun to begin?” cried Owgooste.  As he spoke the iron advertisement curtain rose, disclosing the curtain proper underneath.  This latter curtain was quite an affair.  Upon it was painted a wonderful picture.  A flight of marble steps led down to a stream of water; two white swans, their necks arched like the capital letter S, floated about.  At the head of the marble steps were two vases filled with red and yellow flowers, while at the foot was moored a gondola.  This gondola was full of red velvet rugs that hung over the side and trailed in the water.  In the prow of the gondola a young man in vermilion tights held a mandolin in his left hand, and gave his right to a girl in white satin.  A King Charles spaniel, dragging a leading-string in the shape of a huge pink sash, followed the girl.  Seven scarlet roses were scattered upon the two lowest steps, and eight floated in the water.

“Ain’t that pretty, Mac?” exclaimed Trina, turning to the dentist.

“Ma, ain’t they go-wun to begin now-wow?” whined Owgooste.  Suddenly the lights all over the house blazed up.  “Ah!” said everybody all at once.