Part 1 (2/2)
While, as they became used to the light, my keen young eyes were taking these things in, I perceived that the place had occupants.
There were four men and three women. I should have put them down as the seven I had heard alluded to, had there not also been a litter of children. It was only the children who seemed to take any interest in me. They cl.u.s.tered round, a ragam.u.f.fin crowd, regarding me as if I were some strange beast. At last one of them exclaimed,--
”Mother, here's a little girl!”
The woman whom, I supposed, the child addressed, looked up from some potatoes which she was was.h.i.+ng in a pail of water.
”Well, little girl, what is it you're wanting?”
The place, the people, their surroundings, everything was so altogether different to the vague something I had antic.i.p.ated, that, like the creature of moods I was, I seemed, all at once, to have pa.s.sed from a world of fact into a world of dream. It was like one in a dream I answered,--
”I have come to be the Infant Roscius.”
Not unnaturally the lady who was was.h.i.+ng the potatoes failed to understand.
”What's that?” she demanded.
I repeated my a.s.sertion.
”I have come to be the Infant Roscius.”
Other of the grown-ups roused themselves to stare at me.
”What's she talking about?” inquired a second woman, who had a baby at her breast.
An elderly man, who was perched on the edge of the platform smoking a pipe, hazarded an explanation.
”She's after tickets; that's what it is she wants.”
The potato washer seemed to be brightened by the hint.
”Has your mother sent you to buy some tickets?”
I shook my head solemnly.
”I have come to act.”
”To--what?”
That my appearance, words and manner together were creating some sort of a sensation I understood. That these were ignorant people I had already--with my wonted prompt.i.tude--concluded. It seemed to me that it would be necessary to treat them as children--and dull of comprehension at that--to whom I, as a grown-up person, had to explain, in the clearest possible manner, exactly what it was that had brought me there. This I at once proceeded to do, with what I have no doubt whatever was an air of ineffable superiority.
”I am going to be a Wonderful Girl. I am nearly twelve, and Young Betty was only twelve, and he earned over seventeen thousand pounds in one season, and if I earn as much as that I will give it all to you.”
I paused--to reflect. ”At least I would give you a great deal of it.
Of course, I should like to keep some, because a Wonderful Girl mayn't go on long, and when I stop of course I should want to have a fortune to live upon, like Young Betty had. But still that wouldn't matter, because there'd be plenty for seven.”
Amid my confused imaginings I had pictured the announcement of my purpose being received with wild applause. Those who heard would cast themselves at my feet, throw their arms about me, and rain tears upon my head. Not that that sort of thing would be altogether agreeable.
But something of the kind would have to be put up with. When people were beside themselves with grat.i.tude at seeing themselves s.n.a.t.c.hed from the gaping jaws of feelings had to be allowed them. If, however, the persons to whom my explanation was actually addressed were beside themselves with grat.i.tude they managed to conceal the fact with astonis.h.i.+ng success. It struck me that they did not understand me even yet, which showed that they must be excessively dull. More stupid even than the teeny weeny tots in the first cla.s.s who could not be got to see things.
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