I do love them best , and keep my room full of the posies some good fairy hangs on my gate . Upon my word , I think I 've found the fairy out -- these are so like , ' she added quickly , as her eye went from the flowers in her hand to others that stood near by , arranged with the same taste . Josie 's blush and smile betrayed her before she said , with a look full of girlish adoration and humility : ' I could n't help it ; I admire you so much . I know it was a liberty ; but as I could n't get in myself , I loved to think my posies pleased you . ' Something about the child and her little offering touched the woman , and , drawing Josie to her , she said , with no trace of actress in face or voice : ` They did please me , dear , and so do you . I 'm tired of praise ; and love is very sweet , when it is simple and sincere like this . ' Josie remembered to have heard , among many other stories , that Miss Cameron lost her lover years ago , and since had lived only for art . Now she felt that this might have been true ; and pity for the splendid , lonely life made her face very eloquent , as well as grateful . Then , as if anxious to forget the past , her new friend said , in the commanding way that seemed natural to her : ` Let me see what you can do . Juliet , of course . All begin with that . Poor soul , how she is murdered ! ' Now , Josie had intended to begin with Romeo 's much-enduring sweetheart , and follow her up with Bianca , Pauline , and several of the favourite idols of stage-struck girls ; but being a shrewd little person , she suddenly saw the wisdom of Uncle Laurie 's advice , and resolved to follow it . So instead of the rant Miss Cameron expected , Josie gave poor Ophelia 's mad scene , and gave it very well , having been trained by the college professor of elocution and done it many times . She was too young , of course , but the white gown , the loose hair , the real flowers she scattered over the imaginary grave , added to the illusion ; and she sung the songs sweetly , dropped her pathetic curtsies , and vanished behind the curtain that divided the rooms with a backward look that surprised her critical auditor into a quick gesture of applause . Cheered by that welcome sound , Josie ran back as a little hoyden in one of the farces she had often acted , telling a story full of fun and naughtiness at first , but ending with a sob of repentance and an earnest prayer for pardon . ` Very good ! Try again . Better than I expected , ' called the voice of the oracle . Josie tried Portia 's speech , and recited very well , giving due emphasis to each fine sentence .
Then , unable to refrain from what she considered her greatest effort , she burst into XXXXX 's balcony scene , ending with the poison and the tomb .
Cameron Josie Juliet Laurie Ophelia Pauline Portia adoration curtsies murdered