And with a wave of the hand as much like her model 's as she could make it , Josie departed , looking very pretty and feeling very tragical . Sure now of admittance , she boldly rang at the door which excluded so many , and being ushered into a shady parlour , feasted her eyes upon several fine portraits of great actors while she waited . She had read about most of them , and knew their trials and triumphs so well that she soon forgot herself , and tried to imitate Mrs Siddons as Lady Macbeth , looking up at the engraving as she held her nosegay like the candle in the sleep-walking scene , and knit her youthful brows distressfully while murmuring the speech of the haunted queen . So busy was she that Miss Cameron watched her for several minutes unseen , then startled her by suddenly sweeping in with the words upon her lips , the look upon her face , which made that one of her greatest scenes . ' I never can do it like that ; but I 'll keep trying , if you say I may , ' cried Josie , forgetting her manners in the intense interest of the moment . ` Show me what you can do , ' answered the actress , wisely plunging into the middle of things at once , well knowing that no common chat would satisfy this very earnest little person . ` First let me give you these . I thought you 'd like wild things better than hot-house flowers ; and I loved to bring them , as I 'd no other way to thank you for your great kindness to me , ' said Josie , offering her nosegay with a simple warmth that was very sweet . ' 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 , XXXXX 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 .
Cameron First Josie Juliet Macbeth adoration murdered nosegay parlour posies