Evergreen and holly from the woods , blooming plants from the hothouse on Parnassus , and flags of all nations made it very gay that night in honour of the guests who were coming , chief among them , Miss Cameron , who kept her promise faithfully . The orchestra tuned their instruments with unusual care , the scene-shifters set their stage with lavish elegance , the prompter heroically took his seat in the stifling nook provided for him , and the actors dressed with trembling hands that dropped the pins , and perspiring brows whereon the powder would n't stick . Beaumont and Fletcher were everywhere , feeling that their literary reputation was at stake ; for sundry friendly critics were invited , and reporters , like mosquitoes , can not be excluded from any earthly scene , be it a great man 's death-bed or a dime museum . ` Has she come ? ' was the question asked by every tongue behind the curtain ; and when Tom , who played an old man , endangered his respectable legs among the footlights to peep , announced that he saw Miss Cameron 's handsome head in the place of honour , a thrill pervaded the entire company , and Josie declared with an excited gasp that she was going to have stage fright for the first time in her life . ` I 'll shake you if you do , ' said Mrs Jo , who was in such a wild state of dishevelment with her varied labours that she might have gone on as Madge Wildlife , without an additional rag or crazy elf-lock . ` You 'll have time to get your wits together while we do our piece . We are old stagers and calm as clocks , ' answered Demi , with a nod towards Alice , ready in her pretty dress and all her properties at hand . But both clocks were going rather faster than usual , as heightened colour , brilliant eyes , and a certain flutter under the laces and velvet coat betrayed . They were to open the entertainment with a gay little piece which they had played before and did remarkably well . Alice was a tall girl , with dark hair and eyes , and a face which intelligence , health , and a happy heart made beautiful . She was looking her best now , for the brocades , plumes , and powder of the Marquise became her stately figure ; and Demi in his court suit , with sword , three-cornered hat , and white wig , made as gallant a Baron as one would wish to see . Josie was the maid , and looked her part to the life , being as pretty , pert , and inquisitive as any French soubrette . These three were all the characters ; and the success of the piece depended on the spirit and skill with which the quickly changing moods of the quarrelsome lovers were given , their witty speeches made to tell , and by-play suited to the courtly period in which the scene was laid . Few would have recognized sober John and studious Alice in the dashing gentleman and coquettish lady , who kept the audience laughing at their caprices ; while they enjoyed the brilliant costumes , and admired the ease and grace of the young actors . Josie was a prominent figure in the plot , as she listened at keyholes , peeped into notes , and popped in and out at all the most inopportune moments , with her nose in the air , her hands in her apron-pockets , and curiosity pervading her little figure from the topmost bow of her jaunty cap to the red heels of her slippers . All went smoothly ; and the capricious Marquise , after tormenting the devoted Baron to her heart 's content , owned herself conquered in the war of wits , and was just offering the hand he had fairly won , when a crash startled them , and a heavily decorated side-scene swayed forward , ready to fall upon Alice . Demi saw it and sprung before her to catch and hold it up , standing like a modern Samson with the wall of a house on his back . The danger was over in a moment , and he was about to utter his last speech , when the excited young scene-shifter , who had flown up a ladder to repair the damage , leaned over to whisper ` All right ' , and release Demi from his spread-eagle attitude : as he did so , a hammer slipped out of his pocket , to fall upon the upturned face below , inflicting a smart blow and literally knocking the Baron 's part out of his head . ' A quick curtain , ' robbed the audience of a pretty little scene not down on the bill ; for the Marquise flew to staunch the blood with a cry of alarm : ` Oh !
XXXXX , you are hurt !
Alice John Marquise Parnassus first nook plumes prompter right soubrette