XXXIII

where he would find them unexpectedly. They were useful, pretty, or funny⁠—a new standish on his table, a little vase for his flower⁠—he always has one, or a bit of green in a glass, to keep him fresh, he says⁠—and a holder for his blower, so that he needn’t burn up what Amy calls ‘mouchoirs.’ I made it like those Beth invented⁠—a big butterfly with a fat body, and black and yellow wings, worsted feelers, and bead eyes. It took his fancy immensely, and he put it on his mantelpiece as an article of vertu ; so it was rather a failure after all. Poor as he is, he didn’t forget a servant or a child in the house; and not a soul here, from the French laundrywoman to Miss Norton, forgot him. I was so glad of that. “They got up a masquerade, and had a gay time New Year’s Eve. I didn’t mean to go down, having no dress; but at the last minute, Mrs. Kirke remembered some old brocades, and Miss Norton lent me lace and feathers; so I dressed up as Mrs. Malaprop, and sailed in with a mask on. No one knew me, for I disguised my voice, and no one dreamed of the silent, haughty Miss March (for they think I am very stiff and cool, most of them; and so I am to whippersnappers) could dance and dress, and burst out into a ‘nice derangement of epitaphs, like an allegory on the banks of the Nile.’ I enjoyed it very much; and when we unmasked, it was fun to see them stare at me. I heard one of the young men tell another that he knew I’d been an actress; in fact, he thought he remembered seeing me at one of the minor theatres. Meg will relish that joke. Mr. Bhaer was Nick Bottom, and Tina was Titania⁠—a perfect little fairy in his arms. To see them dance was ‘quite a landscape,’ to use a Teddy-ism.