there'ssomuchtoputup,andthefirstscenebeginswith'watertothefrontofthewings.'"thatistosay,thewaterhadtocomeforwardsofar.butwhen,ontheotherhand,thesameinteriorsceneremainedthroughfiveacts,heusedtopronounceitasensible,well-writtenplay,arestingplay,whichperformeditself,withoutputtingupscenes.

inearliertimes,bywhichnameourauntusedtodesignatethirtyyearsago,sheandthebefore-mentionedherrsivertsenhadbeenyounger.atthattimehehadalreadybeenconnectedwiththemachinery,andwas,asshesaid,herbenefactor.itusedtobethecustominthosedaysthatintheeveningperformancesintheonlytheatrethetownpossessed,spectatorswereadmittedtothepartcalledthe"flies,"overthestage,andeverymachinisthadoneortwoplacestogiveaway.oftentheflieswerequitefullofgoodcompany;itwassaidthatgenerals'wivesandprivycouncillors'wiveshadbeenupthere.itwasquiteinterestingtolookdownbehindthescenes,andtoseehowthepeoplewalkedtoandfroonthestagewhenthecurtainwasdown.

ouraunthadbeenthereseveraltimes,aswellwhentherewasatragedyaswhentherewasaballet;forthepiecesinwhichtherewerethegreatestnumberofcharactersonthestagewerethemostinterestingtoseefromtheflies.onesatprettymuchinthedarkupthere,andmostpeopletooktheirsupperupwiththem.oncethreeapplesandagreatpieceofbreadandbutterandsausagefelldownrightintothedungeonofugolino,wherethatunhappymanwastobestarvedtodeath;andtherewasgreatlaughteramongtheaudience.thesausagewasoneoftheweightiestreasonswhytheworthymanagementrefusedinfuturetohaveanyspectatorsupintheflies.

"butiwasthereseven-and-thirtytimes,"saidouraunt,"andishallalwaysremembermr.sivertsenforthat."

ontheverylasteveningwhentheflieswerestillopentothepublic,the"judgmentofsolomon"wasperformed,asourauntrememberedverywell.shehad,throughtheinfluenceofherbenefactor,herrsivertsen,procuredafreeadmissionfortheagentfabs,althoughhedidnotdeserveitintheleast,forhewasalwayscuttinghisjokesaboutthetheatreandteasingouraunt;butshehadprocuredhimafreeadmissiontotheflies,forallthat.hewantedtolookatthisplayer-stufffromtheotherside.

"thosewerehisownwords,andtheywerejustlikehim,"saidouraunt.

helookeddownfromaboveonthe'judgmentofsolomon,"andfellasleepoverit.onewouldhavethoughtthathehadcomefromadinnerwheremanytoastshadbeengiven.hewenttosleep,andwaslockedin.andtherehesatthroughthedarknightintheflies,andwhenhewoke,hetoldastory,butourauntwouldnotbelieveit.

"the'judgmentofsolomon'wasover,"hesaid,"andallthepeoplehadgoneaway,upstairsanddownstairs;butnowtherealplaybegan,theafter-piece,whichwasthebestofall,"saidtheagent."thenlifecameintotheaffair.itwasnotthe'judgmentofsolomon'thatwasperformed;no,arealcourtofjudgmentwashelduponthestage."andagentfabshadtheimpudencetotryandmakeourauntbelieveallthis.thatwasthethanksshegotforhavinggothimaplaceintheflies.

whatdidtheagentsay?why,itwascuriousenoughtohear,buttherewasmaliceandsatireinit.

"itlookeddarkenoughupthere,"saidtheagent;"butthenthemagicbusinessbegan-agreatperformance,'thejudgmentinthetheatre.'thebox-keeperswereattheirposts,andeveryspectatorhadtoshowhisghostlypass-book,thatitmightbedecidedifhewastobeadmittedwithhandslooseorbound,andwithorwithoutarandpeoplewhocametoolate,whentheperformancehadbegun,andyoungpeople,whocouldnotalwayswatchthetime,weretiedupoutside,andhadlistslippersputontheirfeet,withwhichtheywereallowedtogoinbeforethebeginningofthenextact,andtheyhadmuzzlestoo.andthenthe'judgmentonthestage'began."

"allmalice,andnotabitoftruthinit,"saidouraunt.

thepainter,whowantedtogettoparadise,hadtogoupastaircasewhichhehadhimselfpainted,butwhichnomancouldmount.thatwastoexpiatehissinsagainstperspective.alltheplantsandbuildings,whichtheproperty-manhadplaced,withinfinitepains,incountriestowhichtheydidnotbelong,thepoorfellowwasobligedtoputintheirrightplacesbeforecockcrow,ifhewantedtogetintoparadise.letherrfabsseehowhewouldgetinhimself;butwhathesaidoftheperformers,tragediansandcomedians,singersanddancers,thatwasthemostrascallyofall.mr.fabs,indeed!