Kate. We’ll manage in the same way.
(Lays a long string on the floor, passes it under the feet of the wax-works, and drops the end of it in a work-box upon the table.)
Arthur. Don’t you think you girls ought to be holding your posies, and your flags, and your flower-baskets, and wearing your wreaths? They’ll make your wax-work look handsomer.
Caroline. So they will.
(Girls get their posies, little flags, and baskets, take wreaths from hats, and put them on their heads.)
Anna. You must take a key, and pretend to wind up the machinery. What song shall we sing?
Lucy. “The merry month of May” is perfectly splendid.
Caroline. I wonder if we know the words. Let’s try. (They sing a May-song.)
Kate. That’s a good song. Now then! All ready! Stand in your places (gets the door-key). Arms folded, Tommy! When I’ve done winding up, Arthur will begin to take aim, Ned will begin to scowl and to hold up his sword, and you girls will begin to sing and dance around. Can’t you hold your hands high, so the flowers and flags will show? (Girls raise their hands.) That’s prettier. Now all stand just as still as real wax-works till the machinery is wound up; then begin. We’ll play, that, when I throw up my handkerchief, the curtain falls. Now!
(Kate winds the machinery, the actors remaining quiet. When the winding stops, they begin to perform their parts. When the dancers have danced twice around the circle, Kate throws up her handkerchief.)