I have had the exhibition closed for
one hour, in order that I might show my appreciation of my friend
Mr. Tyler."
Toby looked around in some alarm, fearing that Mr. Treat's friendship
was about to be displayed in one of his state dinners, which he
had learned to fear rather than enjoy. But as he saw no preparations
for dinner he breathed more freely and wondered what all this
ceremony could possibly mean.
Neither he nor Ella was long left in doubt, for as soon as they
had entered, Mrs. Treat waddled from behind the screen which served
them as a dressing room, with a bundle in her arms, which she handed
to her husband.
He took it and, quickly mounting the platform, leaving Ella and
Toby below, he commenced to speak, with very many flourishes of
his thin arms.
"My friends," he began, as he looked down upon his audience of three,
who were listening in the following attitudes: Ella and Toby were
standing upon the ground at the foot of the platform, looking up
with wide open, staring eyes; and his fleshy wife was seated on a
bench which had evidently been placed in such a position below the
speaker's stand that she could hear and see all that was going on
without the fatigue of standing up, which, for one of her size,
was really very hard work -- "My friends," repeated the skeleton,
as he held his bundle in front of him with one hand and gesticulated
with the other, "we all of us know that tomorrow our esteemed and
worthy friend Mr.
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