Lom goes to the Pantomime. 25

than in the day, as though they came out
at night like black beetles. At last they
stopped at a great door, where numbers were
already rushing in to see the pantomime.

“Annie,” said his aunt, “take May’s hand
and [ll take Tom’s. Bob, look after the
others.”

They pushed their way along the passage,
and opened the door into a little room, which
looked out ona large one filled with rows-and
rows of people. It seemed to belong to his
aunt, for she sat down at once without asking
anybody.

“ Now, children,” she said, “go to the front,
where you can see best.”

Tom saw before him a great painted picture,
that all the rows of people were staring at.

“Ts that the pantomime ?” he whispered.

Bob shook his head.

“That’s only the curtain. It will pull up,
and then you will see the pantomime.”

Tom had never seen a curtain like it before.
It was not like a window-curtain or a bed-
curtain, and he would never have known it to