Zom goes to the Pantomime. 29

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oo Ae a

“Do be quiet. Listen to what he says.
Don’t bea goose. It’s not real—only acting.”

“The prince zs real,” said Tom; but Bob
was too busy listening and looking to answer.
Tom could not forget the unhappy prince,
even while he laughed with the others at the
clown. There was a great deal of rushing
about and jumping, and then the curtain came
down, and they had to wait again.

Tom was quite puzzled as to what was real
and what was not real, yet he did not like to
ask Bob any more questions. Besides, the
make-believe was just as pretty as the real,
if not prettier. .

“ Never mind, Tom,” said his aunt, in a low
voice. “ You need not be sorry for the prince.
You will see it will all come right in the end.”

“ Are they getting it right now behind the
curtain ?” whispered Tom; and he was more
content to wait, seeing nothing, when he
thought that was what they were doing.

This was the last time it went up at all.
The poor Prince had evidently been made
happier while it was down, for he spoke in -