. Elizabeth Eliza studied the
costumes of her friends, and wished she had tried each one of them. The
members of the Circumambient Society agreed that it would be always well
to wear costumes at their meetings. As the principles of the society
enforced a sort of uncertainty, if you always went in a different
costume you would never have to keep up your own character. Elizabeth
Eliza thought she should enjoy this. She had all her life been troubled
with uncertainties and questions as to her own part of "Elizabeth
Eliza," wondering always if she were doing the right thing. It did not
seem to her that other people had such a bother. Perhaps they had
simpler parts. They always seemed to know when to speak and when to
be silent, while she was always puzzled as to what she should do as
Elizabeth Eliza. Now, behind her pillow-case, she could look on and do
nothing; all that was expected of her was to be smothered now and then.
She breathed freely and enjoyed herself, because for the evening she
could forget the difficult role of Elizabeth Eliza.

Mrs. Peterkin was bewildered. She thought it a good occasion to study
how Mrs. Peterkin should act; but there were three Mrs. Peterkins. She
found herself gazing first at one, then at another. Often she was
herself called Mrs. Peterkin.

[Illustration: The ass's head proved hot and heavy, and Agamemnon was
forced to hang it over his arm.]

At supper-time the bewilderment increased. She was led in by the Earl
of Leicester, as principal guest. Yet it was to her own dining-room,
and she recognized her own forks and spoons among the borrowed ones,
although the china was different (because their own set was not large
enough to go round for so much company). It was all very confusing. The
dance-music floated through the air. Three Mrs. Peterkins hovered before
her, and two Agamemnons; for the ass's head proved hot and heavy, and
Agamemnon was forced to hang it over his arm as he offered coffee to
Titania. There seemed to be two Elizabeth Elizas, for Elizabeth Eliza
had thrown back her pillow-case in order to eat her fruit-ice. Mr.
Peterkin was wondering how Julius Caesar would have managed to eat
his salad with his fork, before forks were invented, and then he fell
into a fit of abstraction, planning to say "Vale" to the guests as they
left, but anxious that the word should not slip out before the time.
Eight little boys and three Hindu snake-charmers were eating copiously
of frozen pudd