a quarter before six
And at length the great day arrived . The crier was sent round , in the morning , to proclaim the entertainments with the sound of bell in all the thoroughfares ; and extra bills of three feet long by nine inches wide , were dispersed in all directions , flung down all the areas , thrust under all the knockers , and developed in all the shops . They were placarded on all the walls too , though not with complete success , for an illiterate person having undertaken this office during the indisposition of the regular bill-sticker , a part were posted sideways , and the remainder upside down . At half-past five , there was a rush of four people to the gallery-door ; at a quarter before six , there were at least a dozen ; at six o'clock the kicks were terrific ; and when the elder Master Crummles opened the door , he was obliged to run behind it for his life . Fifteen shillings were taken by Mrs. Grudden in the first ten minutes . Behind the scenes , the same unwonted excitement prevailed . Miss Snevellicci was in such a perspiration that the paint would scarcely stay on her face .