Part 29 (2/2)

'This is Mr Lenville, who does our first tragedy, Mr Johnson,' said the pantomimist

'Except when old bricks and mortar takes it into his head to do it himself, you should add, Tommy,' remarked Mr Lenville 'You knoho bricks and mortar is, I suppose, sir?'

'I do not, indeed,' replied Nicholas

'We call Cru is rather in the heavy and ponderous way,' said Mr Lenville 'I ot a part of twelve lengths here, which I ht, and I haven't had time to look at it yet; I'm a confounded quick study, that's one co himself with this reflection, Mr Lenville drew froreasy and cru made another pass at his friend, proceeded to walk to and fro, conning it to hi occasionally in such appropriate action as his ieneral muster of the company had by this time taken place; for besides Mr Lenville and his friend Toentleman eak eyes, who played the low-spirited lovers and sang tenor songs, and who had come arm-in-arehimself very aentleman in the last depths of shabbiness, who played the cal especial court to Mrs Cruentleman, a shade more respectable, who played the irascible old men-those funny felloho have nephews in the army and perpetually run about with thick sticks to compel the-looking person in a rough great-coat, who strode up and down in front of the la away, in an undertone, with great vivacity for the a as he had been, and his figure was rather running to seed; but there was an air of exaggerated gentility about hi coin one corner; but they seeether without attracting any attention

The ladies were gathered in a little knot by themselves round the rickety table before , from a medley dance to Lady Macbeth, and also always played so, from the depths of her coal-scuttle straw bonnet, at Nicholas, and affecting to be absorbed in the recital of a diverting story to her friend Miss Ledrook, who had brought her work, and wasup a ruff in the most natural manner possible There was Miss Belvaho seldoe in white silk hose, to stand with one leg bent, and conteo in and out after Mr Crulets of the beautiful Miss Bravassa, who had once had her likeness taken 'in character' by an engraver's apprentice, whereof i up for sale in the pastry-cook's , and the greengrocer's, and at the circulating library, and the box-office, whenever the announce bills caht There was Mrs Lenville, in a very limp bonnet and veil, decidedly in that way in which she would wish to be if she truly loved Mr Lenville; there was Miss Gazingi, with an iing Mr Crummles, junior, with both ends, in fun Lastly, there was Mrs Grudden in a brown cloth pelisse and a beaver bonnet, who assisted Mrs Crummles in her domestic affairs, and took money at the doors, and dressed the ladies, and swept the house, and held the prompt book when everybody else was on for the last scene, and acted any kind of part on any e it, and was put down in the bills under any na well in print

Mr Folair having obligingly confided these particulars to Nicholas, left hile with his fellows; the work of personal introduction was completed by Mr Vincent Cruenius and learning

'I beg your pardon,' said Miss Snevellicci, sidling towards Nicholas, 'but did you ever play at Canterbury?'

'I never did,' replied Nicholas

'I recollect entleman at Canterbury,' said Miss Snevellicci, 'only for a fewthe company as he joined it, so like you that I felt almost certain it was the same'

'I see you now for the first tiallantry 'I aotten it'

'Oh, I' of you to say so,' retorted Miss Snevellicci with a graceful bend 'Now I look at you again, I see that the gentleman at Canterbury hadn't the sa notice of such things, won't you?'

'Not at all,' said Nicholas 'How can I feel otherwise than flattered by your notice in any way?'

'Oh! you men are such vain creatures!' cried Miss Snevellicci Whereupon, she beca out her pocket-handkerchief froilt clasp, called to Miss Ledrook- 'Led, my dear,' said Miss Snevellicci

'Well, what is the matter?' said Miss Ledrook

'It's not the same'

'Not the same what?'

'Canterbury-you knohat I mean Come here! I want to speak to you'

But Miss Ledrook wouldn't coo to Miss Ledrook, which she did, in a skipping ; and Miss Ledrook evidently joked Miss Snevellicci about being struck with Nicholas; for, after so, Miss Snevellicci hit Miss Ledrook very hard on the backs of her hands, and retired up, in a state of pleasing confusion

'Ladies and gentle on a piece of paper, 'we'll call the Mortal Struggle toue, and Ways and Means, you're all up in, so we shall only want one rehearsal Everybody at ten, if you please'

'Everybody at ten,' repeated Mrs Grudden, looking about her

'On Mondaywe shall read a new piece,' said Mr Cruood part Mr Johnson will take care of that'

'Hallo!' said Nicholas, starting 'I-'

'On Mondayhis voice, to drown the unfortunate Mr Johnson's reentleentlemen required no second notice to quit; and, in a few minutes, the theatre was deserted, save by the Crummles family, Nicholas, and Ser aside, 'I don't think I can be ready by Monday'

'Pooh, pooh,' replied Mr Crummles

'But really I can't,' returned Nicholas; 'my invention is not accustoht produce-'

'Invention! what the devil's that got to do with it!' cried the , er, with evident impatience 'Do you understand French?'

'Perfectly well'

'Very good,' said thea roll of paper frolish, and put your narily, 'if I haven't often said that I wouldn't have a e, so that they lish, and save all this trouble and expense'

Nicholas s to do about your lodgings?' said Mr Cru that, for the first week, it would be an uncommon convenience to have a turn-up bedstead in the pit, but he hts that way

'Coo with you after dinner, and show you the most likely place'

The offer was not to be refused; Nicholas and Mr Cruave Mrs Crummles an arm each, and walked up the street in stately array Smike, the boys, and the phenomenon, went home by a shorter cut, and Mrs Grudden remained behind to take some cold Irish stew and a pint of porter in the box-office

Mrs Cru to i consciousness of innocence, and that heroic fortitude which virtue alone inspires Mr Cruait of a hardened despot; but they both attracted some notice from many of the passers-by, and when they heard a whisper of 'Mr and Mrs Crummles!' or saw a little boy run back to stare them in the face, the severe expression of their countenances relaxed, for they felt it was popularity

Mr Crummles lived in St Thomas's Street, at the house of one Bulph, a pilot, who sported a boat-green door, -fraer of a drowned man on his parlour mantelshelf, with other maritime and natural curiosities He displayed also a brass knocker, a brass plate, and a brass bell-handle, all very bright and shi+ning; and had a mast, with a vane on the top of it, in his back yard

'You are welco round to Nicholas when they reached the boed front roolad to see the cloth laid

'We have but a shoulder of mutton with onion sauce,' said Mrs Crummles, in the sa you to partake of it'

'You are very good,' replied Nicholas, 'I shall do it ample justice'

'Vincent,' said Mrs Crummles, 'what is the hour?'

'Five minutes past dinner-ti the bell 'Let the mutton and onion sauce appear'