Part 30 (1/2)

The slave who attended upon Mr Bulph's lodgers, disappeared, and after a short interval reappeared with the festive banquet Nicholas and the infant phenomenon opposed each other at the pembroke-table, and Smike and the master Crummleses dined on the sofa bedstead

'Are they very theatrical people here?' asked Nicholas

'No,' replied Mr Cru his head, 'far from it-far from it'

'I pity them,' observed Mrs Crummles

'So do I,' said Nicholas; 'if they have no relish for theatrical entertainments, properly conducted'

'Then they have none, sir,' rejoined Mr Crummles 'To the infant's benefit, last year, on which occasion she repeated three of her most popular characters, and also appeared in the Fairy Porcupine, as originally performed by her, there was a house of no more than four pound twelve'

'Is it possible?' cried Nicholas

'And two pound of that was trust, pa,' said the phenomenon

'And two pound of that was trust,' repeated Mr Crummles 'Mrs Crummles herself has played toaudience, Vincent,' said the ood acting-real good acting-the regular thing,' replied Mr Cruive lessons, ma'am?' inquired Nicholas

'I do,' said Mrs Cru here, I suppose?'

'There has been,' said Mrs Crummles 'I have received pupils here I ihter of a dealer in shi+ps' provision; but it afterwards appeared that she was insane when she first came to me It was very extraordinary that she should co quite so sure of that, Nicholas thought it best to hold his peace

'Letafter dinner 'Would you like soood,' replied Nicholas hastily; 'but I think perhaps it would be better if I had somebody of my own size at first, in case I should turn out aard I should feel er 'Perhaps you would And you could play up to the infant, in time, you know'

'Certainly,' replied Nicholas: devoutly hoping that it would be a very long time before he was honoured with this distinction

'Then I'll tell you e'll do,' said Mr Crummles 'You shall study Roet to throw the pump and tubs in by-the-bye-Juliet Miss Snevellicci, old Grudden the nurse-Yes, that'll do very well Rover too;-you et up Rover while you were about it, and Cassio, and Jeremy Diddler You can easily knock them off; one part helps the other so eneral directions Mr Cru hands of Nicholas, and bidding his eldest son go with his were to be had, shook hiht

There is no lack of comfortable furnished apart some that are proportionate to very slender finances; but the forood, and the latter too bad, and they went into so many houses, and caan to think he should be obliged to ask perht in the theatre, after all

Eventually, however, they stumbled upon two small rooms up three pair of stairs, or rather two pair and a ladder, at a tobacconist's shop, on the Co down to the dockyard These Nicholas engaged, only too happy to have escaped any request for payment of a week's rent beforehand

'There! Lay down our personal property, S Crue times, and Heaven only knows the end of them; but I am tired with the events of these three days, and will postpone reflection till tomorrow-if I can'

CHAPTER 24

Of the Great Bespeak for Miss Snevellicci, and the first Appearance of Nicholas upon any Stage Nicholas was up betiun to dress, notwithstanding, when he heard footsteps ascending the stairs, and was presently saluted by the voices of Mr Folair the pantoedian

'House, house, house!' cried Mr Folair

'What, ho! within there,' said Mr Lenville, in a deep voice

'Confound these fellows!' thought Nicholas; 'they have come to breakfast, I suppose I'll open the door directly, if you'll wait an instant'

The gentleuile the interval, had a fencing bout with their walking-sticks on the very s-place: to the unspeakable discoers downstairs

'Here, come in,' said Nicholas, when he had completed his toilet 'In the name of all that's horrible, don'tlittle box this,' said Mr Lenville, stepping into the front rooet in at all 'Pernicious snug'

'For a ht be a trifle too snug,' said Nicholas; 'for, although it is, undoubtedly, a great convenience to be able to reach anything you want fro or the floor, or either side of the roo to es can only be had in an apartment of the most lile man,' returned Mr Lenville 'That reood part in this piece of yours?'

'I glanced at the French copy last night,' said Nicholas 'It looks very good, I think'

'What do youthe struggling fire with his walking-stick, and afterwards wiping it on the skirt of his coat 'Anything in the gruff and grumble way?'

'You turn your wife and child out of doors,' said Nicholas; 'and, in a fit of rage and jealousy, stab your eldest son in the library'

'Do I though!' exclaiood business'

'After which,' said Nicholas, 'you are troubled with remorse till the last act, and then you make up yourthe pistol to your head, a clock strikes-ten'

'I see,' cried Mr Lenville 'Very good'

'You pause,' said Nicholas; 'you recollect to have heard a clock strike ten in your infancy The pistol falls from your hand-you are overcome-you burst into tears, and become a virtuous and exemplary character for ever afterwards'

'Capital!' said Mr Lenville: 'that's a sure card, a sure card Get the curtain doith a touch of nature like that, and it'll be a triuood for me?' inquired Mr Folair, anxiously

'Let me see,' said Nicholas 'You play the faithful and attached servant; you are turned out of doors with the wife and child'

'Always coupled with that infernal phenos, where I won't take any wages, and talk sentiment, I suppose?'

'Why-yes,' replied Nicholas: 'that is the course of the piece'

'I must have a dance of some kind, you know,' said Mr Folair 'You'll have to introduce one for the phenomenon, so you'd bettereasier than that,' said Mr Lenville, observing the disturbed looks of the young dramatist