signed, to be staying with them; whereas the truth was that a report had been spread abroad, and for once rumour was right, that after the rehearsal a champagne supper would be given by the amateurs, and the company consoled themselves with the idea that if the performances were bad, the wind up of the evening's entertainment would be good.

We now screwed up our courage to the "sticking point," and having decided by lot that we were to commence with "Douglas," after one of Haydn's symphonies had been performed by the band, which consisted of a young professional lady on the piano-forte and Achille de Tourville on his lilliputian fiddle, the curtain drew up, and discovered Kirkonnel and myself as Lord Randolph and Norval; a shout of approbation welcomed us, and if I did not deliver the hacknied speech of the birth, parentage, and education of the shepherd-boy in a manner worthy of Master Betty, the rage of that day, I can at least say I was better than the young aspirant for dramatic fame, who, upon attempting the part in a country theatre, became so overcome with fear that he was spell-bound and tongue-tied, and thus remained until the manager, who was kilted and bonnetted for some other character, came forward, and leading the speechless hero to the foot-lights, spouted forth --

"This young gentleman's name is Norval; on the Grampian hills His father fed his flocks, a frugal swain ;

Whose constant care was to increase his store,

And keep his only son, this young gentleman, at home."

-appeared as Glen

We now came to the quarrel scene, in which F alvon, and his acting elicited rounds of applause; we then shortly proceeded to the last act, where the "blood of Douglas" flows through the treachery of the foe to his house, and my death was hailed with cheerswhether from the fine conception I had of the part, or the delight of the audience in not again seeing me, must ever remain a mystery, except in the breasts of those who were spectators upon this occasion.

The glare of the footlights, fortunately for us, prevented our being able to recognize any one in front; but two small proscenium boxes were open to our view, and in one sat the loveliest creature I ever beheld. Except when occupied with the business of the stage, my eyes were rivetted to the spot my fair incognita occupied. No sooner had the cur

tain dropped, than I took up my station at the opposite wing, and gazed at the beautiful stranger until evidently I attracted not only her attention, but that of a most respectable-looking and well-dressed female who sat beside her, both in the deepest mourning.

"Who is that young girl in black?" I eagerly inquired of Charles de Tourville, as he approached me, equipped for the cabin-boy.

"I never saw her before," he responded; "but if you are anxious to know I will easily ascertain."

"Oh, pray do!" I replied. And in a moment the good-humoured youth sought his mother to find out all particulars respecting the ladies in black.

In a short time my messenger of love returned, and informed me that the younger one was Mademoiselle Céline Bellegarde, daughter of a noble house in France, whose father's property had been confiscated by the Emperor, and that the elder was her maternal aunt, Madame Mireval.

66

My mother tells me," continued Charles, "that Madame Mireval moves in the best circles in London, and that her niece is about to become one of my father's private pupils; it was by pure accident that they happened to call this evening with the Countess of

to ascer

tain terms and hours that would suit. Hearing of the performance, they requested to stay."

Céline had heard her name pronounced, and a slight blush overspread her cheek.

"I must be introduced!" I exclaimed.

At this moment Achille approached, and whispered to me that it was time to dress for the pantomime.

When I thought of the part I was about to take, of the horror of the fantastic dress I was to wear, of the monster I should appear with a white powdered face marked, like an Ojibbeway Indian, with vermilion spots; of the vulgarity of the song I was to introduce, with its yawnings, sneezings, and reelings, my heart revolted within me, and I almost wished Mother Goose and myself at the bottom of the fathomless ocean. "You'll be late!" exclaimed Kirkonnel.

"We must not keep the stage waiting" said F

"You'll take some time to getSquire Bugle's' dress over the clown's," remarked Achille. While Charles, who saw my state of mind and the perplexity I was in, kindly suggested that if I were to put on my nether garments, I could, by throwing his father's cloak over me, appear for a few moments at the conclusion of the play.

To this I unwillingly assented, counting every moment an age while away from the object of my first love.

For a person unaccustomed to encase himself in two dresses, the difficulty at all times would be great; but when, as upon the present occasion, I was impatient to the last degree to get back to my fair one, the task was rendered doubly so ; my party-coloured stockings appeared too small, my huge clown's inexpressibles to have shrunk, my white shoes trimmed with red to pinch me, and when over these I was to draw "Squire Bugle's" costume-a pair of cotton trowsers, made to represent top-boots, spurs, and leathers, with loops and strings down the sides for the pantomimic change, I thought I should never finish this portion of my toilet. Happily for me, Charles gave me every assistance in his power, soothed my irritability, and in due time, throwing his father's cloak over my right shoulder, and still showing my bare neck, flowing curls, and a portion of my tartan dress, I again took up my post at the side scenes.

As I approached, I fancied the beauteous Céline gave me a smile of recognition; this cheered me for a moment, but the recollection of the grimaces I had to go through, speedily drove every feeling of satisfaction from my mind.

The last scene of Othello was drawing to a close; and just as the jealous Moor was about to wreak his vengeance upon his ill-fated wife, or rather upon a lay figure which represented the sleeping Desdemona, a movement took place in the stage-box, and in less time than Cinderella took to leave the prince's ball, my fair one vanished, followed by her

aunt.

66

Come, Charles," I exclaimed, has overcome the lovely Céline."

66 we must follow. I fear the heat

We rushed from the wing, and descending the stairs, like good generals, cut off the fugitive's retreat.

"Can I be of any service ?" inquired young De Tourville of Madame Mireval.

"Our carriage is waiting," responded that lady in broken English. "Céline, it is past eight," she continued, "and the ball will have commenced."

"We have half-an-hour to spare," replied the blushing girl, fixing, as I flattered myself, her dark gazelle-looking eyes upon me. "Besides," continued she, sotto voce, "Huntley told me that the country dance is omitted, and the Prince's minuet will not be on before nine."

The elderly lady uttered a sort of gutteral noise, something between a running accompaniment of a grunt and a cough, which prevented my ears from distinctly catching the whole of the above remark, although the familiar words of "Huntley" and "the Prince," forcibly struck my attention, as being the names of a popular nobleman and the "observed of all observers" the Regent.

"Permit me to offer you a glass of champagne, ladies," said Charles, opening the drawing-room door, and disclosing a table groaning (as the fashionable prints of the day denominate it) under the luxuries of the

season.

I have omitted to say that the first-floor was let to two elderly spinsters, who carried on an illicit trade in contraband French goods, and who upon this occasion had been prevailed upon for a trifling consideration that of furnishing the repast at seven shillings per head, exclusive of wine-to give up their apartments as supper rooms.

The eldest Miss Sissmore, so the antiquated specimen of virginity was called, was preparing some punch from spirits that had never “ paid their duties" to the exciseman.

"Allow me, Madame Mireval, to present to you the Honourable Percy Hamilton," continued De Tourville.

"I am proud of the honour," replied the lady. "My niece, Céline, Mr. Hamilton. We have been delighted with the performance."

During the process of this introduction my friend Charles had seized upon a bottle of champagne, and was actively employed in freeing the sparkling liquid from its wiry bonds; then, filling a bumper, he presented it to the aunt, leaving me to do the honours to the niece.

"A sandwich, Madame Mireval?" he continued, offering that lady a plate, upon which appeared a few thin pieces of bread and beef, of rather diminutive dimensions, cut in triangular forms, and which were speedily placed hors de combat.

"Another glass of champagne. You must drink to the health of the amateurs."

Madame was nothing loth, and bumpers were filled for the quintetto, for Miss Sissmore was getting a little "wrathy," at the economy of the table being disturbed, and required a dose of liquid soft sawder to keep her from bursting forth in a passion.

Another bottle was opened, and the exhilarating fluid seemed to have produced so powerful an effect upon the old duenna, that she forgot the waning time. A burst of applause which hailed Othello's death recalled her to her senses, and begging we would not hand her to her carriage, wished us good night.

In the mean-time Céline's beauty had made sad havoc with my heart. I found myself head and ears in love.

I now returned to my dressing-room, highly elated by my introduction to the fair Céline, and delighted with the thought that she would not witness the extravagant antics I was about to perpetrate.

My toilette concluded, I quaffed a bumper of champagne to my ladye love, and entered the green-room in the most exuberant spirits.

"Overture on!” cried the call-boy. "Squire Bugle for the first scene!"

I attended the summons. The pantomime commenced, and although I say it that should not, nothing could go better. The novelty of amateurs in a harlequinade seemed to amuse the audience, and the grotesque movements of the pantaloon, the activity of the motley hero, the beauty of the columbine, the grace of the cabin-boy, and last, not least, the drollery and fun of the clown, brought down shouts of applause. The sailor's hornpipe and the song of Tippitiwitchet" were vociferously encored, and the curtain fell amidst the acclamations of the assembled multitude.

"

Although our tragic scenes had been flat, dull, and unprofitable, happily they were not sufficiently so to create a laugh, or we should have found ourselves in the predicament of an honourable amateur who performed upon one occasion "Hamlet" and "Caleb Quotem, and who, according to the critics of the day, is said to have excited the risible faculties of the audience to so great an extent in the tragedy, that they had not a smile left for the after-piece.

We now got rid of our pantomimic costume, and appeared in our private dresses just as a waiter from a neighbouring coffee-house announced that supper was ready.

Monsieur de Tourville offered his arm to the eldest Miss Sissmore, Charles to her sister Miss Euphemia, while I, anxious to hear more of my fair one, paid homage to the queen of the revels, Madame de Tourville. Vain, however, were my attempts to draw from her any particulars respecting Madame Mireval and her niece, except those which I have previously laid before my readers; so I contented myself with the hope that I should again meet the beauteous Céline during the period she was under the tuition of the Maître de Danse.

The supper went off splendidly; the healths of the amateurs were proposed and drunk with enthusiasm. Elated with my success upon the boards, enchanted with the impression I flattered myself I had made upon the unsophisticated girl, I found myself in such a state of transport that I could scarcely restrain my joy within bounds.

It was late before we separated. Returning to Dean's Yard, I essayed a copy of verses to my charmer; then, fatigued by bodily and mental labour, I sought my pillow, to think of her who had captivated my young heart, and for whom I felt the most romantic devotedness, inwardly vowing eternal constancy.

Myrosy dreams" were shortly dispelled by the entrance of my fag" to tell me I had only half-an-hour to spare before Carey went in. No sooner was school over, than the theatrical triumvirate, F, Kirkonnel, and myself, strolled through the cloisters to talk over the previous night's performance, and to arrange for another.

As we returned towards our boarding-house, the ever vigilant Dick

told me that a letter had just arrived, directed to me, and marked "immediate." I ran to the window of the housekeeper's room, in which all the epistolary correspondence was placed, and found an ominous-looking letter, in my father's hand-writing. Upon opening it, I found it contained a mild and gentle rebuke for the time I had misemployed upon private theatricals, and concluded by urging me to give up the performance, which some good-natured anonymous friend had written to say was about to take place in Queen's-square. The kind conciliatory tone in which the advice was couched produced a greater effect on my mind than it would have done had it been conveyed in more severe and arbitrary terms, and I at once determined to drop the sock and buskin for the present.

While communicating the contents of my father's letter to F—— and Kirkonnel, a message was brought to us from Dr. Cary, saying he wished to see us at his own private residence. Conscience, which makes cowards of us all, did upon the present occasion unnerve us; for although we felt we had not transgressed any scholastic laws, we knew too well how unprofitable our pursuits and life had lately been.

Upon entering the presence of the head master, our fears vanished, when, instead of a countenance of severity, we observed a cheerful aspect.

"Pray sit down," said Carey with the utmost courtesy.

"I am

anxious to lay before you some letters I have received from your parents." He then opened the subject of our private theatricals, pointed out the contamination that was likely to be produced by associating with persons of low habits, praised the general manliness of our characters and occupations, and appealed to our consciences and better feelings whether the pursuits we had lately indulged in were calculated to raise our moral principles, advance our intellectual ability, or promote that gentleman-like bearing, which would be so essentially necessary to us in the military professions we were about to enter.

-

I think it was the late Dr. Arnold, who thus wrote from Rugby :"I believe that boys may be governed a great deal by gentle methods and kindness. I have seen great boys, six feet high, shed tears when I have sent for them up into my room and spoken to them quietly in pri. vate ;" and certainly, upon the occasion l'allude to, Dr. Cary might with equal truth have said the same, for tears gushed from our eyes when, with the greatest delicacy of feeling, he pointed out to us the grief that we had caused our parents by an act which he trusted and believed was one more of folly and thoughlessness than vice, and in a strain of affectionate entreaty urged those Christian and moral duties which alone could render our manhood useful and honourable.