entlemen performers, and the square hole in the ceiling is _the_
trap-door of the stage above. You will observe that the ceiling is
ornamented with the beams that support the boards, and tastefully hung
with cobwebs.

The characters in the tragedy are all dressed, and their own clothes are
scattered in hurried confusion over the wooden dresser which surrounds
the room. That snuff-shop-looking figure, in front of the glass, is
_Banquo_: and the young lady with the liberal display of legs, who is
kindly painting his face with a hare's foot, is dressed for _Fleance_.
The large woman, who is consulting the stage directions in Cumberland's
edition of _Macbeth_, is the _Lady Macbeth_ of the night; she is always
selected to play the part, because she is tall and stout, and _looks_ a
little like Mrs. Siddons--at a considerable distance. That
stupid-looking milksop, with light hair and bow legs--a kind of man whom
you can warrant town-made--is fresh caught; he plays _Malcolm_ to-night,
just to accustom himself to an audience. He will get on better by
degrees; he will play _Othello_ in a month, and in a month more, will
very probably be apprehended on a charge of embezzlement. The black-eyed
female with whom he is talking so earnestly, is dressed for the
'gentlewoman.' It is _her_ first appearance, too--in that character.
The boy of fourteen who is having his eyebrows smeared with soap and
whitening, is _Duncan_, King of Scotland; and the two dirty men with the
corked countenances, in very old green tunics, and dirty drab boots, are
the 'army.'

'Look sharp below there, gents,' exclaims the dresser, a red-headed and
red-whiskered Jew, calling through the trap, 'they're a-going to ring up.
The flute says he'll be blowed if he plays any more, and they're getting
precious noisy in front.' A general rush immediately takes place to the
half-dozen little steep steps leading to the stage, and the heterogeneous
group are soon assembled at the side scenes, in breathless anxiety and
motley confusion.

'Now,' cries the manager, consulting the written list which hangs behind
the first P. S, wing, 'Scene 1, open country--lamps down--thunder and
lightning--all ready, White?' [This is addressed to one of the army.]
'All ready.'--'Very well. Scene 2, front chamber. Is the front chamber
down?'--'Yes.'--'Very well.'--'Jones' [to the other army who is up in the
flies]. 'Hallo!'--'Wind up the open country when we ring up.'--'I'll
take