'Make a pause here and there,' said the old gentleman, who was a great
critic. '"But that our loves and comforts should increase"--emphasis on
the last syllable, "crease,"--loud "even,"--one, two, three, four; then
loud again, "as our days do grow;" emphasis on _days_. That's the way,
my dear; trust to your uncle for emphasis. Ah! Sem, my boy, how are
you?'

'Very well, thankee, uncle,' returned Mr. Sempronius, who had just
appeared, looking something like a ringdove, with a small circle round
each eye: the result of his constant corking. 'Of course we see you on
Thursday.'

'Of course, of course, my dear boy.'

'What a pity it is your nephew didn't think of making you prompter, Mr.
Balderstone!' whispered Mrs. Joseph Porter; 'you would have been
invaluable.'

'Well, I flatter myself, I _should_ have been tolerably up to the thing,'
responded Uncle Tom.

'I must bespeak sitting next you on the night,' resumed Mrs. Porter; 'and
then, if our dear young friends here, should be at all wrong, you will be
able to enlighten me. I shall be so interested.'

'I am sure I shall be most happy to give you any assistance in my power'

'Mind, it's a bargain.'

'Certainly.'

'I don't know how it is,' said Mrs. Gattleton to her daughters, as they
were sitting round the fire in the evening, looking over their parts,
'but I really very much wish Mrs. Joseph Porter wasn't coming on
Thursday. I am sure she's scheming something.'

'She can't make us ridiculous, however,' observed Mr. Sempronius
Gattleton, haughtily.

The long-looked-for Thursday arrived in due course, and brought with it,
as Mr. Gattleton, senior, philosophically observed, 'no disappointments,
to speak of.' True, it was yet a matter of doubt whether _Cassio_ would
be enabled to get into the dress which had been sent for him from the
masquerade warehouse. It was equally uncertain whether the principal
female singer would be sufficiently recovered from the influenza to make
her appearance; Mr. Harleigh, the _Masaniello_ of the night, was hoarse,
and rather unwell, in consequence of the great quantity of lemon and
sugar-candy he had eaten to improve his voice; and two flutes and a
violoncello had pleaded severe colds. What of that? the audience were
all coming. Everybody knew his part: the dresses were covered with
tinsel and spangles; the white plumes looked beautiful; Mr. Evans had
practised falling until he was bruised from head to foot and quite
pe