d his audience that the one thing that
sustains him at this trying moment is the prospect of
seeing them all again when he returns._

TIME--11.45 P.M. _The Room is full of histrionic,
literary, and artistic Celebrities, with a few stray
Barristers and Doctors, who like to show publicly that
in spite of the arduous labours of their professions,
they can enjoy a mild dissipation as well as any man.
Most of the leading lights of the "Thespian
Perambulators,"_ BOLDERO, TIFFINGTON SPINKS, GUSHBY,
ANDREW JARP, _and_ HALL, _have come to prove by their
presence the sympathy of the Amateur Stage. On the last
night but one they had concluded their series of
performances at Blankbury. The Chairman of the Banquet
is a middle-aged Peer, who is a regular attendant at
first nights, and occupies a subordinate office in the
Ministry. The Guest of the Evening has not yet arrived.
A buzz of conversation fills the air. The Secretary of
the Banquet, an actor, is anxiously hurrying about with
a list, on which he ticks off names._

_The Secretary_ (_to_ BOLDERO). So glad all you fellows have been able
to come. I've put you pretty well together, as you wished. I wonder
where--oh! here he is at last.

_Enter Great Actor. The Secretary rushes to him.
Hand-shakings and congratulations all round. The G. A.
moves up the room to where the Amateurs are standing._

_G. A._ (_shaking hands._) Ah! this is really friendly, TIFFINGTON,
really friendly. Were you in front to-night?

_Tiffington._ Of course we were. We wouldn't have missed it for a
thousand pounds. It went first class. I thought your idea of stabbing
ALPHONSO from behind instead of in front, was a genuine inspiration.

_G. A._ Approbation from Sir HUBERT. (_Bows and leaves quotation
unfinished_). But I've always played it like that, I think.

[_Supper is announced. The Guests troop in to the
supper-room._

_Tiffington_ (_to_ JARP, _as they walk in_). He's wrong there. Never did
it like that before; and, after all, I'm not sure it is such an
improvement. But if you don't praise these fellows they never forgive
you.

_Jarp._ Didn't he say anything about our show at Blankbury? I thought
you wrote to him about it.

_Tiffington._ So I did; wrote specially to tell him how well things had
gone off. But you might just as well try to pump wine out of a
pillar-box, as expect a word of sympat