as he could, of the circumstances which
had led to their first acquaintance. After congratulating him with great
heartiness on the improved state of his fortunes, Mr Crummles gave him
to understand that next morning he and his were to start for Liverpool,
where the vessel lay which was to carry them from the shores of England,
and that if Nicholas wished to take a last adieu of Mrs Crummles, he
must repair with him that night to a farewell supper, given in honour of
the family at a neighbouring tavern; at which Mr Snittle Timberry would
preside, while the honours of the vice-chair would be sustained by the
African Swallower.

The room being by this time very warm and somewhat crowded, in
consequence of the influx of four gentlemen, who had just killed
each other in the piece under representation, Nicholas accepted
the invitation, and promised to return at the conclusion of the
performances; preferring the cool air and twilight out of doors to the
mingled perfume of gas, orange-peel, and gunpowder, which pervaded the
hot and glaring theatre.

He availed himself of this interval to buy a silver snuff-box--the best
his funds would afford--as a token of remembrance for Mr Crummles,
and having purchased besides a pair of ear-rings for Mrs Crummles, a
necklace for the Phenomenon, and a flaming shirt-pin for each of the
young gentlemen, he refreshed himself with a walk, and returning a
little after the appointed time, found the lights out, the theatre
empty, the curtain raised for the night, and Mr Crummles walking up and
down the stage expecting his arrival.

'Timberry won't be long,' said Mr Crummles. 'He played the audience out
tonight. He does a faithful black in the last piece, and it takes him a
little longer to wash himself.'

'A very unpleasant line of character, I should think?' said Nicholas.

'No, I don't know,' replied Mr Crummles; 'it comes off easily enough,
and there's only the face and neck. We had a first-tragedy man in our
company once, who, when he played Othello, used to black himself all
over. But that's feeling a part and going into it as if you meant it; it
isn't usual; more's the pity.'

Mr Snittle Timberry now appeared, arm-in-arm with the African Swallower,
and, being introduced to Nicholas, raised his hat half a foot, and said
he was proud to know him. The Swallower said the same, and looked and
spoke remarkably like an Irishman.

'I see by the bills that you have been ill, sir,' said Nichol