stand with one leg bent, and contemplate the audience, or to go in and
out after Mr Crummles in stately tragedy--twisting up the ringlets of
the beautiful Miss Bravassa, who had once had her likeness taken 'in
character' by an engraver's apprentice, whereof impressions were hung up
for sale in the pastry-cook's window, and the greengrocer's, and at the
circulating library, and the box-office, whenever the announce bills
came out for her annual night. There was Mrs Lenville, in a very limp
bonnet and veil, decidedly in that way in which she would wish to be if
she truly loved Mr Lenville; there was Miss Gazingi, with an imitation
ermine boa tied in a loose knot round her neck, flogging Mr Crummles,
junior, with both ends, in fun. Lastly, there was Mrs Grudden in a brown
cloth pelisse and a beaver bonnet, who assisted Mrs Crummles in her
domestic affairs, and took money at the doors, and dressed the ladies,
and swept the house, and held the prompt book when everybody else was on
for the last scene, and acted any kind of part on any emergency without
ever learning it, and was put down in the bills under my name or names
whatever, that occurred to Mr Crummles as looking well in print.

Mr Folair having obligingly confided these particulars to Nicholas, left
him to mingle with his fellows; the work of personal introduction was
completed by Mr Vincent Crummles, who publicly heralded the new actor as
a prodigy of genius and learning.

'I beg your pardon,' said Miss Snevellicci, sidling towards Nicholas,
'but did you ever play at Canterbury?'

'I never did,' replied Nicholas.

'I recollect meeting a gentleman at Canterbury,' said Miss Snevellicci,
'only for a few moments, for I was leaving the company as he joined it,
so like you that I felt almost certain it was the same.'

'I see you now for the first time,' rejoined Nicholas with all due
gallantry. 'I am sure I never saw you before; I couldn't have forgotten
it.'

'Oh, I'm sure--it's very flattering of you to say so,' retorted Miss
Snevellicci with a graceful bend. 'Now I look at you again, I see that
the gentleman at Canterbury hadn't the same eyes as you--you'll think me
very foolish for taking notice of such things, won't you?'

'Not at all,' said Nicholas. 'How can I feel otherwise than flattered by
your notice in any way?'

'Oh! you men are such vain creatures!' cried Miss Snevellicci.
Whereupon, she became charmingly confused, and, pulling out her
pocket-han