dkerchief from a faded pink silk reticule with a gilt clasp,
called to Miss Ledrook--

'Led, my dear,' said Miss Snevellicci.

'Well, what is the matter?' said Miss Ledrook.

'It's not the same.'

'Not the same what?'

'Canterbury--you know what I mean. Come here! I want to speak to you.'

But Miss Ledrook wouldn't come to Miss Snevellicci, so Miss Snevellicci
was obliged to go to Miss Ledrook, which she did, in a skipping manner
that was quite fascinating; and Miss Ledrook evidently joked Miss
Snevellicci about being struck with Nicholas; for, after some playful
whispering, Miss Snevellicci hit Miss Ledrook very hard on the backs of
her hands, and retired up, in a state of pleasing confusion.

'Ladies and gentlemen,' said Mr Vincent Crummles, who had been writing
on a piece of paper, 'we'll call the Mortal Struggle tomorrow at ten;
everybody for the procession. Intrigue, and Ways and Means, you're all
up in, so we shall only want one rehearsal. Everybody at ten, if you
please.'

'Everybody at ten,' repeated Mrs Grudden, looking about her.

'On Monday morning we shall read a new piece,' said Mr Crummles; 'the
name's not known yet, but everybody will have a good part. Mr Johnson
will take care of that.'

'Hallo!' said Nicholas, starting. 'I--'

'On Monday morning,' repeated Mr Crummles, raising his voice, to drown
the unfortunate Mr Johnson's remonstrance; 'that'll do, ladies and
gentlemen.'

The ladies and gentlemen required no second notice to quit; and, in
a few minutes, the theatre was deserted, save by the Crummles family,
Nicholas, and Smike.

'Upon my word,' said Nicholas, taking the manager aside, 'I don't think
I can be ready by Monday.'

'Pooh, pooh,' replied Mr Crummles.

'But really I can't,' returned Nicholas; 'my invention is not accustomed
to these demands, or possibly I might produce--'

'Invention! what the devil's that got to do with it!' cried the manager
hastily.

'Everything, my dear sir.'

'Nothing, my dear sir,' retorted the manager, with evident impatience.
'Do you understand French?'

'Perfectly well.'

'Very good,' said the manager, opening the table drawer, and giving a
roll of paper from it to Nicholas. 'There! Just turn that into English,
and put your name on the title-page. Damn me,' said Mr Crummles,
angrily, 'if I haven't often said that I wouldn't have a man or woman in
my company that wasn't master of the language, so that they might learn
it from the original