ones; how she stood on the same plank of the stage in the same
position, rolled her eyes at the same instant and to the same degree,
and wept with precisely the same heart-rending pathos and over the same
pathetic syllable. And after she had come out trembling with emotion
before the audience, and looking so exhausted and tearful that you
fancied she would faint with sensibility, she would gather up her hair
the instant she was behind the curtain, and go home to a mutton-chop and
a glass of brown stout; and the harrowing labours of the day over, she
went to bed and snored as resolutely and as regularly as a porter.

Bows then was indignant at the notion that his pupil should throw her
chances away in life by bestowing her hand upon a little country squire.
As soon as a London manager saw her he prophesied that she would get
a London engagement, and a great success. The misfortune was that the
London managers had seen her. She had played in London three years
before, and failed from utter stupidity. Since then it was that Bows
had taken her in hand and taught her part after part. How he worked and
screamed, and twisted, and repeated lines over and over again, and with
what indomitable patience and dulness she followed him! She knew that he
made her: and let herself be made. She was not grateful, or ungrateful,
or unkind, or ill-humoured. She was only stupid; and Pen was madly in
love with her.

The post-horses from the Clavering Arms arrived in due time, and carried
the party to the theatre at Chatteris, where Pen was gratified in
perceiving that a tolerably large audience was assembled. The young
gentlemen from Baymouth had a box, in the front of which sate Mr. Foker
and his friend Mr. Spavin, splendidly attired in the most full-blown
evening costume. They saluted Pen in a cordial manner, and examined
his party, of which they approved, for little Laura was a pretty little
red-cheeked girl with a quantity of shining brown ringlets, and Mrs.
Pendennis, dressed in black velvet with the diamond cross which she
sported on great occasions, looked uncommonly handsome and majestic.
Behind these sate Mr. Arthur, and the gentle Smirke with the curl
reposing on his fair forehead, and his white tie in perfect order. He
blushed to find himself in such a place--but how happy was he to be
there! He and Mrs. Pendennis brought books of 'Hamlet' with them to
follow the tragedy, as is the custom of honest countryfolks who go to a
play in