re him,
selected most felicitously. The audience, taken by surprise, as some
fair female, or kindly burgess, familiar to their associations, was thus
pointed out to their applause, became heartily genial in their
cheers and laughter. And the Comedian's face, unmoved by such
demonstrations,--so shy and sad, insinuated its pathos underneath cheer
and laugh. You now learned through the child that a dance, on which the
company had been supposed to be gazing, was concluded, and that they
would not be displeased by an interval of some other diversion. Now
was the tune! The dog, as if to convey a sense of the prevalent ennui,
yawned audibly, patted the child on the shoulder, and looked up in her
face. "A game of dominos," whispered the little girl. The dog gleefully
grinned assent. Timidly she stole forth the old dominos, and ranged them
on the ground; on which she slipped from her chair, the dog slipped from
his; they began to play. The experiment was launched; the soldier saw
that the curiosity of the company was excited, that the show would
commence, the sons follow; and as if he at least would not openly shame
his service and his Emperor, he turned aside, slid his hand to his
breast, tore away his cross, and hid it. Scarce a murmured word
accompanied the action, the acting said all; and a noble thrill ran
through the audience. Oh, sublime art of the mime!

The Mayor sat very near where the child and dog were at play. The
Comedian had (as he before implied he would do) discreetly prepared that
gentleman for direct and personal appeal. The little girl turned her
blue eyes innocently towards Mr. Hartopp, and said, "The dog beats me,
sir; will you try what you can do?"

A roar, and universal clapping of hands, amidst which the worthy
magistrate stepped on the stage. At the command of its young mistress
the dog made the magistrate a polite bow, and straight to the game went
magistrate and dog. From that time the interest became, as it were,
personal to all present. "Will you come, sir," said the child to a
young gentleman, who was straining his neck to see how the dominos
were played, "and observe that it is all fair? You, too, sir?" to Mr.
Williams. The Comedian stood beside the dog, whose movements he directed
with undetected skill, while appearing only to fix his eyes on the
ground in conscious abasement. Those on the rows from behind now pressed
forward; those in advance either came on the stage, or stood up intently
cont