words and loaded
blunderbusses. _Lord Keeper Ashton_ appears. Quite right that there
should be the Keeper present, in view of _Lucy_ subsequently going
mad. Young _Henry Ashton_, the youth GORDON CRAIG, a lad of promise,
and performance, has the entire stage to himself for full two minutes,
to show what he can do with a speech descriptive of some pictures.
Master alone with Keeper, suggests duel. Why arms in Library, unless
duel? Fight about to commence according to Queensberry rules, when
Master sees portrait. Whose? _Lucy's_? "No," says Master; "not to
be taken in. I know LUCY'S picture; it was done by WARD." The Keeper
explains that this is a portrait, not of the author of _The History of
Two Parliaments_, and _Fleecing Gideon_, but of his daughter _Lucy_,
which has never yet been seen in any exhibition or loan collection.
"Oho," says Master, "then I won't fight a chap who has a daughter
like that." Ha! Mad bull "heard without"--one of the "herd
without,"--Master picks up blunderbuss, no blunder, makes a hit and
saves a miss; i.e., _Lucy_. What shall he have who kills the bull
with a bull 'it? Why, a tent at Cowshot, near Bisley.

_Next Scene_.--Wolf's Crag. Grand picture--thunder--music--Dr.
MACKENZIE--Mr. MACINTOSH--"the two MACS"--doing excellent work
in orchestra, and on stage--storm--Miss MARRIOTT admirable as old
Witch--red light in fire-grate--blank verse by MERIVALE, and on we
go to

ACT III.--A Scene never to be forgotten--the Mermaiden's Well
(quite well, thank you), by HAWES CRAVEN, henceforth to be HAWES
McCRAVENSWOOD. Pines, heather, sunlight, and two picturesque lovers,
Master and Miss, exchanging vows. Master gloomy, Miss lively. Miss
promises to become Missus. Enter Master's future Modern Mother-in-law.
Intended to be vindictive, but really a comfortable and comely body.
Might be _Mrs. McBouncer_ in _McBox and McCox_. Naturally enough, off
goes Master to France.

[Illustration: What Mr. Mackintosh ought to have done. "Balancing the
Feather." An entertainment on the sands.]

ACT IV.--Another splendid scene. Magnificently attired, _Hayston
of Bucklaw_ attempts to raise a laugh. Success. _Mrs. Mac Bouncer_
coerces _Lucy_ in white satin to sign the fatal contract that will
settle Master. Ah! that awful laugh--far more tragic than the one
secured by _Bucklaw_! It is _Lucy_ going mad! She has already
shown signs of incipient insanity by calling Mr. HOWE, otherwise
_Bide-the-Bent_, a "holy Father,"--mu