r Muse for good and all, for better or worse, than dally with
a rich one. I make you my compliment to your play, Mr. Warrington, and
if you want an introduction to the stage, shall be very happy if I can
induce my friend Mr. Garrick to present you."

"Mr. Garrick shall be his sponsor," cried the florid Mr. Figtree.
"Melpomene shall be his godmother, and he shall have the witches'
caldron in Macbeth for a christening font."

"Sir, I neither said font nor godmother!"--remarks the man of letters.
"I would have no play contrary to morals or religion nor, as I conceive,
is Mr. Warrington's piece otherwise than friendly to them. Vice is
chastised, as it should be, even in kings, though perhaps we judge of
their temptations too lightly. Revenge is punished--as not to be lightly
exercised by our limited notion of justice. It may have been Carpezan's
wife who perverted the King, and not the King who led the woman astray.
At any rate, Louis is rightly humiliated for his crime, and the Renegade
most justly executed for his. I wish you a good afternoon, gentlemen!"
And with these remarks, the great author took his leave of the company.

Towards the close of the reading, General Lambert had made his
appearance at Mr. Spencer's chambers, and had listened to the latter
part of the tragedy. The performance over, he and George took their way
to the latter's lodgings in the first place, and subsequently to the
General's own house, where the young author was expected, in order to
recount the reception which his play had met from his Temple critics.

At Mr. Warrington's apartments in Southampton Row, they found a letter
awaiting George, which the latter placed in his pocket unread, so that
he might proceed immediately with his companion to Soho. We may be sure
the ladies there were eager to know about the Carpezan's fate in the
morning's small rehearsal.

Hetty said George was so shy, that perhaps it would be better for all
parties if some other person had read the play. Theo, on the contrary,
cried out:

"Read it, indeed! Who can read a poem better than the author who feels
it in his heart? And George had his whole heart in the piece!"

Mr. Lambert very likely thought that somebody else's whole heart was in
the piece too, but did not utter this opinion to Miss Theo.

"I think Harry would look very well in your figure of a Prince,"
says the General. "That scene where he takes leave of his wife before
departing for the wars reminds