een so studiously
arranged for Miss Hardcastle's head-dress, fell in dishevelled
luxuriance round his face; and as he half rose from his previous
position in the chair, a pink-silk dress began to descend from under the
pea-jacket. Concealment was at an end; the dean looked bewildered at
first, and then savage; but a hearty laugh from Dyson settled the
business.

"What, Leicester! you're the lady the dean has been hunting about
college! Upon my word, this is the most absurd piece of
masquerading!--what on earth is it all about?"

I pitied Leicester, he looked such an extraordinary figure in his
ambiguous dress, and seemed so thoroughly ashamed of himself; so,
displaying the tops and cords in which I had enacted Hastings, I
acknowledged my share in the business, and gave a brief history of the
drama during my management. The dean endeavoured to look grave: Dyson
gave way to undisguised amusement, and repeatedly exclaimed, "Oh! why
did you not send me a ticket? When do you perform again?"

Alas! never. Brief, as bright, was our theatrical career. But the memory
of it lives in the college still--of the comedy, and the supper, and the
curious mistake which followed it; and the dean has not to this hour
lost the credit which he then gained, of having a remarkably keen eye
for a petticoat.

PRINTED BY WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS, EDINBURGH.

* * * * *

Transcriber's note:

Minor changes have been made to correct typesetters' errors; otherwise,
every effort has been made to remain true to the authors' words and
intent.

***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES FROM "BLACKWOOD," VOLUME 2***

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