to Conquer_ is as capable of
producing a hearty laugh now, as it was when it first saw the light in
Covent Garden. Tony Lumpkin is one of the especial favourites of the
theatre-going public; and no wonder. With all the young cub's jibes
and jeers, his impudence and grimaces, one has a sneaking love for the
scapegrace; we laugh with him, rather than at him; how can we fail to
enjoy those malevolent tricks of his when he so obviously enjoys them
himself? And Diggory--do we not owe an eternal debt of gratitude to
honest Diggory for telling us about Ould Grouse in the gunroom, that
immortal joke at which thousands and thousands of people have roared
with laughter, though they never any one of them could tell what the
story was about? The scene in which the old squire lectures his
faithful attendants on their manners and duties, is one of the truest
bits of comedy on the English stage:

"_Mr. Hardcastle._ But you're not to stand so, with your
hands in your pockets. Take your hands from your pockets,
Roger; and from your head, you blockhead you. See how
Diggory carries his hands. They're a little too stiff,
indeed, but that's no great matter.

_Diggory._ Ay, mind how I hold them. I learned to hold my
hands this way when I was upon drill for the militia. And so
being upon drill--.

_Hard._ You must not be so talkative, Diggory. You must be
all attention to the guests. You must hear us talk, and not
think of talking; you must see us drink, and not think of
drinking; you must see us eat, and not think of eating.

_Dig._ By the laws, your worship, that's parfectly
unpossible. Whenever Diggory sees yeating going forward,
ecod, he's always wishing for a mouthful himself.

_Hard._ Blockhead! Is not a bellyfull in the kitchen as good
as a bellyfull in the parlour? Stay your stomach with that
reflection.

_Dig._ Ecod, I thank your worship, I'll make a shift to stay
my stomach with a slice of cold beef in the pantry.

_Hard._ Diggory, you are too talkative.--Then, if I happen
to say a good thing, or tell a good story at table, you must
not all burst out a-laughing, as if you made part of the
company.

_Dig._ Then ecod your worship must not tell the story of
Ould Grouse in the gunroom: I can't help laughing at
that--he! he! he!--for the soul of me. We have laughed at
that these twenty y