nvas incessantly with great nimbleness,
and returned, and made little digs at it with his pencil, with a
horrible grin on his countenance, I augur that he pleased himself this
morning.

"Tag" added by Mr. Dickens to "Animal Magnetism," played at Rockingham
Castle.

ANIMAL MAGNETISM.--TAG.

[After LA FLEUR says to the Marquis: "Sir, return him the wand; and
the ladies, I daresay, will fall in love with him again."]

DOCTOR. I'm cheated, robbed! I don't believe! I hate
Wand, Marquis, Doctor, Ward, Lisette, and Fate!

LA FLEUR. Not me?

DOCTOR. _You_ worse, you rascal, than the rest.

LA FLEUR. (_bowing_). To merit it, good sir, I've done my best.

LISETTE. (_sharply_). And I.

CONSTANCE. I fear that I too have a claim
Upon your anger.

LISETTE. Anger, madam? Shame!
He's justly treated, as he might have known.
And if the wand were a divining one
It would have turn'd, within his very hands,
Point-blank to where your handsome husband stands.

CONSTANCE (_glancing at_ DOCTOR). I would it were the wand of
Harlequin,
To change his temper and his favour win.

JEFFREY (_peeping in_). In that case, mistress, you might be
so kind
As wave me back the eye of which I'm blind.

MARQUIS (_laughing and examining it_). 'Tis nothing but a piece
of senseless wood,
And has no influence for harm or good.
Yet stay! It surely draws me towards those
Indulgent, pleasant, smiling, beaming rows!
It surely charms me.

ALL. And us too.

MARQUIS. To bend
Before their gen'rous efforts to commend;
To cheer us on, through these few happy hours,
And strew our mimic way with real flowers.

[_All make obeisance._

Stay yet again. Among us all, I feel
One subtle, all-pervading influence steal,
Stirring one wish within one heart and head,
Bright be the path our host and hostess tread!
Blest be their children, happy be their race,
Long may they live, this ancient hall to grace
Long bear of English virtues noble fruit--
Green-hearted ROCKINGHAM! strike deep thy root

FOOTNOTES:

[8] The last illness of Mrs. White's mother.

[9] Dr. Gottfried Kinke