middle-aged gentleman, attired in a frock coat,
his brows carefully swathed in a white pocket handkerchief, comes
forward, yardstick in hand, and measures the stage with great assiduity.
When this has been done, Mr. Irving sits down with "Please go on." Then
he turns to Mr. Terriss: "Shall we go through it first without the
dialogue?" "Yes," answers Mr. Terriss; and the whole action of the scene
is gone through. Mr. Irving and Mr. Terriss exchanging their direction
of the various groups for the assumption of their own parts with an ease
and rapidity born of long practice, Mr. Irving moving about from group
to group until he is satisfied with the effect of the whole. Mr. H. T.
Loveday, the stage manager, being at present ill, Mr. Terriss is kindly
assisting Mr. Irving with rehearsal. After the entrances and exits have
been arranged for the twentieth time, _Henry's_ magnificent voice rings
out as _Louis_ enters:

"'Brother of France, what shall be done with _Becket_?'"

As this is one of the early rehearsals, the actors are not yet word
perfect. Each holds his part in one hand, and refreshes his memory as
he goes on. When _Henry_ and _Louis_ have finished their dialogue, and
_Becket_ is about to enter, Mr. Irving suddenly pauses. "Make a note
that before _Becket's_ entrance there should be a slow chant--a
Gregorian chant--and flourishes. Where are the gentlemen who sing?" "The
gentlemen who sing" come on, and practise the chant. "Not quite so
loud." Mr. Irving claps his hands (the stage signal for stopping people)
and decides to try the effect behind the scenes. "That will do; very
good," he declares, as the solemn chant steals slowly in, and then,
merging the manager in the actor, kneels at _Henry's_ feet.

[Illustration: THE STAGE FROM THE DRESS CIRCLE.]

At this juncture, Mr. Irving becomes the stage-manager again, and turns
to the group of _Henry's_ followers. "You, gentlemen, are to come up
here. You are rather startled, and listen attentively; that's the spirit
of it." _King Henry's_ followers move up, and jeer at _Becket_, who
curses them. Then come the voices of the crowd without:

"'Blessed be the Lord Archbishop, who hath withstood two kings to
their faces for the honour of God.'"

But Mr. Irving is not satisfied with the crowd. "Slower and more
gravely, please. I want the emphasis on 'the Lord Archbishop.' So! That
will be very good."

After this, there is an interval, and Mr. Irving and M